The Boston Red Sox look to finish off interleague play this afternoon as they look for the sweep in the finale of a three-game set with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and you can watch the game on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Astros television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Houston. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Josh Beckett looks for his 7th win of 2011 in his 16th start of 2011. In his previous 15 starts, Beckett is 6-3 with a 2.20 ERA. He has made six career starts against the Astros and is 2-2 with a 2.20 ERA. One of those starts came as a member of the Red Sox back in 2008. In that start, Beckett picked up a no decision after going seven innings. He’s made three career starts at Minute Maid Park and is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA. Beckett’s only interleague start of 2011 came his last time out where he took the loss against the Philadelphia Phillies after allowing five runs in six innings of work. Overall in his career, Beckett has made 19 career interleague starts and is 11-5 with a 3.23 ERA.
20-year-old rookie Jordan Lyles goes in search of first career win in his seventh start of 2011. In his previous six starts, Lyles is 0-3 with a 4.75 ERA. This will be the first time he’s faced the Red Sox and only his third start against an American League team. His previous two starts against AL teams came against the Texas Rangers in which he is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA (8 ER/13 IP).
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 afternoon’s lineups:
 48-34 |
 29-55 |
||
| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury |
CF | 1. Michael Bourn | CF |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Clint Barmes | SS |
| 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | 3. Hunter Pence | RF |
| 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B | 4. Carlos Lee | 1B |
| 5. J. D. Drew | RF | 5. Matt Downs | 2B |
| 6. Josh Reddick | LF | 6. Brett Wallace |
1B |
| 7. Yamaico Navarro | SS | 7. Chris Johnson | 3B |
| 8. Jason Varitek |
C | 8. Carlos Corporan |
C |
| 9. Josh Beckett | P | 9. Jordan Lyles | P |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Notes: The Red Sox game against the Yankees on August 7th will be televised on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and begin at 8:05 p.m.
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Miller in control as Sox rout Astros [Boston Globe]
Navarro does in a pinch [Boston Globe]
McDonald times it right [Boston Globe]
In outfield, he may have hit upon something [Boston Globe]
The away team [Boston Globe]
Sox show of faith in win [Boston Herald]
J.D. Drew’s slump opens the door for new RF options [Boston Herald]
‘This Time’ it does count [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz not in swing of things [Boston Herald]
Beckett bringing it home [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz selects Adrian Gonzalez for HR Derby [Clubhouse Insider]
Miller impresses again, offense clicks as Sox roll, 10-4 [CSNNE.com]
Red Sox reflect on labor issues in other leagues [CSNNE.com]
Notes: McDonald hopes homer gets him going [CSNNE.com]
Nava on the comeback trail [CSNNE.com]
Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 10, Astros 4 [ESPN Boston]
Struggling McDonald gets important homer [ESPN Boston]
Navarro gets first career homer [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Andrew Miller impressive again in Red Sox win over Astros [Full Count]
Johnny Damon passes Ted Williams on all-time hits list [Full Count]
Video: Josh Beckett Says There’s No Better Place to Win Than in Boston [NESN.com]
Video: Andrew Miller Still Fine-Tuning Some Things, But Ready to Pitch Whenever Called Upon [NESN.com]
Dustin Pedroia’s Surge Continues With Knee Problem a Distant Memory [NESN.com]
Video: Dustin Pedroia Praises Andrew Miller, Hopes to Close Out Road Trip With Fourth Straight Win [NESN.com]
Video: Andrew Miller Credits Solid Defense for Success, Says He’s Focusing on One Start at a Time [NESN.com]
Video: Jacoby Ellsbury Honored By First All-Star Game Selection [NESN.com]
Video: David Ortiz Invites Three American League East Sluggers to Home Run Derby [NESN.com]
Video: Red Sox’ Resilience Dealing With Injuries Reminds Jim Rice of 1975 Team [NESN.com]
Gonzalez joins Ortiz on Home Run Derby team [Projo Sox Blog]
Miller’s adjustments pay off [Providence Journal]
For Red Sox, a first half of highs and lows [Providence Journal]
Beckett set for hometown start against Astros [RedSox.com]
Crawford, Buchholz both making progress [RedSox.com]
Bard sticks to plan, and his dominance returns [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, you can head over to the Houston Chronicle website. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Breathing Orange Fire.
Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images
