After enjoying a day off on Monday, the Boston Red Sox make a brief stop at Historic Fenway Park for three games in two days before heading back out on the road for eight games. Today, they’ll take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of a three-game set which is part of day/night doubleheader.

If you had tickets for the rained out game between the Rays and Red Sox on April 13th, those are good for the first game today.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Rays broadcast area, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester gets the ball in game one for the Red Sox in his 23rd start of 2011. In his previous 22 starts, Lester is 11-6 with a 3.32 ERA. He’s made one start against the Rays and took the loss back on April 12th. In that start, he allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. Lester’s made 17 career starts against the Rays and is 9-4 with a 3.81 ERA. 11 of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 5-4 with a 4.30 ERA.

Joe Maddon will counter with “Big Game” James Shields who will be making his 25th start of 2011. In his previous 24 starts, Shields is 11-9 with a 2.80 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Red Sox in 2011 and is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA (6 ER/15 IP). He’s made 18 career starts against the Red Sox and is 6-10 with a 4.95 ERA. Eight of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-7 with a 7.71 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 this afternoon’s lineups:

64-55		73-46
1. Desmond Jennings	LF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Sam Fuld	RF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Evan Longoria	3B	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Ben Zobrist	DH	4. Kevin Youkilis	3B
5. B.J. Upton	CF	5. Carl Crawford	LF
6. Casey Kotchman	1B	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Sean Rodriguez	2B	7. Josh Reddick	RF
8. Kelly Shoppach	C	8. Jed Lowrie	DH
9. Elliot Johnson	SS	9. Mike Aviles	SS
James Shields	SP	Jon Lester	SP

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

Notes: David Ortiz was in the original lineup but was scratched due to illness. Lowrie replaced him as the DH.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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

Pregame notes: Scutaro out, Aviles hitting ninth [Clubhouse Insider]

Notes: Red Sox ready for quick homestand [CSN New England]

Ortiz (illness) scratched for Game 1 vs. Rays [CSN New England]

Lester to face Shields in doubleheader opener [ESPN Boston]

Aviles gets the nod at shortstop today [ESPN Boston]

Red Sox pregame notes: Marco Scutaro back still stiff, Rehab continues for J.D. Drew, Bobby Jenks [Full Count]

Baseball writer’s rankings place Boston Red Sox fans at the top and Tampa Bay fans at the bottom [LA Times]

Who Is the Best Third Baseman in AL East? [NESN.com]

Adequate Sleep a Top Priority for Red Sox to Remain Sharp, Healthy During Long Season [NESN.com]

Keegan Bradley Tweets Picture of Wanamaker Trophy Wearing a Red Sox Hat With Message ‘Go Sox Baby’ (Photo) [NESN.com]

Red Sox Mailbag: Jacoby Ellsbury Trade Talk, a World Series Prediction and More Right Field Drama [NESN.com]

New Red Sox Signees Continue to Bolster Organization’s Talent-Laden Lower Levels [NESN.com]

Video: Jed Lowrie Recovered From Injuries, Ready for Long Day of Baseball With Doubleheader [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Rays and Expectations [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox draft picks, a year later [Projo Sox Blog]

Aviles starts at SS while Scutaro sits [Projo Sox Blog]

Lester, Shields set to square off in Game 1 [RedSox.com]

Middlebrooks finishing with a flourish [RedSox.com]

The Surviving Grady Guide to Enjoying Today’s Double Header While Remaining Gainfully Employed [Surviving Grady]

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

When the players and coaching staff of the Boston Red Sox woke up this morning and saw the sports page with the MLB standings, they probably didn’t like what they saw. And that’s the fact that the New York Yankees are back into a tie for first place with them in the AL East after the Yanks won last night.

That’s what happens though when you lose your last two games to one of the worst teams in the American League. But as far as the standings go, the Red Sox can only control what they do. It’s not like we need to worry about a playoff spot right now anyways since the Red Sox and Yankees enjoy a nine-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card standings.

While the Red Sox were enjoying their rainy day off on Monday, Theo Epstein and his amateur scouting department were very busy trying to negotiate last minute deals with their unsigned draft picks from the 2011 MLB Draft. In the end, they ended up signing eight more draft picks before the midnight deadline last night.

They are RHP Matt Barnes, C Blake Swihart, LHP Henry Owens, OF Jackie Bradley Jr, RHP Noe Ramirez, SS Mookie Betts, LHP Cody Kukuk and RHP Matt Spalding. OF Senquez Golson decided to play football and baseball at Ole Miss instead of taking the Red Sox money.

