With Josh Beckett out for at least the next 15 days, the Boston Red Sox are going to need Jon Lester to pitch like we all know he’s capable of doing. Well, he got things started with a good outing on Saturday night in the Windy City.

Lester allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight in 6.2 innings and get some solid help from the bullpen as the visiting nine beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

Lester has been up and down this season and hasn’t yet gone on one of those runs where he completely dominates out there. But if you look at his stuff as of late, you know one is coming.

The one mistake he made in the game cost him. And whether or not the mistake came as a result of losing focus because he was upset with the home plate umpire’s call in regards to the strike zone remains to be seen. But that is one thing that has kept him from crossing the hump and being consistent all season long.

Hanging on to a 4-0 lead in the 7th, he allowed a leadoff double to Jeff Baker. After retiring pinch-hitter Tony Campana, he walked Welington Castillo in which he thought he had gotten squeezed a little. His skipper, Bobby Valentine, sensed that and came out to calm his pitcher down. Unfortunately it didn’t work as Lester left a fastball out over the plate for Luis Valbuena who connected on it for a three-run blast.

He did recover to strikeout David DeJesus before giving way to Scott Atchison who finished off the inning. Vicente Padilla needed just 12 pitches to get through the 8th and despite allowing a hit in the 9th, Alfredo Aceves picked up his 16th save of the season.

It was Lester’s batterymate who helped him out on the offensive end of things in this game.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs to along with a walk. It was his home run in the 4th inning off Jeff Samardzija that got things going. David Ortiz had a good night at the plate going 1-for-2 (double) with two walks. He did make a baserunning gaffe in the 1st inning after Salty doubled as he was thrown out at the plate after reaching on a walk.

Will Middlebrooks knocked in a run with a single in the 6th inning and Scott Podsednik‘s nice run at the top of the Red Sox order continued with two more hits, including what turned out to be the game-winning RBI single in the 7th.

The Red Sox now sit at 32-33, one game below .500 and are 7.5 games out of first place behind their hated rivals the New York Yankees. A win tonight in the Windy City over the Theo Epstein’s could go a long way right now before heading back to Fenway to finish off the final six games of interleague play starting on Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins.

It’ll be up to Franklin Morales, making the spot start for the injured Josh Beckett, to get that proverbial ball rolling.

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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Catcher cleans up nice [Boston Globe]

Morales glad to pitch in [Boston Globe]

We were picking up bad vibrations [Boston Globe]

Pitching change has trickle-down effect [Boston Globe]

Road Salt cleans up [Boston Herald]

Beckett gets thumbs down [Boston Herald]

Bobby V: Clay passes [Boston Herald]

Not here without Dad [Boston Herald]

Lester, Sox fend off Cubs, 4-3 [CSN New England]

Adjustments finally pay off for Lester [CSN New England]

Saltalamacchia rewards Valentine’s confidence [CSN New England]

Ranaudo shows promise, shortcomings [ESPN Boston]

Bobby V: Crawford ‘close’ to playing game [ESPN Boston]

Middlebrooks: Soriano unfairly maligned [ESPN Boston]

Saltalamacchia gives Valentine some relief [ESPN Boston]

Pedroia’s slump? Of course, it’s the thumb [ESPN Boston]

Triumphant Lester: ‘One squared-up ball’ [ESPN Boston]

Fatherhood and Fenway [ESPN Boston]

Why Franklin Morales and not Clay Buchholz is starting on Sunday [Full Count]

Closing Time: Battery-powered win for Red Sox over Cubs [Full Count]

Jon Lester Stabilizes Rotation Amid News of Josh Beckett’s Injury, Eases Burden for Bullpen [NESN.com]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia Rewards Bobby Valentine’s Trust For Placing Him in Cleanup Spot [NESN.com]

Bobby Valentine Knows Crazy, But Is His Craziness Fox-Like? [NESN.com]

