After falling last night 6-5 for their third straight loss to start the month, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in the third game of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins 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 Twins television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports North. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz looks to be the stopper for the Red Sox in his 19th start of 2012. In his previous 18 starts, Buchholz is 9-3 with a 4.75 ERA. He’s made one start against the Twins this season and picked up the win despite allowing five runs in 5.1 innings back on April 25th. Buchholz has made four career starts against the Twins and is 3-1 with a 5.56 ERA. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13 IP).

Rookie Cole De Vries makes his 10th start (11th appearance) of 2012 for the Twins. In his previous 10 appearances (nine starts), De Vries is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA. Tonight will mark his first career start against the Red Sox and at the Fens.

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:

46-60		53-54
1. Denard Span	CF	1. Ryan Kalish	CF
2. Ben Revere	RF	2. Carl Crawford	LF
3. Joe Mauer	1B	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Justin Morneau	DH	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. Ryan Doumit	C	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. Darin Mastroianni	LF	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Brian Dozier	SS	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. Alexi Casilla	2B	8. Kelly Shoppach	C
9. Jamey Carroll	3B	9. Nick Punto	3B
Cole De Vries	SP	Clay Buchholz	SP

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

NOTES: Jacoby Ellsbury was in the original starting lineup but was scratched. He was replaced by Kalish.

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

Lineup change: Jacoby Ellsbury out, Ryan Kalish in [clubhouse insider]

Josh Beckett penciled in to start Wednesday for Red Sox [clubhouse insider]

Who’s to blame for the struggling Red Sox? [csn new england]

Don’t look for Sox to land Greinke in free agency [csn new england]

Merloni: Get rid of every Red Sox coach [csn new england]

Sox owners won’t sell with team in a mess [csn new england]

Bailey open to any role upon return [csn new england]

Red Sox notes: Ellsbury scratched; lineup shuffled [csn new england]

Sox hope to start Beckett on Wednesday [csn new england]

Valentine: Not entirely comfortable with three catchers [csn new england]

Ellsbury scratched, replaced by Kalish [espn boston]

Beckett will start Wednesday vs. Rangers [espn boston]

Valentine: Ellsbury’s leg ‘not an issue’ [espn boston]

Middlebrooks on night off: ‘I don’t want one’ [espn boston]

Ellsbury late scratch from Red Sox lineup [extra bases]

As the rotation turns: Where things stand with Red Sox rotation [full count]

Will Pedro Ciriaco or Mike Aviles Start More Games for the Red Sox Until the End of This Season? [nesn.com]

Hot-Hitting Adrian Gonzalez Looks to Help Red Sox Bounce Back After Tough Extra-Inning Loss [nesn.com]

Clay Buchholz’s Third Straight Strong Outing Earns Him Amica Pitcher of the Week Honors [nesn.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury Sits With ‘Leg Issue,’ Red Sox Want to Play it Safe With Outfielder [nesn.com]

Beckett scheduled to start Wednesday [projo sox blog]

Ellsbury scratched with “leg issue” [projo sox blog]

Valentine not ‘comfortable’ with three-catcher arrangement [projo sox blog]

Bailey ramping up for the home stretch of the season [projo sox blog]

Looking to get back on track, Sox turn to Buchholz [redsox.com]

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

photo credits: ap photo, getty images

I’m pretty sure this isn’t how the Boston Red Sox expected this four-game series to go with the Minnesota Twins. I know it’s not what I expected.

Skipper Bobby Valentine said the goal for the rest of the season was to win each series for the rest of the year. But after last night’s 6-5 loss to the Twins that won’t be happening in this series. The best the Red Sox can hope for now is to split this series with the lowly Twins.

After a loss, Felix Doubront has been solid for the Red Sox this season. Unfortunately though he let his emotions get the best of him when the strike zone calls from home plate umpire Mark Wegner didn’t go his way. And it ultimately cost him a 5-1 lead the offense had given him. Doubront will learn as he gets more experience not to let his emotions get the best of him.

For the offense, it was a night of wasted chances.

