Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/26

Danny Duffy (L), Andrew Miller (R)

After falling in extra innings last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track tonight in game two of a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals at Historic Fenway Park.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Royals television market, you can watch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Andrew Miller looks to put his control issues in the past in his seventh start of 2011. In his previous six starts, Miller is 4-1 with a 4.65 ERA. Miller has struggled against the Royals in his career as he is 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in four appearances (two starts). He has not faced them as a member of the Red Sox.

Rookie Danny Duffy makes his 12th start of his career and season for Ned Yost‘s squad. In his previous 11 starts, Duffy is 2-4 with a 4.58 ERA. Tonight will mark his first career start against the Red Sox.

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

Here are this evening’s lineups:

43-59		62-38
1. Alex Gordon	LF	1. Darnell McDonald	CF
2. Melky Cabrera	CF	2. Marco Scutaro	SS
3. Billy Butler	DH	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Eric Hosmer	1B	4. Dustin Pedroia	2B
5. Jeff Francoeur	RF	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Mike Moustakas	3B	6. Carl Crawford	LF
7. Mike Aviles	2B	7. Jason Varitek	C
8. Matt Treanor	C	8. Josh Reddick	RF
9. Alcides Escobar	2B	9. Yamaico Navarro	3B
Danny Duffy	SP	Andrew Miller	SP

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

Kansas City Royals @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

J.D. Drew was officially placed on the disabled list with a left shoulder impingement. Drew Sutton has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Drew’s place on the roster. Kyle Weiland was actually optioned to Pawtucket before yesterday’s game to make room for Jon Lester.

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

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Francona on trade deadline: ‘I like our young players’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Source: Red Sox ‘passively inquired’ about Jimenez, Iannetta [Clubhouse Insider]

Sox target bullpen help at trade deadline [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Youkilis, Ellsbury out tonight vs. Royals [CSNNE.com]

Youkilis checks out OK, but will sit tonight [ESPN Boston]

Buchholz sore, but Sox not concerned [ESPN Boston]

Lowrie making slow, steady progress [ESPN Boston]

Drew officially on DL; Sutton recalled [ESPN Boston]

Jenks’ back no better; Albers able fill-in [ESPN Boston]

Trade Talk: What if the Sox do nothing? [Extra Bases]