Father’s Day Not Unlike Mother’s Day in Some Ways, as It Ensures Quality Family Time [NESN.com]

Morales going back to roots with spot start [RedSox.com]

Crawford could be ‘close’ to game action [RedSox.com]

Salem’s Bogaerts heating up in June [RedSox.com]

Red Sox still dangerous once healthy [RedSox.com]

Salty rewards manager’s faith in Red Sox win [RedSox.com]

How history almost never happened: David Ortiz recalls the uncertain start of his Red Sox tenure [Alex Speier – WEEI.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, be sure to head over to the Arlington Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago 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 Women’s Basketball links

Hardwick’s story about Auriemma hard to believe [CT Post]

Other UConn related links

UConn coaches have real staying power [New Haven Register]

Herbst, new UConn president, says she has long to-do list [CT Post]

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

After being shutout 3-0 yesterday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in the middle game of a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs on the north side of the Windy City.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and the game will be broadcast to 39% of the country on FOX.  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester takes the bump for the 14th time in 2012. In his previous 13 starts, Lester is 3-4 with a 4.57 ERA. His only career start against the Cubs came last season when he got the win despite allowing five runs in six innings of work on May 20, 2011.

Jeff Samardzija makes his 13th start of 2012 for the Fightin’ Theo’s. In his previous 12 starts, Samardzija is 5-4 with a 3.96 ERA. His only career appearance came in that May 20, 2011 game when he came out of the bullpen to allow five runs (three earned) in an inning of work.

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:

31-33		22-42
1. Scott Podsednik	LF	1. Reed Johnson	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Darwin Barney	2B
3. David Ortiz	1B	3. Starlin Castro	SS
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	4. Alfonso Soriano	LF
5. Will Middlebrooks	3B	5. Bryan LaHair	1B
6. Adrian Gonzalez	RF	6. Joe Mather	CF
7. Ryan Sweeney	CF	7. Welington Castillo	C
8. Mike Aviles	SS	8. Luis Valbuena	3B
9. Jon Lester	P	9. Jeff Samardzija	P
Jon Lester	SP	Jeff Samardzija	SP

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

NOTES: Josh Beckett has been placed on the 15-day DL with right shoulder soreness. He’s been replaced on the 25-man roster by Clayton Mortensen.

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

Report: Sox asked for Parra in Youk deal [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Josh Beckett placed on disabled list, Clayton Mortensen called up [Clubhouse Insider]

Why Franklin Morales, not Clay Buchholz, will start Sunday night [Clubhouse Insider]

Ryan Kalish update; Beckett injury [CSN New England]

D-Backs interested in Youkilis, not asking price [CSN New England]

Beckett headed to the DL [CSN New England]

Beckett headed to DL; Morales ready to go [CSN New England]

3B shuffle: Youk sits; Middlebrooks starts [CSN New England]

Video: W2W4 in Game 2 [ESPN Boston]

Sox turn to Lester, try to get even with Cubs [ESPN Boston]

Former major league pitcher Curt Schilling takes leave from ESPN analyst duties [ESPN Boston]

Beckett becomes 18th Sox player to go on DL [ESPN Boston]

Slumping Sox have Saltalamacchia hit cleanup [ESPN Boston]

On Theo Epstein’s legacy and other random thoughts from Chicago [Extra Bases]

Beckett to disabled list [Extra Bases]

Pedroia takes time for kids at Wrigley [Extra Bases]

Which Cubs Player Would Be a Good Fit on the Red Sox? [NESN.com]

Red Sox Must Stop Scouting, Start Slamming Easy Schedule for Chance at American League East [NESN.com]

Manny Ramirez Has Had Long, Strange Career with Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers (Photos) [NESN.com]

Josh Beckett’s Shoulder Sends Him to 15-Day Disabled List, With Clayton Mortensen to Take Roster Spot [NESN.com]

Josh Beckett’s DL Stint is Precautionary, But Gives Franklin Morales Chance to Prove Himself As A Spot Starter [NESN.com]