They left 10 runners on base as a team and were just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. On a night where they had 14 hits and with the Twins committing three errors, that’s unacceptable.

The one time they were able to take advantage of a Twins error came in the 3rd inning when Justin Morneau dropped a foul ball off the bat of Carl Crawford. Ulitmately, Crawford made Morneau pay as he blasted a three-run homer off of Brian Duensing to give the Red Sox a 5-1 lead. But that would be the last time the Red Sox would cross the plate.

Look, all the talent in the world isn’t going to win you a championship. You think it would but when that talent doesn’t come all together at once, that’s not going to happen.

We can make all the excuses we want for this team. The players can do the same. In the end though, this team is probably not as good as we think or even they think they are.

They are just mediocre. And that’s evidenced by their 53-54 record.

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

Red Sox blow a four-run lead in loss to Twins [boston globe]

Beckett to miss start; Morales to go Sunday [boston globe]

Sox can’t hold lead, fall in 10th [boston herald]

As usual, Sox have us at a loss [boston herald]

Conditioned for failure [boston herald]

Josh Beckett to sit one out [boston herald]

Curt Schilling still brings the heat [boston herald]

Francona downplays clubhouse get-together [rob bradford – weei.com]

The Red Sox have found themselves with an uneasy reality [rob bradford – weei.com]

Salty absent from park due to ear infection [rob bradford – weei.com]

Frustration builds as Sox fall in extras, 6-5 [csn new england]

Questionable defensive play costs Sox [csn new england]

Ross: “We’re treading water” [csn new england]

Frustration gets better of Doubront [csn new england]

Sox offense fails to shift gears late in game [csn new england]

Merloni: Varitek could make good manager [csn new england]

Merloni: Don’t see ‘respect’ among Red Sox [csn new england]

Bobby V dismisses recent flaps [espn boston]

Tito: Didn’t think visit was big deal [espn boston]

Ex-tailback Bobby V. talked to Silas Redd’s family [espn boston]

Rapid reaction: Twins 6, Red Sox 5 [espn boston]

For John Henry, the next step in this dreary Sox saga must be getting obvious [espn boston]

Curt Schilling on D&C: ‘I’m taking a swing at [‘Nice inning, kid’] comment’ [full count]

Closing Time: Red Sox fail to capitalize on chances, lose to Twins 6-5 in 10 innings [full count]

Cody Ross on Darin Mastroianni’s 10th inning double: ‘I feel like I should have caught it’ [full count]

Bobby Valentine Brushes Off Curt Schilling’s Criticisms on Day of Pitcher’s Red Sox Hall of Fame Induction [nesn.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Looks Good in Bullpen Session, Will Increase Pitch Count in Next Rehab Start [nesn.com]

Red Sox Trend of Missed Opportunities Further Proof Team Needs More Than Elite Talent to Succeed [nesn.com]

Red Sox Cough Up Momentum, Sum Up ‘Story of the Season’ With Another Disappointment [nesn.com]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia Was Unavailable to Pinch Hit for Red Sox Because of ‘Big Ear Infection’ [nesn.com]

Salty misses game with ear infection [redsox.com]

Schilling among Red Sox Hall of Fame inductees [redsox.com]

Papi unlikely to play this weekend; Aviles returns [redsox.com]

Bailey’s second rehab outing goes smoothly [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, be sure to head over to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Twins Target.

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

Opening camp: UConn [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn Football First 2012 Preseason Practice Is In The Books [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Commitment: Cameron Stapleton, Tight End, Brooklyn, NY [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Pasqualoni breaks down positional battles [jim fuller – new haven register]

Whitmer talks about first practice as UConn’s starting QB [jim fuller – new haven register]

Terry Baltimore Cup Opening Round Matchup No. 4: Robbie Frey can fly vs. Lawrence Wilson’s win-sealing pick [the uconn blog]

Football Opens Preseason Camp [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn giving Whitmer chance to run offense [ct post]

Starting QB In Place, Paul Pasqualoni Likes The Look Of Things [hartford courant]

Chandler Whitmer glad to get the extra reps [new haven register]

It’s Whitmer’s job to lose at UConn [the day]

