After taking two-of-three in Toronto over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox finish up their seven game road trip starting tonight. They’ll look to play spoilers in the first game of a four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game 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. If you don’t live in either market you are in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game as well (outside of Red Sox and Rays television markets). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
The mightily struggling Aaron Cook gets the ball tonight for the visiting nine for the 16th time in 2012. In his previous 15 starts, Cook is 3-10 with a 5.18 ERA. He has not faced the Rays as a member of the Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA (14 ER/19 IP) in three career starts. His lone career start at the Trop came in 2004 as a member of the Colorado Rockies when he picked up a no decision after allowing five runs in six innings of work.
Alex Cobb makes his 21st start of 2012 for Joe Maddon’s Rays. In his previous 20 starts, Cobb is 9-8 with a 4.26 ERA. His lone career start against the Red Sox came earlier this season when he picked up the win after allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings of work back on May 25th at Fenway Park.
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 today’s lineups:
 66-81 |
 78-68 |
||
| 1. Pedro Ciriaco | 3B | 1. Desmond Jennings | LF |
| 2. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 2. B.J. Upton | CF |
| 3. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 3. Ben Zobrist | SS |
| 4. Cody Ross | RF | 4. Matthew Joyce | RF |
| 5. James Loney | 1B | 5. Luke Scott | DH |
| 6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | DH | 6. Jeff Keppinger | 3B |
| 7. Ryan Lavarnway | C | 7. Carlos Pena | 1B |
| 8. Scott Podsednik | LF | 8. Ryan Roberts | 2B |
| 9. Jose Iglesias | SS | 9. Jose Molina | C |
| Aaron Cook | SP | Alex Cobb | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
NOTES:
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To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Maddon: ‘Not upset’ by Valentine late-gate [rob bradford – weei.com]
Where has Daniel Bard’s blazing fastball gone? [clubhouse insider]
Bats make Red Sox shortcomings a total team effort [csn new england]
Valentine: ‘Iglesias hasn’t quite found himself yet’ [csn new england]
Bobby V: Iglesias hasn’t found himself at plate [espn boston]
Miller well suited to bullpen role [espn boston]
Maddon brushes off Valentine comment [espn boston]
One day later, a look at how Jose Iglesias can avoid being pinch-hit for [full count]
Dustin Pedroia Looking to Stay Hot as Red Sox Open Series in Tampa Bay [nesn.com]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Rays and Weak Rosters [projo sox blog]
Ochoa: Iglesias’ confidence won’t be affected by PH [projo sox blog]
Miller remains a bright spot for Sox [projo sox blog]
Valentine proud of PawSox [projo sox blog]
Red Sox look to put a crimp in Rays’ playoff dreams [redsox.com]
Lavarnway has potential to hit well in Majors [redsox.com]
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photo credits: getty images, getty images
