After losing two-of-three against the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox return home to the not-so friendly confines of Historic Fenway Park for a six-game homestand. They’ll begin tonight with the first game of a four-game set against the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians.

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 Indians television market, you can catch the game on SportsTime Ohio (STO). And if you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as the MLB Network will coverage of the game outside of the Red Sox and Indians television markets. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

After allegedly going golfing with the sore lat that caused him to miss his last start, Josh Beckett returns to the hill to make his sixth start of 2012. In his previous five starts, Beckett is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA. He made three starts against the Indians in 2011 and was 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA (6 ER/17.2 IP).  Beckett’s made 10 career starts and is 4-5 with a 4.84 ERA.

Former Red Sox starter and closer Derek Lowe gets the ball for the Windians tonight in his seventh start of the season. In his previous six starts, Lowe is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA. Lowe has only faced the Red Sox once in his career and that came in 2009 when he was a member of the Atlanta Braves. In that start at the Fens, he took the loss after allowing three runs in 6.1 innings. He has made 194 career appearances (53 starts) at Fenway going 42-24 with a 3.13 and 39 saves.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are today’s lineups:

17-13		12-18
1. Johnny Damon	LF	1. Ryan Sweeney	RF
2. Jason Kipnis	2B	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera	SS	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Travis Hafner	DH	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. Carlos Santana	C	5. Will Middlebrooks	3B
6. Shin-Soo Choo	RF	6. Daniel Nava	LF
7. Michael Brantley	CF	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. Casey Kotchman	1B	8. Marlon Byrd	CF
9. Jack Hannahan	3B	9. Kelly Shoppach	C
Derek Lowe	SP	Josh Beckett	SP

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

Notes: As you can see from the Red Sox starting lineup, Nava was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Red Sox optioned Clayton Mortensen back to the PawSox. Also, the designated Justin Thomas for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Nava.

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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Coming to the defense of Josh Beckett [Boston Sports Media Watch]

Bobby V: Never seen pitcher get hurt playing golf [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Johnny Damon Should Be the Last Player Red Sox Fans Boo During His Latest Return to Fenway Park [Tom Caron – NESN.com]

No one seems to think Beckett and golf was a big deal [Clubhouse Insider]

Boggs lays into Boyd for racist accusations [CSN New England]

Derek Lowe’s sneaky visit back to Boston [CSN New England]

Microphone will be silent in Beane’s memory tonight [CSN New England]

Red Sox recall Nava, who bats sixth tonight [CSN New England]

Damon: ‘I’m still the same guy’ [CSN New England]

Buchholz looks to return to form [CSN New England]

Buchholz downplays significance of golf day with Beckett [CSN New England]

Melancon gets aggressive in Pawtucket [ESPN Boston]

Buchholz comes to Beckett’s defense [ESPN Boston]

Youkilis: ‘I’m a Sox until they say otherwise’ [ESPN Boston]

Nava provides outfield depth [ESPN Boston]

Josh Beckett’s golfing incident [ESPN.com]

Daniel Nava joins Red Sox [Extra Bases]

Valentine says Beckett did no harm playing golf [Extra Bases]

Time for Sox to show Beckett the door [Full Count]

Carl Beane’s Excitement, Passion for Baseball and Life Permeates During 2011 Cape Cod League Game Interview (Video) [NESN.com]

Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez Headline Most Colorful Red Sox Players of All Time (Photos) [NESN.com]

Jerry Remy ‘Feeling Great,’ Will Return to NESN Booth Thursday Night for Red Sox Telecast [NESN.com]

Derek Lowe Starting for Indians, Facing Josh Beckett, Red Sox in Rematch of 2009 Pitchers’ Duel [NESN.com]

Josh Beckett, Red Sox Looking to Cool Down Asdrubal Cabrera As Two Clubs Open Series at Fenway [NESN.com]

Red Sox to Celebrate Carl Beane With Pregame Ceremony at Fenway Park [NESN.com]