UConn football team opens practice [the hour]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn Trio Leads Team USA to 88-61 Win over the Czech Republic [uconnhuskies.com]

Geno Auriemma most popular guy in state [ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star Game Set For Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

Gay Honored For Off-Court Contributions [hartford courant]

Jerome Dyson still heeding Jim Calhoun’s advice [new haven register]

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

After being shutout 5-0 last night, the Boston Red Sox look to even up the series in the second game of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins 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 Twins television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports North. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Felix Doubront takes the hill for the 21st time in 2012. In his previous 20 starts, Doubront is 10-5 with a 4.37 ERA. Tonight will mark the first time Doubront has faced the Twins in his career.

Brian Duensing makes just his sixth start (39th appearance though) this season for the Twins. In his previous 38 appearances (five starts), Duensing is 2-6 with a 4.53 ERA. He’s made one appearance against the Red Sox this season and retired the only two batters he faced back on April 23rd. He’s made four career appearances (one start) against the local nine and is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA (2 ER/5 IP). Two of those apperances have come at the Fens where he has no record with a 5.40 ERA (1 ER/1.2 IP).

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:

45-60		53-53
1. Denard Span	CF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Ben Revere	RF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Joe Mauer	C	3. Cody Ross	RF
4. Josh Willingham	DH	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. Justin Morneau	1B	5. Ryan Lavarnway	DH
6. Danny Valencia	3B	6. Will Middlebrooks	3B
7. Darin Mastroianni	LF	7. Carl Crawford	LF
8. Brian Dozier	SS	8. Kelly Shoppach	C
9. Jamey Carroll	2B	9. Mike Aviles	SS
Brian Duensing	SP	Felix Doubront	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

Morales will start Sunday in place of Beckett [rob bradford – weei.com]

Source: Red Sox weren’t team to claim Lee [rob bradford – weei.com]

Red Sox haven’t talked Lowe with Tribe [rob bradford – weei.com]

Josh Beckett won’t pitch Sunday; Red Sox hopeful he will avoid DL [clubhouse insider]

Schilling critical of Sox communication [csn new england]

Schilling: Valentine’s end won’t be pretty [espn boston]

Sox try to get over .500 vs. Twins [espn boston]

Morales to start for Beckett on Sunday [espn boston]

For the Red Sox, history in the making [extra bases]

Red Sox induct Schilling, Barrett, Burks, others into hall of fame [extra bases]

Beckett scratched for Sunday, but not on DL [extra bases]

Ortiz works out, but not returning this weekend [extra bases]

Bobby Valentine just adding to Red Sox dysfunction [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Bobby Valentine’s Jab at Buster Olney Conjures Up Memories of Some of Sports’ Best Media Tussles (Gallery) [nesn.com]

Franklin Morales to Start in Place of Josh Beckett on Sunday Against Twins [nesn.com]

Fighting unifies Patriots, tears apart Red Sox [mike petraglia – weei.com]

Schilling: “This is not somebody else’s fault” [projo sox blog]

Morales to start for Beckett on Sunday [projo sox blog]

Injury updates: Aviles, Bailey, Matsuzaka [projo sox blog]

Ortiz unlikely for this weekend [projo sox blog]

Doubront looks to draw Sox even vs. Twins [redsox.com]

Beckett to skip Sunday start; Morales to sub [redsox.com]

Ortiz: Won’t play this weekend [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

It’s time to face facts. The Boston Red Sox are probably no better than a .500 team.

They started July at their high point of five games above .500 only to lose their next five games to drop back to that mark. Over the rest of the month, they got no higher than three games above it. And since then, they continue to hover around the mark.

They had won four straight games before the Detroit Tigers took the finale two nights ago. Then last night, the Red Sox looked completely lost as a relative unknown pitcher Samuel Deduno shutdown the Red Sox in a 5-0 win for the Minnesota Twins.

With that loss, the Red Sox are now three games below .500 at home (27-30). That’s just not going to cut the Fenway Frank mustard, especially when the Fens used to give the home team a big advantage. It appears those days are gone.