There’s been no announcement on whether or not any of those signees will play for one of the affiliates for the rest of the season. My best guess is that all of them will be present for Instructional League when that starts up due to the late nature of their signings.

All told, the Red Sox were able to sign 29 of their draft picks including signing 16 picks from the first 15 rounds.

Now the Red Sox began a tough 14-game, 13 day stretch that begins this afternoon with a three-game, two day set with the Rays. They’ll play a day/night doubleheader today and a single afternoon game tomorrow.

We’ll be back in a while with the lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and more for game one this afternoon. But for now enjoy 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

Breaking down the Sox’ $8.775 million draft splurge [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Red Sox have Lackey’s back [Boston Globe]

Draft picks played beat the clock [Boston Globe]

3’s company for MVP [Boston Herald]

Dustin Pedroia: No 2nd thoughts [Boston Herald]

Just the stats [Boston Herald]

Next stop, Hub [Boston Herald]

True value [Boston Herald]

First of all, this pick is tough [Boston Herald]

Red Sox sign top four draft picks [CSN New England]

Nation STATion: Clearing up feelings on the Sox [CSN New England]

Lackey or Bedard? No. 3 spot open [CSN New England]

The dog days have arrived [ESPN Boston]

A look at what some of the Red Sox trade deadline targets have done [Full Count]

Red Sox, Phillies Fans Must Embrace Teams’ Strengths, Not Obsess Over Weaknesses [NESN.com]

Week in review [Nuggetpalooza]

First-round pick Vitek thriving at the plate, battling in the field [Projo Sox Blog]

ALDS short series looms scary for Sox [Projo Sox Blog]

Boston puts its prospects to the test early [Providence Journal]

Inbox: Is long-term deal viable for Ellsbury? [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.

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

Photo credit: 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 some of the other sports. 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

Offensive Line Coach Mike Foley On Shuffling And Flexibility [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

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

Tuesday Public Football Practice Cancelled [UConnHuskies.com]

2011 Football preview – Week 9, Connecticut [The Juice Online]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Former UConn Star Ray Allen Says Calhoun Is Rejuvenated, Ollie A Born Leader [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Not much to report on Xylina McDaniel [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Huskies Set To Head To Italy; Will Play Four Games [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Maya Moore Homecoming Tuesday Night Vs. Connecticut Sun [Hartford Courant]

Maya Moore set for return to Connecticut to face Sun [New Haven Register]

Moore’s return to Connecticut a sellout for Sun [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn legend back in state to play as pro Maya Moore faces Sun [The Republican-American]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. Red Sox sign UConn first-rounder Matt Barnes for $1.5 million [Full Count]

Baseball. Astros Sign George Springer [MLB Trade Rumors]

Baseball. Springer, Barnes Sign Pro Contracts [Hartford Courant]

W. Ice Hockey. Eight Student-Athletes Set To Join Women’s Ice Hockey For The 2011-12 Season [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Huskies Top The BIG EAST Preseason Poll In 2011 [UConnHuskies.com]

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

The last time the Boston Red Sox faced Seattle Mariners starter Charlie Furbush, he was pitching for the Detroit Tigers and shut them down. For the most part on Sunday afternoon, the song remained the same as the Red Sox would only get to him for a run in their 5-3 loss.

In that outing for Detroit in May, the Red Sox managed just two hits off of him while striking out six times in five innings. On Sunday, they once again had six strikeouts (five of them came in the first three innings) and managed just four hits in seven innings off of Furbush who grew up in South Portland, ME rooting for the Red Sox.

Career win No. 200 is going to have to wait again for Tim Wakefield as he took the complete game loss on Sunday. A rough third inning did him on Sunday afternoon although the umpires may have helped him out (not in a good way) as well.

Leadoff walks will kill ya and the one he issued to Casper Wells to start the third did. With Jack Wilson at the plate, Wells stole second and took third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia‘s throwing error. He came into score on Wilson’s infield single. Kyle Seager followed that up with a single.

Wake then got Ichiro to hit a grounder to Adrian Gonzalez who went to second with the Jed Lowrie covering to try and get the front end of a possible double play. It was thought that Lowrie got the out at second but the second base umpire ruled that Lowrie never touched the bag as he had gotten out of the way of the slide.

This left the bases loaded for the M’s and they would capitalize getting two more runs in the inning. With the way Furbush was pitching, that would be all they needed.

