It’s been since 2001 when the Boston Red Sox had one representative in a MLB All-Star Game. And in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game to be held in Kansas City on July 10th, that’ll be the case as well.

David Ortiz was the only member of the Red Sox to make the AL All-Star Team and he did that by winning the fan voting at DH. No other player on the Red Sox was voted in by the players or the coaches. Nor were any of the choice of AL manager Ron Washington.

Big Papi enters Sunday’s game with the Seattle Mariners on the cusp of 400 home runs as he currently sits at 399. He is hitting .305 this season so far in 77 games with 21 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Given the way the Red Sox season has gone, this is not surprising at all. Maybe they’ll get lucky and have some one chosen to replace a player that can’t or won’t be able to play in the game.

But I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one folks.

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photo credit: getty images

After falling 3-2 in 11 innings last night, the Boston Red Sox will try this afternoon to gain a split in the finale of a four-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Mariners television market, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports.  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Felix Doubront looks to help the Red Sox gain that split of the series in his 16th start of 2012. In his previous 15 starts, Doubront is 8-4 with a 4.54 ERA. His only career appearance against the Mariners came into 2010 out of the bullpen when he didn’t allow a run in 1.1 innings of work. This afternoon’s start will mark his first appearance at Safeco Field.

Jason Vargas will make his 18th start of 2012 this afternoon. In his previous 17 starts, Vargas is 7-7 with a 4.54 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox this season and took the loss after allowing five runs in six innings back on May 12th. He’s made four starts against the Red Sox in his career and is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA. Two of those starts have come at Safeco Field where he is 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA (3 ER/12.1 IP).

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:

41-37		34-46
1. Brent Lillibridge	CF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Casper Wells	CF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Kyle Seager	3B
4. Cody Ross	RF	4. Jesus Montero	C
5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	5. Miguel Olivo	DH
6. Will Middlebrooks	3B	6. Justin Smoak	1B
7. Daniel Nava	LF	7. Dustin Ackley	2B
8. Kelly Shoppach	C	8. Chone Figgins	LF
9. Nick Punto	SS	9. Brendan Ryan	SS
Felix Doubront	SP	Jason Vargas	SP

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

NOTES: Mike Aviles was in the original lineup but was scratched due to illness. He was replaced by Punto at short.

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia: ‘I felt like I deserved’ to be an All-Star [clubhouse insider]

Ortiz only Red Sox named to All-Star Game [csn new england]

Saltalamacchia disappointed in All-Star snub [csn new england]

Starter Ortiz lone Sox player on All-Star team [espn boston]

Pitchers, Saltalamacchia establishing strong rapport [projo sox blog]

The Best and Worst of June [projo sox blog]

Saltalamacchia disappointed to not make All-Star team [projo sox blog]

Ortiz Boston’s lone Star [projo sox blog]

Doubront looks to bounce back against Seattle [redsox.com]

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photo credits: getty images, getty images

If you thought the end of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners last night looked familiar, it’s because it just about was the same as Thursday night.

One of the differences was the fact that instead of Jarrod Saltalamacchia dropping the ball on the throw from Cody Ross, he misplayed it and that allowed the Mariners to take a 3-2 win over the visiting nine in the 11th inning (Thursday night’s loss was in the bottom of the 9th).

We really shouldn’t blame Salty though for the loss. That should lie with the offense which went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

They had runners on first and third in the 4th with two outs only to see Will Middlebrooks strike out. In the 5th, Ross was stranded at second base after Mike Aviles grounded out and Daniel Nava lined out.

They got their first run in the 7th after Ryan Kalish grounded into a fielder’s choice RBI. The second run came in when Middlebrooks scored on a passed ball. But with Kalish at second, Aviles grounded out, Nava walked and Dustin Pedroia grounded out.

In the 9th against Mariners closer Tom Wilhelmsen, they stranded Ross and Kalish on the base paths when Aviles struck out and Nava flew out. In the 10th, Pedroia and David Ortiz led off with singles only to be left there too when Salty struck out, Adrian Gonzalez and Middlebrooks grounded into fielder’s choices.

Against a team like the Mariners who are at the bottom of the AL West, the Red Sox need to win these games. They need to take advantage of the chances when they have them.

Josh Beckett made his return from the disabled list and gave the Red Sox a solid six innings of work. He didn’t allow his first hit of the night until the 5th inning when Miguel Olivo singled. He ran into some trouble in the 6th though.

After getting the first out, Ichiro Suzuki singled and stole second. He walked Casper Wells and that was followed by a Kyle Seager single to load up the bases. Thursday night’s hero John Jaso doubled in two runs. Beckett escaped further trouble by getting Justin Smoak to ground out to him and Olivo to ground to third sandwiched around an intentional walk to Dustin Ackley.

Beckett didn’t show any signs of rust with the layoff due to shoulder inflammation. His fastball was right about the same velocity it was before the stint on the disabled list. He was able to command his fastball and locate it as well as other pitches.