Beckett lands on disabled list [Projo Sox Blog]

How Will Middlebrooks is dealing with inconsistent playing time [Projo Sox Blog]

Lester banking on top form returning [RedSox.com]

Bobby V: Crawford ‘pretty close to playing’ [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Beckett may get thumb treated while on DL [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

photo credits: Reuters Pictures, AP Photo

When you took a look at the lineup that Dale Sveum put out for his Chicago Cubs yesterday afternoon, you had to take a second glance and say “who?”. It reminded me of the scene from Major League when they had the different people say “Who are these f’in guys?”.

However, the Cubs did have a good pitcher on the mound in Ryan Dempster who came into the game having thrown 15 straight scoreless innings. And by the time his afternoon was over, he had extended it to 22 innings in a 3-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.

A lot was made about the Red Sox going to the Windy City since former GM Theo Epstein is there. Honestly who cares. Theo left the Red Sox chasing greener pastures and job that was better than his previous one.

One could say yesterday’s game was actually between Theo’s Red Sox and Theo’s Cubs since Theo was responsible for a good portion of the Red Sox roster. And given how both teams performed yesterday, you wouldn’t have known the Cubs were the worst team in baseball.

The Red Sox had their best opportunities against Dempster in his first and last innings of the game.

Scott Podsednik continued to impress as he had another two hits yesterday. He got things started in the 1st with a bunt single and went to second on a walk to Dustin Pedroia. Dempster battled back though as he struck Adrian Gonzalez then got David Ortiz to ground into a fielder’s choice. He finished off the inning when Kevin Youkilis lined out to right.

In the 7th, Nick Punto, pinch-hitting for Daisuke Matsuzaka, worked a two-out walk. He stole second and then went to third on a Podsednik single. With Pedroia at the plate, Podsednik stole second. But both runners were stranded there when David DeJesus made a great catch on a Pedroia liner to right.

They would also leave the bases loaded in the 9th as Cubs closer Carlos Marmol was a little wild.

Ryan Sweeney got things started with a one out single and then went to second when Mike Aviles reached on a fielder’s choice. Daniel Nava came off the bench and struck out. Pods then worked a walk to load up the bases but Marmol got Pedey to ground out to end the game.

If you took away the bad 1st inning for Dice-K, he was outstanding on the mound. He ended up retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. But with Dempster dealing, the damage was really done in that 1st inning.

He walked three batters in the inning and they would come back to hurt him when Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger (who?) doubled to left to bring in two runs. The other run came in the 2nd.

Dempster tripled on a misplay in right by Adrian Gonzalez and two batters later came in to score on a DeJesus single. From that point forward, the only other batter to reach base against Dice-K was Dempster who singled in the 4th.

You know things aren’t going your way when your pitching only allows four hits and two of them are by the opposing team’s pitcher. And I’m not going to take away anything from Dempster because he’s a pretty good pitcher and his stuff showed that yesterday afternoon. He definitely increased his trade value for the upcoming trade deadline.

What am I going to say is this.

The Red Sox continue to not be able to hit against very good or elite pitching. And this is a problem. What can be done to fix it? I honestly don’t have a freaking clue.

Oh by the way, the Red Sox got some more bad news after the game when it was announced that Josh Beckett has been scratched from his start on Sunday with right shoulder inflammation. Beckett didn’t speak with the media after the game but is expected to address them today. As of now, he hasn’t been placed on the DL but Franklin Morales will get the start for him on Sunday.