Derek Lowe, Johnny Damon Would Really Be Valuable to Red Sox Nowadays [NESN.com]

Carl Beane Left Lasting Impression on Red Sox, As Voice Became Synonymous With Fenway Park [NESN.com]

Daniel Nava ‘Happy, But Shocked’ by Getting Called Up to Red Sox [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Indians and Clutchness [Projo Sox Blog]

Warwick native Wheeler still finding way with Indians [Projo Sox Blog]

Youkilis still working way back, Middlebrooks to outfield “not an option at this time” [Projo Sox Blog]

Buchholz on Beckett controversy: “There’s always got to be something to talk about [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox look to turn things around vs. Tribe [RedSox.com]

Silence tonight at Fenway to honor Beane [RedSox.com]

The talent gap: Red Sox struggles reflect state of the roster [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

On paper, this was supposed to be a relatively easy stretch of nine games for the Boston Red Sox. They had three games each with the Oakland A’s, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals.

Their record in those nine games was 2-7.

The Royals had been struggling at home having won their first two games of the season there in their previous series against the New York Yankees. And after the Red Sox came to town, they had two more wins.

A majority of baseball games are won on pitching and defense. Last night the Royals won the game on their defense while the Red Sox lost it on defense.

Sox starter Jon Lester was done in by his defense in the 1st inning when Marlon Byrd misplayed a line drive that allowed a run to score. Then Cody Ross made a catch in left and as he went to brace himself, the ball popped out of his glove and off the wall where he caught it again. The inning should have been over but the umpire ruled no catch and that allowed two more Royals to score.

In the 9th, the Royals defense saved the day.

With runners on second and third, Ryan Sweeney hit a liner to left that Alex Gordon made a sliding catch on. He quickly got up and threw the ball in preventing Darnell McDonald from tagging up and scoring the tying run. Had DMac tried to score, he probably would have been out by at least 45 feet. Royals closer Jonathan Broxton then got former Royals SS Mike Aviles to ground out to end the game.

After consistently being among the leaders in strikeouts, Lester’s ability to finish off hitters just isn’t there right now. He ended up with just three strikeouts on the night.

With the exception of a bad pitch by Matt Albers on Tuesday night, the Red Sox bullpen has been outstanding. That continued last night when Clayton Mortensen scattered three hits over the final three innings striking out one along the way.

Offensively, Aviles did lead the way for the visiting nine with a two-hit effort. Adrian Gonzalez ended up going 1-for-4 but his one hit was huge. It was his three-run double in the 3rd inning that tied the game up.

The Red Sox did play last night’s game with a heavy heart as they lost a member of their family.

Fenway Park public address announcer Carl Beane passed away after suffering a heart attack while driving on Wednesday afternoon. It’ll never be the same going to a game at the Fens.

Things won’t be an easier for the Red Sox this weekend. The Cleveland Indians are playing some good baseball right now and hold the lead in the AL Central. They’ll send former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe to the mound. The Red Sox will counter with Josh Beckett, who will probably have to answer a thousand questions on whether he went golfing before missing his last start after the game.

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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Sox falter vs. Royals once again [Boston Globe]

Fenway voice Beane dies while driving [Boston Globe]

Beckett’s golf game is at issue [Boston Globe]

This Ross ‘pop out’ really hurt [Boston Globe]

Jon Lester adds to woes atop Sox rotation [Boston Herald]

Fenway announcer’s golden voice silenced [Boston Herald]

Bobby Valentine boils over [Boston Herald]

Can Josh Beckett swing this? [Boston Herald]

Will Middlebrooks hits, Kevin Youkilis sits [Boston Herald]

Red Sox let one slip through their fingers, 4-3 [CSN New England]

Lester: ‘Just too many pitches’ [CSN New England]

Valentine voices displeasure with umpires [CSN New England]