In his short time in the big leagues Deduno has developed a reputation of walking people. He walked Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez back-to-back in the 1st only to see Cody Ross pop out to shortstop.

It took until the 5th inning for the Red Sox to get a hit off of him and that came on a Gonzalez double. After a Ross pop out (again), Deduno walked Ryan Lavarnway but Will Middlebrooks flew out to center. In the 6th, Gonzalez picked up the second hit of the game with a single that was followed by a walk to Ross. But Deduno recovered and got Lavarnway to fly out.

Those would be the last two baserunners the Red Sox would have over the final three innings as the Twins bullpen shut them down.

Jon Lester started this one for the Red Sox and took the loss. I didn’t think he pitched all that badly.

His cutter is back that’s for sure. And with his cutter back, it makes him all the much better as he can now mix in his cutter with his fastball. For most of the season, those two pitches have looked the same and that’s been the result of his struggles.

While this loss doesn’t signify the end of the season for the Red Sox, they need to play better against competition that is inferior record wise. The Twins entered the game 16 games below .500. And given how much talent the Red Sox have that shouldn’t happened.

With the trade deadline passing, there’s not much the Red Sox can do. They certainly have missed David Ortiz over the past two weeks. And it doesn’t look like he’s returning for at least a few more days. So for now, they’ll need to make the best of it. And by best of it, not the effort they gave last night.

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

Great unknown [boston globe]

Lowe would welcome return assignment [boston globe]

Ortiz takes positive steps [boston globe]

Sox can do nothing vs. lowly Twins [boston herald]

Bobby Valentine smells a rat in clubhouse [boston herald]

David Ortiz, Josh Beckett stay out [boston herald]

Alex Wilson adjusts well to relief effort [boston herald]

Hard-luck loss for Jon Lester [boston herald]

Sox get blanked by Twins, 5-0 [csn new england]

Ortiz: ‘I don’t want to have any setbacks’ [csn new england]

Pedroia: ‘Jon pitched great — we stunk’ [csn new england]

Sarcastic comment to Middlebrooks haunts Valentine [csn new england]

First Pitch: Magadan says Red Sox hitters need better approach [csn new england]

Rapid Reaction: Twins 5, Red Sox 0 [espn boston]

Jon Lester slowly figuring things out for Boston Red Sox [espn boston]

Bobby V: ‘Nice inning, kid’ got me a talking to [espn boston]

Closing Time: Red Sox bats go silent in loss to Twins [full count]

Jon Lester: ‘I took a lot of positives from tonight’ [full count]

Bobby Valentine just adding to Red Sox dysfunction [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Jon Lester’s Resurgence Far More Crucial Than Red Sox’ Frustrating Fall Back to .500 [nesn.com]

Red Sox Drop Opener to Twins, Must Rebound and Continue to Take Advantage of Lesser Teams [nesn.com]

Former Red Sox starter Lowe on Boston’s radar [redsox.com]

Lavarnway makes 2012 debut against Twins [redsox.com]

Bailey scheduled for second rehab outing Friday [redsox.com]

Beckett questionable for Sunday’s start [redsox.com]

Ortiz likely to return after Twins series [redsox.com]

When selling move to bullpen, Walker, Kipper speak from experience [soxprospects.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 Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Twins Target.

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

Concerned: UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni Talks Offensive Line [desmond conner – hartford courant]

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Former UConn LB traded to Colts [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn names Whitmer No. 1 QB [ct post]

UConn Football Practice Opens Friday [hartford courant]

Whitmer tabbed as starting QB [the hour]

UConn D Considered Strength [nbc connecticut]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Six Current Olympians Further Exemplify UConn’s Greatness [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jordan Bell Calls UConn ‘Dream School’ [david borges – new haven register]

UConn target Xavier Rathan Mayes cuts list to 10 [kevin duffy – ct post]

UConn-Washington set [neill ostrout – ct post]

Player Profile: DeAndre Daniels [uconn huskies basketball]

UConn’s Jeremy Lamb Back In State, Speaks To Kids [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Men’s Soccer Introduces New Youth Season Ticket Packages [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Baseball Summer Notebook [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Video: Mike Olt Singles In First MLB At-Bat [sox & dawgs]

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

Well going into preseason training camp, which gets underway tomorrow, UConn Huskies football coach Paul Pasqualoni has decided on a No. 1 quarterback.