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

Sox shut out on five hits by Cubs at Wrigley [Boston Globe]

Slumping Youkilis dealing with a lot [Boston Globe]

Beckett to miss his next scheduled start [Boston Globe]

Sox’ bats go silent in loss to Cubs [Boston Herald]

Alex Ochoa a footnote in Theo Epstein era [Boston Herald]

Frustrated Dustin Pedroia left screaming [Boston Herald]

Beckett scratched from start [Boston Herald]

Cartoonish Sox not at all funny [Boston Herald]

Dempster, Cubs blank Sox at Wrigley, 3-0 [CSN New England]

One-on-one with Theo: ‘Sox can make a run’ [CSN New England]

Gonzalez not fit for Boston? [CSN New England]

Awkward reunion brewing in Chicago [CSN New England]

Inconsistencies plague Sox offense [CSN New England]

Another mixed bag for Dice-K [CSN New England]

Beckett (shoulder) scratched from Sunday start [CSN New England]

Rapid reaction: Cubs 3, Red Sox 0 [ESPN Boston]

Beckett to miss start with inflamed shoulder [ESPN Boston]

Video: Could Sox make deal with Cubs? [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Offense struggles as Sox drop series-opener to Cubs [Full Count]

Josh Beckett to Miss Start on Sunday Due to Shoulder Inflammation, Franklin Morales to Start in His Place (Video) [NESN.com]

Theo Epstein Should Be Remembered More for Successes With Red Sox Than Mistakes [NESN.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Overcomes Rocky Start, Needs More Run Support to Gauge His Progression [NESN.com]

Scott Podsednik’s Role in Red Sox Offense Could Become Permanent Even With Return of Injured All Stars [NESN.com]

Why is Youk playing while Middlebrooks sits? [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett out with inflammation; Morales to start [RedSox.com]

Dice-K settles, but not before costly damage [RedSox.com]

Red Sox may have Ross back next week [RedSox.com]

Valentine knows lineup is ‘a moving target’ [RedSox.com]

With Red Sox at Wrigley, Epstein reflects [RedSox.com]

Breaking down Beckett: A history of the pitcher’s shoulder concerns [Alex Speier – WEEI.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, be sure to head over to the Arlington Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune websites.

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

photo credit: AP Photo

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

Big East recruiting scorecard [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Mailbag June 15: Is The 7 On 7 Something New (For High Schoolers) At UConn? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Checking In With UConn Incoming Frosh Zach Rugg Ahead Of Big 33 Game Saturday Night [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Drummond looking good in workouts [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

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

After taking two-of-three in Miami, the Boston Red Sox head to the Windy City to finish off their six-game interleague road trip. This afternoon, they’ll take on the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Cubs television market, you can catch the game on CSN Chicago. 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 Cubs television markets). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Daisuke Matsuzaka makes just his second start of 2012 after returning from Tommy John surgery. He took the loss in his first start against the Washington Nationals after allowing four runs in five innings of work. Today mark his first career start and appearance against the team from the North Side of Chicago.

Ryan Dempster makes his 12th start of 2012 for the Cubs. In his previous 11 starts, Dempster is 2-3 with a 2.31 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox in 2005 when he picked up the save after allowing two runs in an inning of work. He’s made four career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 7.13 ERA (14 ER/17.2 IP) and one save.

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:

31-32		21-42
1. Scott Podsednik	LF	1. Tony Campana	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Starlin Castro	SS
3. Adrian Gonzalez	RF	3. David DeJesus	RF
4. David Ortiz	1B	4. Alfonso Soriano	LF
5. Kevin Youkilis	3B	5. Bryan LaHair	1B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	6. Steve Clevenger	C
7. Ryan Sweeney	CF	7. Darwin Barney	2B
8. Mike Aviles	SS	8. Luis Valbuena	3B
9. Daisuke Matsuzaka	P	9. Ryan Dempster	P
Daisuke Matsuzaka	SP	Ryan Dempster	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

Hassan adjusting quite nicely [Boston Globe]

Podsednik sparkling with Sox [Boston Globe]

Middlebrooks bides time [Boston Globe]

Matt Garza is ripe for trip out [Boston Herald]

Dale Sveum setting tone in Chicago [Boston Herald]

Kevin Youkilis dilemma lingers [Boston Herald]

Ben Cherington keeps faith [Boston Herald]

