Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/7

Jon Lester (L), Freddy Garcia (R)

After a day off on Monday, the Boston Red Sox look to regain a share of first place in the AL East in the first of a three-game set with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium tonight.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and you can watch the game on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Yankees television market, you can catch the game on MY9. If you don’t live in either market, you are in luck as the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester looks to put his May struggles behind him against a team he’s had much success against in 13 career starts. In those 13 starts against the Bronx Bombers, Lester is 7-1 with a 3.49 ERA. Eight of those starts have come in the Bronx where he is 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He has made one start against the Yankees in 2011, picking up the win after allowing four runs in six innings of work back on May 15th. He’s made 12 starts on the season and is 7-2 with a 3.94 ERA.

The reclamation project that is Freddy Garcia makes his 11th appearance (10th start) of the season for Joe Girardi. In his previous 10 appearances (nine starts), Garcia is 4-4 with a 3.34 ERA. He’s made two appearances (one start) against the Red Sox in 2011 and is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA (5 ER/6.1 IP). In 18 career appearances (17 starts) against the Red Sox, Garcia is 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA. His lone Yankee Stadium start against the boys from Beantown resulted in a loss back on May 15th when he allowed six runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are tonight’s lineups:

33-26		33-24
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Derek Jeter	DH
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Curtis Granderson	CF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Mark Teixeira	1B
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Alex Rodriguez	3B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Robinson Cano	2B
6. Carl Crawford	LF	6. Russell Martin	C
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. Nick Swisher	RF
8. J.D. Drew	RF	8. Andruw Jones	LF
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Eduardo Nunez	SS
Jon Lester	SP	Freddy Garcia	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees batter/pitcher matchups

As expected, Marco Scutaro has been activated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, Scott Atchison has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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