And of the five who were being considered, JUCO transfer Chandler Whitmer has been given the nod. Also, from looking at the QB depth chart, there’s no clear cut No. 2 behind him.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn.  – University of Connecticut head football coach Paul Pasqualoni has announced that redshirt-sophomore Chandler Whitmer (Newnan, Ga.) will be the No. 1 quarterback on the UConn depth chart as the Huskies begin preseason practice on Friday.

Whitmer enrolled at Connecticut for the spring 2012 semester and participated in spring practice. He has three years of eligibility at Connecticut. Whitmer originally enrolled at Illinois in the fall of 2010 and was a redshirt. He spent the 2011 fall semester at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas and was 180 for 316 in the air for 3,022 yards with 25 TDs and 14 interceptions. He was named All-Kansas Junior College Conference first team honors and earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honorable mention. Butler was the second-ranked junior college team nationally in 2011.

Whitmer was named to The Champaign News-Gazette’s All-State team following his senior year of high school at Downers Grove (Ill.) South. He earned all state and all-area honors.

He was 18 of 27 in the air for 187 yards and two touchdowns in UConn’s Blue-White Spring Football game on April 21, 2012.

In addition, redshirt sophomore quarterback Scott McCummings (Natick, Mass.) will miss the beginning of preseason camp due to excused personal reasons.

The following is the UConn quarterback depth chart as preseason camp begins:

10	Chandler Whitmer	RSo.	6-1	191
18	Johnny McEntee	RSr.	6-3	208
	— OR —
2	Michael Nebrich	So.	6-1	208
12	Casey Cochran	Fr.	6-0	214
11	Scott McCummings	RSo.	6-2	224

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

photo credit: brad horrigan – hartford courant

After taking two-of-three from the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox will continue their 10-game homestand with the first game of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins 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 Twins television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports North. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester looks to build off of his last start in his 22nd start of 2012. In his previous 21 starts, Lester is 5-8 with a 5.49 ERA. He’s made one start against the Twins this season and picked up a no decision after allowing five runs in seven innings of work back on April 23rd. Lester has made eight career appearances (seven starts) against the Twins and is 1-3 with a 4.96 ERA. Three of those appearances (two starts) have come at the Fens where he is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP).

Samuel Deduno makes his fifth start of 2012 for the struggling Twins. In his previous four starts, Deduno is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA. Tonight marks his first career start against the Red Sox and at the Fens.

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:

44-60		53-52
1. Denard Span	CF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Ben Revere	RF	2. Carl Crawford	LF
3. Josh Willingham	DH	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Justin Morneau	1B	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. Ryan Doumit	LF	5. Cody Ross	DH
6. Danny Valencia	3B	6. Ryan Lavarnway	C
7. Brian Dozier	SS	7. Will Middlebrooks	3B
8. Drew Butera	C	8. Ryan Kalish	RF
9. Alexi Casilla	2B	9. Pedro Ciriaco	SS
Samuel Deduno	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

Bobby V further explains Middlebrooks drama [rob bradford – weei.com]

Potential Red Sox Reunion With Derek Lowe Could End Up Making Sense for Both Sides [tom caron – nesn.com]

Ryan Lavarnway behind the plate tonight for Red Sox [clubhouse insider]

Source: Red Sox “still gathering info” on Derek Lowe [clubhouse insider]

Bobby V: Josh Beckett “more than likely” won’t start Sunday vs. Twins [clubhouse insider]

David Ortiz on injured Achilles: ‘I’m not going to be 100 percent when I come back’ [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox Minor League Notebook: August 2, 2012 [csn new england]

Mike from Attleboro: Beckett has earned right to be booed [csn new england]

Bradley, Jr. making presence felt in Sox minor league system [csn new england]

Valentine: Doubtful Beckett will make next start [csn new england]

Source: Sox exploring idea of adding Lowe [espn boston]