The bullpen was solid behind him as well. Mark Melancon, Andrew Miller, Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves all pitched well. Unfortunately the Mariners got Aceves in his third inning of work to bring in the winning run.

The Red Sox really need a win this afternoon. Losing three-of-four to the Mariners could possibly dampen their spirts and despite two walkoff losses they aren’t playing all that badly. They just need a really big offensive output to keep things on track.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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Red Sox fall to Mariners in 11 innings [boston globe]

Not under control [boston globe]

Mariners outlast Red Sox in 11 [boston herald]

Morales, Cook answer call for arms [boston herald]

Show of power [boston herald]

Deja vu for Cody Ross [boston herald]

You call these stars? [boston herald]

Doesn’t get old [boston herald]

Sox waste chances, fall in extras, 3-2 [csn new england]

Same play, same result for disappointed Red Sox [csn new england]

First pitch: Sox can’t capitalize on offensive chances [csn new england]

A’s Reddick proving Sox wrong … so far [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Mariners 3, Sox 2 (11) [espn boston]

Sox can’t solve M’s in another walk-off loss [espn boston]

A look back at the Red Sox career of Darnell McDonald [full count]

Tim Wakefield Joins the ‘Dark Side’ as NESN’s Newest Commentator (Video) [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett Inches Closer to Return to Form in Solid Performance Against Mariners [nesn.com]

Caught in numbers crunch, McDonald designated [redsox.com]

Aceves getting restless over lack of work [redsox.com]

Ellsbury gets action in center; Crawford belts hit [redsox.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Everett Herald, Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: getty images

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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

UConn Football links

Easley, ex-teammates forget obstacles when on field [ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ben Gordon on Representing Great Britain in Olympics [uconn huskies basketball]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. CATCHING UP WITH…Matt Barnes of Bethel and UConn [new haven register]

M. Ice Hockey. Finally, A Day To Celebrate Hockey In Hartford [hartford courant]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

After winning 5-0 last night, the Boston Red Sox look to secure a least a split of the series tonight in the third game of a four-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Mariners television market, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports.  And if you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game (not in Red Sox or Mariners television markets). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

After being placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation, Josh Beckett returns to make his 13th start of the 2012 season. In his previous 12 starts, Beckett is 4-7 with a 4.14 ERA. He’s made one start against the Mariners this season picking up the win after throwing seven shutout innings back on May 15th. In his career, Beckett is 7-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 10 career starts. Four of those starts have come at Safeco Field where he is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA.

Erasmo Ramirez makes his fourth start (11th appearance) of 2012 tonight for the struggling Mariners. In his previous 10 appearances (three starts), Ramirez is 0-2 with a 4.18 ERA. In his three starts, he is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA. Tonight marks his first career start and appearance against the Red Sox.

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:

41-36		33-46
1. Daniel Nava	LF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Casper Wells	CF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Kyle Seager	3B
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	4. John Jaso	DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	5. Justin Smoak	1B
6. Will Middlebrooks	3B	6. Dustin Ackley	2B
7. Cody Ross	RF	7. Miguel Olivo	C
8. Ryan Kalish	CF	8. Chone Figgins	LF
9. Mike Aviles	SS	9. Munenori Kawasaki	SS
Josh Beckett	SP	Erasmo Ramirez	SP

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

NOTES: With Beckett returning from the disabled list, Darnell McDonald was designated for assignment. DMac broke the news himself on Twitter.

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

Jarrod Saltalamacchia on possible All-Star nod: ‘I’m hoping it happens’ [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox notes: Aceves looking to get some work [csn new england]

Beckett off DL to start [espn boston]

Roster decisions are coming for the Red Sox [extra bases]

Crawford and Ellsbury play again in GCL [extra bases]

Valentine: McDonald’s number was up [extra bases]

Aaron Cook’s unique complete game [extra bases]

Is Daniel Bard a lost cause? [full count]

Do You Want David Ortiz to Hit His 400th Career Home Run at Fenway Park? [nesn.com]

Aaron Cook Earns Amica Pitcher of the Week Honors With Third Career Shutout [nesn.com]

Rehab update: Ellsbury, Crawford [projo sox blog]

Valentine looking to get Aceves and Padilla some work [projo sox blog]

Making third start, Ramirez to face Red Sox [redsox.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credits: getty images, ap photo

If you take a look at the below tweet from Boston Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald, it appears he has been designated for assignment to make room for Josh Beckett on the 25-man roster.

Dream come true to play in Boston want to wish my boys good luck the rest of the year! Much love to RSN! #ShowGoesOn

— Darnell McDonald (@MacDime54) June 30, 2012

When McDonald was first called up to the Red Sox in 2010, he made a big splash helping them to a come-from-behind win over the Texas Rangers.

Let’s relive the first memories of DMac with the Red Sox.

Walkoff single:

{flvremote}http://ianbethune.com/mcdwalkoff.flv{/flvremote}

Two-run homer:

{flvremote}http://theo6111.com/a.flv{/flvremote}

We wish DMac the best in whatever the future holds for him.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.