After falling 7-5 last night, the Boston Red Sox will take on the Toronto Blue Jays tonight in the second game of a three-game set known here as the Battle for the Basement at historic Fenway Park.
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 Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
Daisuke Matsuzaka tries to get the local nine back on track in his 8th start of the season. In his previous seven starts, Dice-K is 1-4 with a 6.15 ERA. He picked up a no decision in his only start of 2012 against the Jays after allowing one run in 5.2 innings of work. Dice-K has had great success against the Jays in his career as he is 7-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 13 starts. Seven of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
Aaron Laffey will make his 12th start (18th appearance) of the season for the Jays. In his previous 17 appearances (11 starts), Laffey is 3-5 with a 4.46 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Red Sox this season and is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/13 IP). Overall in his career, Laffey has made eight appearances (three starts) and is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA. Seven of those appearances (three starts) were at the Fens where he is 1-1 with a 4.57 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 today’s lineups:
 62-75 |
 63-76 |
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| 1. Rajai Davis | LF | 1. Pedro Ciriaco | 3B |
| 2. Colby Rasmus | CF | 2. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 3. Edwin Encarnacion | DH | 3. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 4. Adam Lind | 1B | 4. Cody Ross | RF |
| 5. Yunel Escobar | SS | 5. Mauro Gomez | 1B |
| 6. Kelly Johnson | 2B | 6. Ryan Lavarnway | C |
| 7. J.P. Arencibia | C | 7. Mike Aviles | DH |
| 8. Adeiny Hechavarria | 3B | 8. Scott Podsednik | 3B |
| 9. Anthony Gose | RF | 9. Jose Iglesias | SS |
| Aaron Laffey | SP | Daisuke Matsuzaka | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
NOTES:
REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Lackey throws 15 pitches to hitters, feels ‘great’ [csn new england]
John Lackey rules out 2012 return [espn boston]
Salty gets day off to rest after back spasms [espn boston]
Doubront would resist early shutdown of his season [extra bases]
John Lackey faces hitters for first time since surgery [full count]
Dustin Pedroia Collects 400th Career RBI But Can’t Enjoy Milestone After Another Loss [nesn.com]
Dustin Pedroia Continues to Lift Team as Red Sox Hope More Players Will Join Hitting Show [nesn.com]
Dustin Pedroia, Mauro Gomez Lead Red Sox Offense in Season’s Latter Stages [nesn.com]
Lackey throws live BP [projo sox blog]
Saltalamacchia out with back spasms [projo sox blog]
Dice-K out to erase disappointment of last start [redsox.com]
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photo credits: getty images, getty images