Rapid Reaction: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox’s Bobby Valentine blasts umpires after loss at Kansas City Royals [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Jon Lester and the Red Sox lack finish in loss to Royals [Full Count]

Bobby Valentine Says Josh Beckett Wouldn’t ‘Jeopardize His Team or His Season’ With Golf Outing [NESN.com]

Terry Francona, Curt Schilling Among Past Red Sox Remembering Carl Beane Fondly [NESN.com]

Jenny Dell Gets a Taste of Midwest Barbecue at Oklahoma Joe’s in Kansas City (Video) [NESN.com]

Bobby Valentine Channels Inner 80’s Rock Fan in Attempt to Instill Life in Red Sox [NESN.com]

David Ortiz’s 10th Career Grand Slam and 1,000th RBI Earn Ketel One Honorable Moment [NESN.com]

Bobby Valentine Rips Umpiring Crew About Call on Marlon Byrd [NESN.com]

Cody Ross Thought He Caught Bobbled Ball That Resulted in Two Runs, Rule Book Says Otherwise [NESN.com]

Red Sox Need to Be Much Better at Fenway Park If They’re Going to Turn Things Around [NESN.com]

How Should the Red Sox Honor Carl Beane During Thursday Night’s Game? [NESN.com]

Carl Beane Was a Good Man Who Loved His Job, Will Be Remembered as Part of Red Sox Family [NESN.com]

Carl Beane was much more than the ‘Voice of Fenway Park’ [Mike Petraglia – WEEI.com]

Valentine lambastes umps following tough loss [RedSox.com]

Two non-catches result in three runs for Royals [RedSox.com]

Francoeur, Bard glad to help Joplin, Tuscaloosa [RedSox.com]

Boggs on Boyd: ‘Delusional drug addict’ [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 Kansas City Star and Topeka Capital-Journal 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 spring wrap [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

DC answered a question in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Still In Good Shape Despite Loss of 2013s DeShields, Reimer [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Herbst Reaches Out To Fans After UConn Strikes A Deal With SNY [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Change in broadcasters will help UConn, sport [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

On 70th Birthday, Jim Calhoun Looking Forward [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Softball. Softball Faces Louisville Thursday In BIG EAST Championship [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball. Kim Silva Named To All-BIG EAST First Team [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Friday Night Baseball on CBS Sports Network [UConnHuskies.com]

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

After winning falling last night 6-4, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series tonight in the rubber game of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester looks for his second win of 2012 in his team-high seventh start. In his previous six starts, Lester is 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA. He made two starts against the Royals in 2011 going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11 IP). He’s had good success against the Royals as he is 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA (7 ER/48.1 IP) in seven career starts. Two of those starts have come at Kauffman Stadium where he is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA (5 ER/11 IP).

Bruce Chen looks for his first win of 2012 in his seventh start. In his previous six starts, Chen is 0-4 with a 4.98 ERA. He took the loss in his only start against the Red Sox in 2011 when he allowed 10 runs in four innings back on July 27. The well-traveled veteran, including a stop in Boston in 2003, has made 16 career appearances (nine starts) against the Red Sox and is 3-6 with a 5.98 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are today’s lineups:

12-17		10-19
1. Mike Aviles	SS	1. Jarrod Dyson	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Alex Gordon	LF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Billy Butler	1B
4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	4. Jeff Francoeur	RF
5. Will Middlebrooks	3B	5. Johnny Giavotella	DH
6. Cody Ross	LF	6. Brayan Pena	C
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. Irving Falu	3B
8. Marlon Byrd	CF	8. Chris Getz	2B
9. Ryan Sweeney	RF	9. Alcides Escobar	SS
Jon Lester	SP	Bruce Chen	SP

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

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 family mourns the loss of public address announcer Carl Beane [RedSox.com]

Bobby V on radio: Looking into rumor that Josh Beckett played golf despite sore lat [Clubhouse Insider]

Valentine: Beckett golfing not the best thing [CSN New England]

R.I.P. Carl Beane [CSN New England]

