After taking two-of-three from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox head to the left coast for the next seven games. Tonight they’ll kick off the first of a four-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

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.  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Franklin Morales will make his third start (25th appearance) of 2012 for the Red Sox. In his previous 24 appearances (two starts), Morales is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA. He made three appearances against the Mariners in 2011 and had no record with a 13.50 ERA (3 ER/2 IP). Those were also his only three career appearances against them as well. Two of them came at Safeco Field where had no record with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/1.1 IP).

Felix Hernandez makes his 16th start of the season for the Mariners. In his previous 15 starts, King Felix is 5-5 with a 3.36 ERA. He made three starts against the Red Sox in 2011 and was 1-1 with a 5.31 ERA. Hernandez has made 11 career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA. Five of those starts have come at Safeco Field where he is 2-1 with a 4.86 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:

40-35		32-45
1. Daniel Nava	LF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Franklin Gutierrez	CF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Kyle Seager	3B
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	4. Jesus Montero	DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	5. Casper Wells	LF
6. Will Middlebrooks	3B	6. Justin Smoak	1B
7. Cody Ross	RF	7. Miguel Olivo	C
8. Ryan Kalish	CF	8. Dustin Ackley	2B
9. Mike Aviles	SS	9. Brendan Ryan	SS
Franklin Morales	SP	Felix Hernandez	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

Sox pick up the pieces [boston herald]

Bard: Can’t worry about returning to Red Sox [rob bradford – weei.com]

Red Sox gave Buchholz permission to attend Foxwoods [csn new england]

Red Sox injury update: Crawford, Ellsbury feel fine [csn new england]

Cook hopes to contribute [csn new england]

A few Red Sox notes from Seattle [extra bases]

Crawford throws without pain in rehab game [extra bases]

Taiwanese phenom Tzu-Wei Lin close to starting pro career with Red Sox [full count]

Do East or West Coast Teams Have a Bigger Advantage Hosting Opponents From the Opposite Coast? [nesn.com]

Zack Greinke Could Be Impact Trade to Bolster Red Sox Rotation [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez’s Willingness to Swallow His Pride Helping Red Sox Get Back on Track [nesn.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Mariners and Mysteries [projo sox blog]

What Daniel Bard is thinking about these days [projo sox blog]

Andy LaRoche joins PawSox [projo sox blog]

Cook hoping to build off last start [projo sox blog]

Ellsbury to make rehab start Friday [projo sox blog]

Lillibridge happy to return home [projo sox blog]

Sox sticking with six — for now [projo sox blog]

Morales looks to turn in another strong start [redsox.com]

Pitching in for kid’s fitness [redsox.com]

Valentine has fond memories of ’88 All-Star Game [redsox.com]

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

photo credits: getty images, ap photo

Before heading to the left coast after yesterday afternoon’s game, the Boston Red Sox had some business to attend to, the rubber game with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Things went well for the local nine as they got out to a big early lead with Jon Lester making it hold up in a 10-4 win.

It turned out to be a big win for the Red Sox. With the Tampa Bay Rays losing to the Kansas City Royals, the Red Sox moved up another notch in the AL East standings into a tie for third with the Rays. They both sit 6.5 games out of first and are 1.5 games behind the second place Baltimore Orioles. That’s also the difference in the wild card standings as well.

Considering the way this season has gone for the Red Sox and all of the injuries, things are much better than the “rock bottom” days of April.

The Red Sox did this one with the offense as they took advantage of a wild Ricky Romero for six runs in the 1st inning. It took Romero until the sixth batter of the inning to record an out when Will Middlebrooks had an RBI ground out to make it 4-1. Mike Aviles and Darnell McDonald followed with RBI singles to extend the lead to 6-1.

They would add a run in the 2nd on Adrian Gonzalez‘s RBI single. Another Gonzo RBI single in the 4th made it 8-2. Two batters later Aviles knocked in a run with a double to make it 9-2.

The Red Sox would add their final run of the day when David Ortiz hit a 418 foot home run over the Red Sox bullpen in the 5th inning. For Big Papi, it was career home run 399. It was really also the first pitch he was able to swing it after being walked in his first three at-bats.

Lester would give up a quick run to start the game when Colby Rasmus singled in Brett Lawrie who led off the game with a double. After that Lester settled in until he left a pitch out over the plate to Jose Bautista who cleared everything in left field. He even left a huge dent on a black SUV in a parking garage behind the Green Monster.