Lester goes against weak Twins tonight [espn boston]

Josh Beckett of Boston Red Sox skips bullpen session, may miss next start [espn boston]

Ortiz might be ready to return this weekend [espn boston]

Bobby V, on “most stupid thing I ever said on radio’ [espn boston]

Lavarnway gets start behind plate [espn boston]

Derek Lowe would welcome a return to Red Sox [extra bases]

Josh Beckett questionable for next start [extra bases]

Step forward for Ortiz, but still not ready [extra bases]

Will Middlebrooks on Bobby Valentine: ‘He’s trying to get me better’ [full count]

Scorching Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury Lead Red Sox Into Series With Twins [nesn.com]

Which Former Minnesota Player Have You Most Enjoyed Having on a Boston Team? [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett ‘More Than Likely’ to Miss Next Start, With Franklin Morales Expected to Pitch in His Place [nesn.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Twins and Catching Lessons [projo sox blog]

Red Sox lukewarm on recently DFA’ed Derek Lowe [projo sox blog]

Ortiz: ‘I’m trying to get to the point where there are no risks’ [projo sox blog]

Beckett questionable for side session Friday, questionable for next start [projo sox blog]

Valentine laughs off Middlebrooks incident [projo sox blog]

Red Sox looking for improved Lester vs. Twins [redsox.com]

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

photo credits: getty images, ap photo

Good news for fans of the UConn Huskies and their baseball program. Branford, CT native and former Huskies third baseman Mike Olt has been called up to the big leagues by the Texas Rangers.

Here’s the release from UConn:

ARLINGTON, Texas – In just over two years in the minors, former University of Connecticut third baseman Mike Olt has been called up to make his debut in Major League Baseball by the Texas Rangers.  Olt, who was playing at Double-A Frisco, had his contract purchased by the big league club late Wednesday night.

With his call-up, Olt becomes the 12^th UConn baseball player to reach the majors and the first to debut since left-handed pitcher Jesse Carlson in 2008.  Olt will also be the first Husky to appear in a MLB game this season and continues a streak of 23-consecutive years that a player from Connecticut has played in the big leagues, dating back to the debut of righty Charles Nagy in 1990.  The last field player from UConn to appear in the majors was catcher Brian Esposito in 2010.

“We’re so excited for Mike,” said Connecticut head coach Jim Penders.  “He is a great example of what our program is all about and I’m glad his hard work and dedication are being rewarded.”

For the Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League, Olt batted .288, while leading the league in home runs (28), slugging percentage (.579) and OPS (.977).  He also ranks second with 82 runs batted in to go with 65 runs, 17 doubles and a .398 on-base percentage.

Olt made previous stops in Myrtle Beach (A-Adv.), Spokane (A-S.S.) and with the AZL Rangers (Rook.) as well as a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 2011.  He was drafted by Texas with the 49^th overall selection as a first round supplementary pick in 2010, making him the first Husky taken in the first round since Nagy in 1988.

“He woke his mom and dad to tell them to pack for Texas early this morning,” continued Penders.  “He and his brother Brad got them flights to Dallas for his debut tonight.  That is the type of son they have raised.”

The Rangers are at home tonight to host division rival Los Angeles at 8:05 pm ET.  Olt is expected to make his major league debut at first base against former Texas lefty C.J. Wilson (9-7, 2.88).  The Rangers are currently four games ahead of the Angels for the AL West Division lead with a 60-43 record and are coming off an 11-10 walk-off victory in 10 innings on Wednesday night.

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photo credit: ap photo

You win some, you lose some. Now we hope the Boston Red Sox don’t fall back into a rut.

The Red Sox saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday night as the Detroit Tigers used back-to-back home runs in the 5th inning to build a big lead and then eventually held on for a 7-5 win.

It wasn’t really Aaron Cook‘s sinker that did him in either in that fateful 5th inning. It was two hanging curveballs to Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.

Cook had already given up three runs by the time Cabrera took to the plate in the 5th with two outs. Honestly it didn’t look like Cook had much left in the tank and it was obvious when he hung the curve to Cabrera who hit the ball clear out of the Fens. He hung another curve to the next batter Fielder who blasted it out over the center field wall to push the Tigers lead to 6-1.

