After falling last night to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox look to prevent them from getting any closer in the AL Wild Card standings tonight in game two of a four-game set from historic Fenway Park.
Today’s 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 Rays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. Depending on where you live, you might also be able to catch the game on the MLB Network. 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 returns to the hill for his 28th start of 2011 after suffering an ankle injury on September 5th. In his previous 27 starts, Beckett is 12-5 with a 2.49 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Rays this season and is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/17 IP). He’s made 18 career starts against the Rays and is 8-4 with a 2.94 ERA. Ten of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA.
James Shields looks to pull the Rays to within two games of the Red Sox in the race for the playoffs in his 31st of 2011. In his previous 30 starts, Shields is 15-10 with a 2.70 ERA. He’s made four starts this season against the Red Sox and is 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA. He’s made 20 career starts against the Red Sox and is 7-11 with a 4.58 ERA. Nine of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-8 with a 6.99 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.
Here are this evening’s lineups:
 83-66 |
 86-63 |
||
| 1. Desmond Jennings | LF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. B.J. Upton | CF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Evan Longoria | 3B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Casey Kotchman | 1B | 4. David Ortiz | DH |
| 5. Johnny Damon | DH | 5. Josh Reddick | RF |
| 6. Ben Zobrist | 2B | 6. Marco Scutaro | SS |
| 7. Matthew Joyce | RF | 7. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 8. John Jaso | C | 8. Jason Varitek | C |
| 9. Reid Brignac | SS | 9. Mike Aviles | 3B |
| James Shields | SP | Josh Beckett | 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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Revisiting the trade deadline: Could the Sox have averted disaster? [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Lavarnway honored by Baseball America [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Sox counting on Beckett to deliver [Chad Finn’s Touching All The Bases]
Kevin Youkilis unable to play through hip bursitis, sports hernia [Clubhouse Insider]
CBHoF honors Red Sox manager Terry Francona [College Baseball Daily]
Beckett’s test starts now [CSN New England]
Youkilis sparks memories of Lowell [CSN New England]
Sox: Youkilis will sit Saturday, as well [CSN New England]
Neck issue delays Drew’s return [ESPN Boston]
Youkilis out Saturday, too [ESPN Boston]
Tito still unsure who to pitch Monday [ESPN Boston]
The Red Sox still have time to recapture what they had [Extra Bases]
Youkilis to sit tonight and tomorrow [Extra Bases]
Red Sox won’t miss playoffs, will they? [FOXSports.com]
Which prospects did A’s want in Rich Harden deal? [Full Count]
Kevin Millar on M&M: Time for Sox to just ‘win a game’ [Full Count]
Josh Reddick believes Josh Beckett is ‘one person’ who can put Red Sox on his back [Full Count]
Johnny Damon Hoping Red Sox Are in ‘Panic Mode’ [NESN.com]
Moore following in Price’s footsteps [Projo Sox Blog]
Franklin Morales still an enigma for Red Sox [Projo Sox Blog]
Lavarnway named to Baseball America’s All-Star team [Projo Sox Blog]
Ailing Youkilis out Friday — and Saturday, too [Projo Sox Blog]
Aceves unlikely to start one of two games on Monday [Projo Sox Blog]
Beckett to face Shields in marquee matchup [RedSox.com]
Healthy Ellsbury quiets critics with big season [RedSox.com]
2011 SoxProspects.com Players of the Year [SoxProspects.com]
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Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