He left another changeup over the plate to Bautista in the 6th who took it for double down the right field line that was misplayed by Darnell McDonald. With the error by DMac, Bautista went to third but wasn’t there long as Edwin Encarnacion took advantage of a mistake pitch by Lester and crushed a home run to close out the scoring at 10-4.

Given how the season has gone for Lester, he has to be mostly happy with the results. I’d have to think it’s a lot easier to pitch when your team gets you six runs after you gave up one the previous half inning. The mistakes he made are correctable.

But with the top of the Red Sox rotation in flux, it was exactly what they needed.

The Red Sox now head out for west for their first west coast trip of the season. They’ll play four in Seattle before heading to Bay area for three with the Oakland Athletics. So you know what that means folks. You’re going to need to stay up late for the next week to enjoy your favorite team.

I’m up for the challenge. Are you?

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.

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

Looking up [boston globe]

Lefthander felt he had right stuff [boston globe]

Buchholz is a relieved pitcher [boston globe]

Jon Lester, David Ortiz lead Sox’ win over Jays [boston herald]

David Ortiz continues to have a blast at plate [boston herald]

Looking good, Red Sox [boston herald]

Darnell McDonald catches on [boston herald]

Jon Lester gets support in victory [boston herald]

Bobby Valentine Criticized for Being Opposite of Terry Francona, But His Methods Are Working [tom caron – nesn.com]

Red Sox beat up the Blue Jays in series finale, 10-4 [csn new england]

Buchholz attends event at MGM Foxwoods [csn new england]

Successful Red Sox homestand marks turning point [csn new england]

Lester: ‘A win’s, a win, I’m not going to overanalyze’ [csn new england]

Ross on Ortiz: ‘He’s on fire’ [csn new england]

Acid reflux is top cause of Buch’s condition [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 10, Blue Jays 4 [espn boston]

RF McDonald robs Jays’ Johnson of HR [espn boston]

Pedro steals show at ‘The Tradition’ [espn boston]

David Ortiz on verge of No. 400 in season for ages [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox come together with solid homestand [espn boston]

Closing time: Lineup explodes as Red Sox coast to win over Blue Jays [full count]

Clay Buchholz attended but did not drink at Foxwoods charity event on Wednesday night [full count]

Five questions about the resurgent Red Sox [tony massarotti – boston globe]

John Lackey Starts March Back From Tommy John Surgery, Beginning With Light Bullpen Session [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Vows to Avoid Distraction of History As He Nears Home Run No. 400 [nesn.com]

Jon Lester’s Budding Confidence Could Return Him to Cy Young Form [nesn.com]

After going deep, Papi had thoughts of No. 400 [redsox.com]

Tejeda claimed off waivers by Pirates [redsox.com]

Lackey expected to pitch before 2012 ends [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 Toronto Star and Toronto Sun 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

UConn AD Warde Manuel On College Football Playoff, UConn’s Place, Scheduling And…Notre Dame? [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Big East Interim Commissioner Joe Bailey Talks College Football Selection Committee [desmond conner – hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Andre Drummond: “Nothing Wrong With My Motor” [dom amore – hartford courant]

Andre Drummond’s Brave New World [dom amore – hartford courant]

Andre Drummond Talks Draft, UConn, His Work Ethic, His Mom [david borges – new haven register]

Recruiting Spotlight: Xavier Rathan Mayes [kevin duffy – ct post]

Drummond: ‘There’s nothing wrong with my motor’ [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Blessing in Disguise [uconn huskies basketball]

Andre Drummond all smiles on eve of draft [ct post]

Drummond Set To Take Care Of Mom; Lamb Lets Bucks Have Final Peek [hartford courant]

Omar Calhoun, Phil Nolan Learn Quickly At UConn [hartford courant]

UConn’s Andre Drummond not picky about next team [new haven register]

Drummond ready for challenge [the day]

Warriors narrow options as draft approaches [san francisco chronicle]

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

After coming back for a 5-1 win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series before heading to the left coast in the finale of a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and 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 or TVA Sports (French language).  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester looks to put things together for the first time in a while as he toes the slab for the 16th time this season. In his previous 15 starts, Lester is 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA. He took the loss in his only start against the Jays back on Aprill 11th after allowing three runs in eight innings (complete game). Lester’s made 19 career starts against the Jays and is 10-5 with a 3.08 ERA. Seven of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