Yes Bobby Valentine has made some questionable calls as far as leaving guys in to long. And maybe he’s too blame for having a lefty in Craig Breslow up and not a righty. He could have also left Cook in longer because this was the first time Breslow would be pitching for the Red Sox this season. Either way, it ended up costing the Red Sox.

The good thing though is that the Red Sox didn’t give up at all. They did their collective best to battle back.

Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross all hit singles to start the 6th inning off of Rick Porcello. But Porcello got two big outs when he got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to ground into a double play that did score Pedroia. But Will Middlebrooks chased Porcello from the game with a RBI single. Phil Coke took over and walked Ryan Kalish before allowing an RBI single by Pedro Ciriaco that cut the lead to 6-4.

Carl Crawford led off the 7th with a solo home run off Coke to chase him from the game. But after that, the Red Sox couldn’t do anything off of Octavio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde.

It’s great the Red Sox battled back and never quit. But now with a lowly Minnesota Twins squad coming into the Fens for four games, you have to hope the Red Sox don’t play down to their competition. They are 10-1 against the Twins in their last 11 games at the Fens and scored 24 runs in a three-game sweep of them in Minnesota earlier in the season.

With 57 games left in the season, I’m not saying every game is a must-win. What I’ll say is though the Red Sox really need to win each series going forward. So with that being said, anything less then going 3-1 in this four-game set is unacceptable.

We’ll be back later on today 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

Cold blasts [boston globe]

No decision on whether Beckett is DL-bound [boston globe]

He’s pitching right in [boston globe]

Aaron Cook start a serious problem in Sox loss [boston herald]

Blame falls on Larry Lucchino [boston herald]

Ryan Sweeney feels ‘stupid’ over tantrum [boston herald]

Word is, time to get series [boston herald]

Craig Breslow answers when called [boston herald]

Cook, Red Sox fall to Tigers, 7-5 [csn new england]

Breslow ‘more confident’ this time around [csn new england]

Hanging breaking ball dooms Cook [csn new england]

Cook has to ‘pitch a little bit smarter’ [csn new england]

Sox make it interesting by racking up wins [csn new england]

Bradley, Jr. making presence felt in Sox minor league system [csn new england]

Sweeney: ‘The adrenaline got to me’ [espn boston]

Lavarnway called up, maybe for good [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5 [espn boston]

Breslow: ‘This is home for me’ [espn boston]

July’s best and worst [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox rotation needs to be straightened out [espn boston]

Ryan Lavarnway excited to return to majors, lose ‘smartest guy in the room’ label [full count]

Why the Red Sox didn’t trade a catcher [full count]

Franklin Morales ‘waiting in the wings’ with Josh Beckett’s availability uncertain [full count]

Closing Time: Aaron Cook’s struggles continue as Red Sox fall to Tigers [full count]

Bobby Valentine: ‘Keep winning series and we’ll be just fine’ [full count]

Ryan Lavarnway Returns to Majors As Red Sox Place Daniel Nava on Disabled List [nesn.com]

Yale Products Ryan Lavarnway, Craig Breslow Battle for Reputation of Smartest Guy in Red Sox Clubhouse [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett Reflects on Being Dangled at Trade Deadline, Calls Experience ‘Something Different for Me’ [nesn.com]

Ryan Sweeney ‘Sick To His Stomach’ About Mistake, Says He Unleashed Months of Anger in Punch [nesn.com]

Red Sox Take Back-to-Back Series Against Yankees and Tigers, Look to March Forward to Playoffs [nesn.com]

Craig Breslow Overcomes Hectic Travel Schedule to Make Strong First Impression [nesn.com]

Aaron Cook’s Home Run Woes Continue, But Spot in Rotation Safe Pending Josh Beckett’s Injury [nesn.com]

A catching conundrum: Red Sox have decisions to make behind the plate [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, head over to the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and MLive.com websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brothers, Detroit4lyfe and The Tigers Den Blog.

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

photo credit: getty images