Bobby V sorting out Beckett golf report [ESPN Boston]

The pitching numbers are hard to believe [Extra Bases]

Report: Beckett played golf after injury [Extra Bases]

Bobby Valentine on Big Show: ‘Trying to sort feelings’ about Beckett rumor [Full Count]

Daniel Bard is playing out of position [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

Dustin Pedroia’s Laser Show Continuing in Series Against Royals [NESN.com]

That’s now three wins . . . [Projo Sox Blog]

Report: Beckett played golf on day off before missing start [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox mourn the passing of Carl Beane [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox aim to continue winning ways on road [RedSox.com]

Report of golf outing sparks Beckett controversy [RedSox.com]

Cherington: Youk plays third when healthy [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

The voice of Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox PA announcer Carl Beane, has passed away at the age of 59 after a single car crash in Sturbridge, MA according to NECN.

Beane has been the public address announcer for every home game at Fenway Park since 2003. He got his start in sports in radio broadcasting in 1972.

It just won’t be the same going to Fenway Park anymore and not hearing that familiar voice.

Our condolences go out to his family, friends and the entire Red Sox organization.

Here’s the full release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA— The Boston Red Sox today lost a member of their family, Public Address Announcer Carl Beane, who died after suffering a heart attack while driving his car in Sturbridge, MA.  Beane, 59, had been the “Voice of Fenway Park” since the start of the 2003 season.

The veteran Boston sports reporter began his work at Fenway Park Opening Day, 2003, after winning a competition held after the 2002 season.

“We are filled with sadness at this tragic news,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino.  “No one loved his role with the Red Sox more than Carl did his.  He adored the opportunity to pay homage each game to Sherm Feller, and to contribute to the culture of Fenway Park, a place he loved passionately.  His legion of friends with the Red Sox and the media will miss him enormously, and all of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice.

“On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, our partners, and our entire organization, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Lorraine; his daughter, Nicole; and his granddaughters, Maddie and Gena.”

His is the lead-off voice in “The Baseball Experience” at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

Even before he began his role with the Red Sox, he was the manager of the Boston media baseball game versus the New York media, a game held twice each year, once at Fenway Park and once at Yankee Stadium.

Beane was born and raised in Agawam, MA.  He graduated from Agawam High School in 1971 and the Career Academy School of Broadcasting in 1972, when he began his broadcasting career at WMAS in Springfield.

He provided national updates for ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Westwood One, Associated Press, and MetroNetworks, and also worked for WBZ Radio in Boston, WBRK in Pittsfield (1974-76), WARE in Ware (1976-94), and WESO in Southbridge (1994-98).

He taught sports broadcasting and play-by-play classes at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Needham, MA.  He has also been a national spokesman for The American Diabetes Association, and served as a narrator for Talking Books at the Perkins School for the Blind.

The Red Sox will pay tribute to him in pre-game ceremonies tomorrow before their 7:10 p.m. home game versus the Cleveland Indians.

His family asks that contributions in his memory be donated to the Holland Congregational Church Building Fund (11 Sturbridge Road, Holland, MA  01521) and the American Diabetes Association (via www.diabetes.org).

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

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The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team already has two German born players on its roster in Niels Giffey and Enosch Wolf. Apparently now there will be three.

According to the Recruit Scoop, Leon Tolksdorf, a 6’7 combo forward from Berlin, Germany, has given the Huskies a verbal commitment to play next season.

Tolksdorf played last season for the ALBA Berlin II where he averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 21 games playing an average of 14.5 minutes per game. He shot 40% from the floor, 34.1% from beyond the arc and 71.4% at the free throw line.

It looks as though he’ll be replacing Roscoe Smith, who decided to transfer, in the rotation although it’s way too early to tell.

Tolksdorf is the third recruit to commit to the Huskies for the 2012-13 season joining Omar Calhoun and Phil Nolan.

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Photo credit: FIBA.com