Former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell sends his ace Ricky Romero to the hill for the 16th time this season. In his previous 15 starts, Romero is 8-1 with a 4.34 ERA. In his only start this season against the Red Sox, he was matched up with Lester in that Aprill 11th start and got the win after allowing one run in 8.1 innings of work. He’s made 14 career starts against the local nine and is 5-6 with a 6.45 ERA. Half of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 3-3 with a 5.85 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:

38-36		39-35
1. Brett Lawrie	3B	1. Daniel Nava	LF
2. Colby Rasmus	CF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Jose Bautista	RF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Edwin Encarnacion	1B	4. Cody Ross	RF
5. Ben Francisco	DH	5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
6. Yunel Escobar	SS	6. Will Middlebrooks	3B
7. Rajai Davis	LF	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. J.P. Arencibia	C	8. Darnell McDonald	CF
9. Omar Vizquel	2B	9. Kelly Shoppach	C
Ricky Romero	SP	Jon Lester	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

Sox are winners in the end [boston globe]

Ellsbury headed to Florida [boston globe]

Matsuzaka is able to find answers [boston globe]

Sox use rare rally [boston herald]

Reliever Melancon goes back to Arizona roots [boston herald]

Pedroia back in swing [boston herald]

Dicey yet ‘successful’ [boston herald]

Positive swing [boston herald]

Ortiz on Salty making All-Star: ‘He has to’ [rob bradford – weei.com]

Bobby V: Lackey timetable, Salty’s candidacy [rob bradford – weei.com]

Valentine thinks Buchholz looks great [clubhouse insider]

Clay Buchholz released from the hospital and back at Fenway [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox come alive late, beat Blue Jays, 5-1 [csn new england]

Pedroia finishes what Saltalamacchia starts in 7th inning [csn new england]

Matsuzaka responds nicely after first-inning trouble [csn new england]

Valentine thinks Lackey will pitch before 2012 is over [csn new england]

Buchholz returns to clubhouse after 5-day hospital stay [csn new england]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1 [espn boston]

Beckett to return to rotation Saturday [espn boston]

Ortiz discovers fountain of….Or not [espn boston]

Buchholz in clubhouse, taking it slow [espn boston]

An Eph gives this crowd some oomph [espn boston]

Bobby V offers some All-Star picks [espn boston]

Lackey: ‘Arm feels way better’ than last year [espn boston]

Clay Buchholz rejoins Boston Red Sox after 5-day hospital stay [espn boston]

Clay Buchholz feeling fine after ‘scary’ hospital stay for esophagitis [extra bases]

Pregame notes: John Lackey makes some progress [extra bases]

Red Sox complete deals with first-rounder Brian Johnson, third-rounder Austin Maddox [full count]

Closing Time: Red Sox rally past Blue Jays [full count]

On day he steps up in the late innings, Dustin Pedroia says health woes are behind him [full count]

Nuggetpalooza: Do Red Sox hitters struggle more than expected vs. better pitching? [full count]

Bobby Valentine on D&C: Unsure if moving parts affected clubhouse atmosphere [full count]

Dustin Pedroia’s Perseverence May Provide Red Sox With Strength Needed to Flourish as Team [nesn.com]

Red Sox Display Timely Hitting, Rely on Uncharacteristic Rally To Overcome Late Hurdles [nesn.com]

Brent Lillibridge Hopes to Bring ‘Super’ to Super-Utility Role With Red Sox [nesn.com]

Red Sox Bullpen Learns to Deal With Unexpected as Roles Are Defined [nesn.com]

Brent Lillibridge Chooses Grinds’ Coffee Pouches Over Chewing Tobacco [nesn.com]

Does Toronto or Boston Have the Most Dangerous 3-4 Combo in the American League? [nesn.com]

Clay Buchholz Details ‘Really Scary’ Hospital Ordeal While Recovering From Gastrointestinal Bleeding (Video) [nesn.com]

CC Sabathia’s Trip to Disabled List Could Be Just the Opening AL East Needs [nesn.com]

Lillibridge given first opportunity with Red Sox [redsox.com]

Ellsbury expected to join Crawford with GCL Sox [redsox.com]

Beckett set to start in Seattle; six-man staff likely [redsox.com]

Lester sets out to end frustrations in series finale [redsox.com]

Buchholz out of hospital, returns to Red Sox [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 Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.

