Wednesday Red Sox Mediocrity – 8/29

Zach Stewart (L), C.J. Wilson (R)

After falling 6-5 last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track tonight in the middle game of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports West. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

After coming over in the Kevin Youkilis trade a few months ago, Zach Stewart will make his Red Sox debut tonight. Stewart made 18 appearances (one start) for the Chicago White Sox this season and was 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA. He has not faced the Angels this season and has made one career start against them. That start came last year in Anaheim when he took the loss after allowing seven earned runs in six innings of work.

C.J. Wilson makes his 28th start of 2012 for the Angels. In his previous 27 starts, Wilson is 9-9 with a 3.83 ERA. His lone start against the Red Sox this season came in his last time out when he picked up a no decision after allowing seven runs (six earned) in five innings of work. Wilson has made 18 career appearances (six starts) against the Red Sox and is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA and three saves.

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:

62-68		67-62
1. Pedro Ciriaco	3B	1. Mike Trout	CF
2. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	2. Torii Hunter	RF
3. Dustin Pedroia	2B	3. Albert Pujols	DH
4. Cody Ross	RF	4. Kendrys Morales	1B
5. Ryan Lavarnway	C	5. Mark Trumbo	LF
6. Mauro Gomez	1B	6. Howie Kendrick	2B
7. Mike Aviles	DH	7. Alberto Callaspo	3B
8. Jose Iglesias	SS	8. Erick Aybar	SS
9. Scott Podsednik	LF	9. Chris Iannetta	C
Zach Stewart	SP	C.J. Wilson	SP

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

Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim batter/pitcher matchups

NOTES: As you can see from the lineup, Stewart has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Clayton Mortensen has been optioned to the PawSox to make room for Stewart. Daniel Bard is with the team and is expected to be activated on Thursday.

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

Time to be ‘the man’ [boston herald]

Jose Iglesias back in show [boston herald]

Bard: ‘It’s good to be back’ with Red Sox [rob bradford – weei.com]

Getting to know Zach Stewart [clubhouse insider]

Daniel Bard on rejoining Red Sox: ‘I kind of lost the pitcher I was’ [clubhouse insider]

Where do Red Sox go for power? [csn new england]

Bard: ‘I’m a reliever; I think that’s all I know right now’ [csn new england]

Source: Red Sox not making run at Mauer [espn boston]

Zach Stewart makes Sox debut against Angels [espn boston]

Valentine flares when asked about umpire’s call [espn boston]

Josh Beckett’s spin is another wild pitch [extra bases]