Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/16

Dylan Axelrod (L), Aaron Cook (R)

After taking two-of-three against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox return to historic Fenway Park for a seven game homestand. Tonight they’ll kick it off with the first of a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the White Sox television market, you can watch the game on CSN Chicago. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Aaron Cook makes his fifth start of 2012 for the Red Sox. In his previous four starts, Cook is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA. He faced the White Sox once in 2011 as member of the Colorado Rockies and picked up a no decision after allowing one run in six innings of work. He’s made two career starts against the Chisox and is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (4 ER/12 IP).

Dylan Axelrod steps in for an injured Gavin Floyd to make his sixth start (ninth appearance) of the season. In his previous eight appearances (five starts), Axelrod is 1-2 with a 6.16 ERA. His only career appearance against the Red Sox came back on April 27th when he allowed a run in 2.1 innings of work. Tonight marks his first Fenway start and appearance.

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 today’s lineups:

49-39		45-44
1. Alejandro De Aza	CF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Kevin Youkilis	3B	2. Carl Crawford	LF
3. Adam Dunn	DH	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Paul Konerko	1B	4. Adrian Gonzalez	3B
5. Alex Rios	RF	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. A.J. Pierzynski	C	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Dayan Viciedo	LF	7. Will Middlebrooks	3B
8. Alexei Ramirez	SS	8. Mike Aviles	SS
9. Gordon Beckham	2B	9. Pedro Ciriaco	2B
Dylan Axelrod	SP	Aaron Cook	SP

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

Chicago White Sox @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

NOTES: As you can see from the lineup, Crawford has been activated from the 60-day disabled list. Brent Lillibridge will be designated for assignment to make room on both the 40-man and 25-man rosters for Crawford.

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Best Of Kevin Youkilis and Dan Roche [cbs boston]

Aftershocks from Kevin Youkilis-Bobby V feud still being felt by Red Sox [clubhouse insider]

VIDEO: Big night at Fenway with Youkilis, Crawford [clubhouse insider]

Feeling better physically and mentally, Carl Crawford makes his return [clubhouse insider]

Kevin Youkilis on life after Red Sox: ‘There’s less drama’ [clubhouse insider]

First pitch: Crawford has plenty to overcome in return [csn new england]

Bobby vs. Youk: Does it matter? [csn new england]

Sox pursuing Liriano, blocked from going after Justin Upton [csn new england]

Sox tell Bill James to stop commenting on Paterno [csn new england]

Report: Sox interested in Cubs’ Dempster [csn new england]