Ben Cherington’s big moves [Boston Herald]

Red Sox have their reunion with Theo Epstein [Clubhouse Insider]

How has Cherington fared so far? [CSN New England]

Prior: ‘Things will work out’ [CSN New England]

Blow up what? [CSN New England]

Cherington: ‘Nothing going on’ with Youkilis trade rumors [CSN New England]

It could be worse [CSN New England]

Memories return for Theo as Red Sox visit Wrigley [CSN New England]

Red Sox Offensive Struggles May Be Concerning, But Way Too Early to ‘Blow Up’ Roster [Tom Caron – NESN.com]

Video: BBTN previews Red Sox-Cubs [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox not fielding Kevin Youkilis trade calls [ESPN Boston]

Do you believe in this Red Sox team? [ESPN Boston]

Cherington: High expectations are a factor [ESPN Boston]

Ben Cherington must take page from Theo Epstein’s book to save the season for Boston Red Sox [ESPN Boston]

Theo prepping Cubs fans for lean years [ESPN Boston]

Sox face Cubs in matinee at Wrigley [ESPN Boston]

Worlds collide: Cubs, Red Sox meet [ESPN Boston]

Theo admits to mixed feelings about Sox game [ESPN Boston]

Good morning from Wrigley Field [Extra Bases]

Epstein’s reunion with the Red Sox [Extra Bases]

Nuggetpalooza: Stat Nuggets on the Sox, Cubs, and all of baseball [Full Count]

Red Sox sign Ole Miss left-hander Dylan Chavez [Full Count]

Red Sox sign third overall pick Pat Light, second-rounder Jamie Callahan [Full Count]

Kevin Millar on M&M: ‘It was just a slow start’ for Clay Buchholz [Full Count]

Reunion day for Red Sox with Theo Epstein [Full Count]

Making due: Red Sox living through imperfect world of bouncing Gonzalez, Youkilis between positions [Full Count]

Will Middlebrooks, LaMichael James Share Professional Successes, Rookie Hurdles Through Tight-Knit Bond [NESN.com]

Will Theo Epstein Win a World Series With the Chicago Cubs? [NESN.com]

Dustin Pedroia Looks to ‘Blow Up’ Reporter Who Led Bryce Harper to Respond ‘That’s a Clown Question, Bro’ [NESN.com]

Ben Cherington on Kevin Youkilis Trade Rumors: ‘There’s Nothing Going On’ [NESN.com]

Matt Garza Would ‘Pitch on the Freaking Moon,’ Not Afraid of American League East [NESN.com]

Jackie Bradley Jr., Matt Barnes Finding Success in Red Sox System During First Full Season of Pro Ball [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Cubs and Incandescence [Projo Sox Blog]

The Blame Game [Projo Sox Blog]

Few Red Sox know what rebuilding Cubs are going through [Projo Sox Blog]

Buttrey among 11 draft picks signed by Red Sox [Projo Sox Blog]

Sox look to run winning streak to three behind Dice-K [RedSox.com]

On comeback trail, Prior sets sights on Fenway [RedSox.com]

Prospect Barnes fans nine in third straight win [RedSox.com]

A-Gone grateful for father’s sacrifices [RedSox.com]

Bypassed by Red Sox, Dale Sveum working to create winning culture with Cubs [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Time for Adrian to go off: Could Wrigley’s friendly confines be antidote for slugger’s struggles? [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

photo credits: Getty Images, 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

About 30 7 On 7 Teams (High School) From Surrounding States Set To Compete At Pasqualoni Camp [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Trying To Understand The Point Of Law On A Difficult Case [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Lawyers Weigh In On Lawsuit Facing Auriemma [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

The Notre Dame-UConn rivalry will continue to grow [John Nash – The Hour]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Notes/Quotes: Calhoun talks Evans, next season [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

DeAndre Daniels: Seize The Day [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Calhoun believes transfer Evans chose a good time to become a Husky [CT Post]

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