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

photo credits: getty images, reuters pictures

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

2013 NFL Draft: Connecticut Preview [cbssports.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Dolson Determined To Improve Her Conditioning This Off-Season [rich elliott – ct post]

Abrosimova set to join Seattle [jim fuller – new haven register]

Lawsuit against Auriemma, NBA focus of CNN show [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Series History: UConn vs. Michigan State [kevin duffy – ct post]

Recruiting Spotlight: Reggie Cameron [kevin duffy – ct post]

MSU-UConn to open in Germany [andy katz – espn.com]

Pistons deal Gordon to Bobcats for Maggette [ct post]

Drummond, Lamb slipping in mock drafts [ct post]

Before NBA Draft, Andre Drummond finds comfort in home court [middletown press]

UConn men to open against Michigan State in Germany [the day]

Ready or not, UConn players about to go pro [the hour]

Huskies’ notable first-rounders in NBA draft [boston globe]

Other UConn related links

M. Track. Gagnon & Rutt Bow Out At USA Olympic Trial Semis [uconnhuskies.com]

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

After falling last night 9-6, the Boston Red Sox look to even up the series in the second game of a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at historic Fenway Park.

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 Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet or TVA Sports (French language).  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Daisuke Matsuzaka looks to get the Red Sox back on the winning side of things in his fourth start of 2012. In his previous three starts, Matsuzaka is 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA. He has not faced the Jays in 2012 and picked up the win in his only start of 2011 after seven shutout innings. He’s had good success in his career against the Blue Jays as he is 7-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 12 starts. Half of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-0 with a 3.57 ERA.

Aaron Laffey will make his first start of 2012 for the Jays after four appearances in the bullpen. In those four appearances, Laffey has no record with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9 IP). He made four appearances against the Red Sox in 2011 and had no record with a 4.76 ERA (3 ER/5.2 IP). Overall in his career, Laffey has made six appearances (one start) and is 0-1 with a 9.28 ERA (11 ER/10.2 IP). Five of those appearances (one start) have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with a 11.42 ERA (11 ER/8.2 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:

38-35		38-35
1. Brett Lawrie	3B	1. Mike Aviles	SS
2. Colby Rasmus	CF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Jose Bautista	RF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Edwin Encarnacion	DH	4. Cody Ross	RF
5. Kelly Johnson	2B	5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
6. Yunel Escobar	SS	6. Will Middlebrooks	3B
7. Rajai Davis	LF	7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
8. Adam Lind	1B	8. Darnell McDonald	LF
9. Jeff Mathis	C	9. Brent Lillibridge	CF
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

Red Sox Sign Johnson For $1,575,000 [baseball america]

Buchholz diagnosed with esophagitis [rob bradford – weei.com]

Should the Red Sox be concerned about Felix Doubront’s workload? [clubhouse insider]

Ellsbury’s ready to start playing, Buchholz “stable,” and other news [clubhouse insider]

Ortiz in elite company as he approaches No. 400 [csn new england]

Youk: ‘Seems like I can’t escape the Red Sox’ [csn new england]

Lillibridge feels bad for crying White Sox fan [csn new england]

Ellsbury could DH Friday in Gulf Coast League [csn new england]

Valentine ‘in the dark’ on Buchholz; says he’s ‘stable’ in hospital [csn new england]

Lillibridge makes first start with Red Sox in center field [csn new england]

Cherington shoots down rifts between Red Sox players, Valentine [csn new england]

Ellsbury to begin rehab Friday [espn boston]

Lillibridge draws start in center [espn boston]

David Ortiz climbing the home run charts [extra bases]

Podcast: Changing of the guard [extra bases]

Jacoby Ellsbury set to join Carl Crawford in Florida [extra bases]

Red Sox Pregame Notes: Clay Buchholz ‘stable’ with esophagitis; Red Sox may use six-man rotation; the outfielders are coming [full count]

Red Sox complete deals with first-rounder Brian Johnson, third-rounder Austin Maddox [full count]

Will the Red Sox Be Buyers or Sellers at the Trade Deadline? [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis’ Transcendent Work Ethic Will Be Lasting Memory of His Time in Boston (Podcast) [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine ‘Considering’ Use of Six-Man Rotation While Waiting for Clay Buchholz to Get Healthy [nesn.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury to Begin Rehab Assignment Friday Playing Designated Hitter in Florida [nesn.com]

Deven Marrero by the books [on deck]

Crawford, Ellsbury close to rehab starts [projo sox blog]

Farrell: Bard “will get things right” [projo sox blog]

Buchholz dealing with esophagitis [projo sox blog]

Beckett to return in Seattle [projo sox blog]

With adjustments in mind, Dice-K gets start for Sox [redsox.com]

Ellsbury could start rehab games by Friday [alex speier – weei.com]

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

photo credits: reuters pictures, getty images