After 11 straight games against the AL Central, the Boston Red Sox return to their roots in the AL East with first place line. They’ll host the New York Yankees in the first game of a three-game set tonight at Historic Fenway Park.
Today’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 Yankees television market, you can watch the game on YES. If you don’t live in either market, you may be in luck as the MLB Network is scheduled to have coverage of the game tonight. 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 help the Red Sox back into sole possession of first place in the AL East in his 21st start of 2011. In his previous 20 starts, Lester is 11-4 with a 3.17 ERA. He has made two starts against the Yankees this season and is 2-0 with a 5.25 ERA (7 ER/12 IP). He’s made 14 career starts against the Evil Empire and is 8-1 with a 3.56 ERA. He is undefeated (2-0, 5.34 ERA) against the Yankees in five starts at the Fens.
One time member of the Red Sox, Bartolo Colon, makes his 17th start (20th appearance) of 2011. In his previous 19 appearances (16 starts), Colon is 8-6 with a 3.30 ERA. He’s made two appearances (one start) against the Red Sox in 2011 and is 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA. He’s made 24 career appearances (23 starts) against the Red Sox and is 8-11 with a 4.03 ERA. 15 of those appearances (14 starts) have come at the Fens where he is 6-6 with 4.03 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the morning/early afternoon if you’re on the home page.
Here are this evening’s lineups:
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| 1. Derek Jeter | SS | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Curtis Granderson | CF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Mark Teixeira | 1B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Robinson Cano | 2B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Nick Swisher | RF | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Andruw Jones | LF | 6. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 7. Russell Martin | C | 7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 8. Jorge Posada | DH | 8. Josh Reddick | RF |
| 9. Eduardo Nunez | 3B | 9. Marco Scutaro | SS |
| Bartolo Colon | SP | Jon Lester | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Video: Alec Baldwin Gets John Krasinski Good [SOX & Dawgs]
Video: Here come the Yankees! Previewing Sox-Yanks at Fenway [Clubhouse Insider]
Pregame notes: Miller to bullpen, Lowrie aims for Monday [Clubhouse Insider]
Youkilis: Ortiz deserved RBI [Clubhouse Insider]
Joe Girardi on Dustin Pedroia: ‘He’s taken off’ [Clubhouse Insider]
Notes: Lowrie on track to be activated Monday [CSNNE.com]
Video: Red Sox-Yankees preview [ESPN Boston]
Video: State of the Nation with Gordon Edes [ESPN Boston]
W2W4: Yankees, Red Sox key defenders [ESPN Boston]
Red Sox, Yankees battle it out for AL East lead [ESPN Boston]
Jenks to throw side session Sunday [ESPN Boston]
Short-term pitching rotation set [ESPN Boston]
Lowrie’s rehab with PawSox going ‘fine’ [ESPN Boston]
No sign of former Yankee-killer Crawford [ESPN Boston]
Three faces of Papelbon? [ESPN Boston]
Why winning the East may matter [Extra Bases]
Red Sox shift rotation; bump Miller again [Extra Bases]
Behind enemy lines: Pre-game Yankees notes [Extra Bases]
Kevin Millar on M&M: ‘I understand the frustrations that Big Papi had’ [Full Count]
Yankees At Red Sox: An Early Look At Three-Game Series [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox Will Need to Beat CC Sabathia in Order to Sweep Yankees, But There Is Hope for Boston [NESN.com]
Jonathan ‘Cinco Ocho’ Papelbon, Wouldn’t Imitate Chad Ochocinco’s Group Hug [NESN.com]
Terry Francona More Than Aware of Yankees’ Current Hot Streak, Ability to Rack Up Stolen Bases [NESN.com]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Yankees and Modern Pennant “Races” [Projo Sox Blog]
Yeah, what he said! [Projo Sox Blog]
Q&A: Yankees Beat Writer Marc Carig [Projo Sox Blog]
Aviles pumped to play hometown team [Projo Sox Blog]
Lowrie could return as early as Monday [Projo Sox Blog]
Jenks to throw side on Sunday [Projo Sox Blog]
Miller bumped from rotation [Projo Sox Blog]
Five key questions as Yankees meet Red Sox [Providence Journal]
Lester, Colon to get battle for AL East lead started [RedSox.com]
Yanks, Sox on equal footing as showdown starts [RedSox.com]
The Book: Jose Iglesias [SoxProspects.com]
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Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images
