Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/8

Tim Wakefield (L), A.J. Burnett (R)

After beating the New York Yankees to move into a virtual tie for first place in the AL East, the Boston Red Sox look to take sole possession of it in the second game of a three-game set in the Bronx.

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 YES. If you don’t live in either market, you are in luck as the game will be broadcast on ESPN. You can also catch the game online at ESPN3.com. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

With his spot in the rotation secure for the foreseeable future, Tim Wakefield will make his 6th start (15th appearance) of the season for the Red Sox. In his previous 14 appearances (five starts), Wake is 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA. He’s made one appearance against the Yankees this season back on April 9th when he threw two scoreless innings of relief. He’s made 56 career appearances (34 starts) against the Bronx Bombers and is 11-17 with a 4.90 ERA. This will be his first career start at the new Yankee Stadium and is 6-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 24 appearances (15 starts) in the Bronx.

A.J. Burnett toes the slab for the Yankees tonight in his 13th start of 2011. In his 12 starts, Burnett is 6-3 with a 3.86 ERA. He has not faced the Red Sox in 2011 and was 0-1 with a 7.63 ERA in three starts in 2010. He’s made 15 career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-3 with a 4.79 ERA. Since joining the Yankees in 2009, Burnett is 0-3 with a 10.61 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox. Of those six starts since joining the Yanks, only has come at Yankee Stadium against the boys from Beantown where he received a no decision in 7.2 innings of scoreless baseball (only allowed one hit).

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:

34-26		33-25
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	DH
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Robinson Cano	2B
6. Carl Crawford	LF	6. Nick Swisher	RF
7. Marco Scutaro	SS	7. Brett Gardner	LF
8. J.D. Drew	RF	8. Eduardo Nunez	3B
9. Jason Varitek	SS	9. Francisco Cervelli	C
Tim Wakefield	SP	A.J. Burnett	SP

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

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees batter/pitcher matchups

Bobby Jenks has been placed on the 15-day DL with back tightness. He’s been replaced on the 25-man roster by catcher Luis Exposito who’ll be up until Jarrod Saltalamacchia recovers from what ails him right now.

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

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Ortiz doing things, “Papi style” [Clubhouse Insider]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia ill, Varitek catching Wakefield [Clubhouse Insider]

Pregame notes: Jenks to DL, catcher Luis Exposito called up [Clubhouse Insider]

Ortiz blasting his way into Sox’ future [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Saltalamacchia (stomach virus) out [CSNNE.com]

John Lackey Essential As Team Enters Tough AL East Schedule [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Pedroia’s struggles against RHP [ESPN Boston]

Video: BBTN previews tonight’s game [ESPN Boston]

Podcast: Baseball America’s Manuel on draft [ESPN Boston]

Saltalamacchia hospitalized with illness [ESPN Boston]