The Red Sox did cut the lead to 5-3 in the 8th on a Kevin Youkilis homer but that’s as close as they would get.

With the New York Yankees being rained out on Sunday, the Red Sox remain a ½ game ahead of them for first place in the AL East. The local nine is off today but the Yankees are in action so it’s quite possible that when the Red Sox take the field tomorrow afternoon in the first game of a day-night doubleheader, they’re tied for first place.

With the Red Sox off for the day, we’ll be back in a short while with the pitching matchups for the three-game, two-day set with the Tampa Bay Rays. But for now enjoy 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

Why Ryan Lavarnway became one who didn’t get away from Red Sox [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

With Lowrie off base, Sox tagged with a loss [Boston Globe]

Youkilis back with a bang [Boston Globe]

Wait is starting to get heavy for Wakefield [Boston Globe]

Tim Wakefield watch continues [Boston Herald]

David Wright knows how Clay Buchholz feels [Boston Herald]

Red Sox just above average this month [Boston Herald]

Jed Lowrie gets safe-ty squeezed [Boston Herald]

Sox fall to M’s again, 5-3 [CSN New England]

‘Wake Watch’ now in full effect [CSN New England]

Notes: Lowrie, Francona baffled by ump’s safe call [CSN New England]

Rapid reaction: Mariners 5, Sox 3 [ESPN Boston]

Youk homers in return to lineup [ESPN Boston]

Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox try to refocus their efforts [ESPN Boston]

Red Sox draftee Senquez Golson flying to Boston [Full Count]

Tim Wakefield Falls Short in Fourth Attempt at Win No. 200, But Still Gives Red Sox Quality Effort Despite Loss [NESN.com]

Video: Tim Wakefield Staying Focused on Giving Red Sox Quality Innings, Not Concerned With Pursuit of 200th Win [NESN.com]

Video: Terry Francona Says Red Sox Just Need to Play Better, Score More Runs When Calls Don’t Go Their Way [NESN.com]

Video: Outfielder Trayvon Robinson Surprised by Trade to Mariners, But Proud to Be Part of Rebuilding Process [NESN.com]

Charlie Furbush Proving to Be Thorn in Red Sox’ Side Early in Major League Career [NESN.com]

Questionable call costs Wakefield 200th career win [Providence Journal]

Wakefield’s road to milestone takes another detour [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Workhorse Albers deserved an even break [Providence Journal]

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 Oregonian, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times and Tacoma Tribune websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Mariner Mayhem.

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 some of the other sports. 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 defensive coordinator Don Brown proves himself to be a two-faced genius [The Hour]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Player Profile: Shabazz Napier [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Men’s Soccer Downs NJIT In Exhibition, 2-0 [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Defeats Boston College in Final Exhibition Game, 2-1 [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men’s Hockey Adds Rich McKenna To Coaching Staff [UConnHuskies.com]

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

After falling last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the rubber game in the finale of a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Safeco Field.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Mariners broadcast area, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Tim Wakefield makes his fourth attempt at career win No. 200 in his 17th start (26th appearance) of 2011. He’s made two starts against the Mariners this year and is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA (8 ER/12 IP). In his previous 25 appearances (16 starts), Wake is 6-4 with a 4.92 ERA. He’s made 29 appearances (19 starts) against the Mariners in his career and is 5-10 with a 4.32 ERA. 11 of those appearances (six starts) in the Emerald City, Wake is 1-4 with a 4.89 ERA.

Charlie Furbush makes his fourth appearance (third start) for the Mariners since coming over from the Detroit Tigers in a trade. Between both teams, Furbush has made 20 appearances (four starts) and is 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA. His lone career appearance against the Red Sox came on May 27th as a member of the Tigers. In that appearance, he didn’t allow any runs while giving up two hits with six strikeouts over five innings.

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 this afternoon’s lineups:

73-45		51-67
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Franklin Gutierrez	CF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Dustin Ackley	2B
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Mike Carp	1B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Wily Mo Pena	DH
6. Jed Lowrie	SS	6. Miguel Olivo	C
7. Carl Crawford	LF	7. Casper Wells	LF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	8. Jack Wilson	SS
9. Darnell McDonald	RF	9. Kyle Seager	3B
Tim Wakefield	SP	Charlie Furbush	SP

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

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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

Tim Wakefield goes way back with Mariners bench coach Robby Thompson [Clubhouse Insider]

Notes: Buchholz open to a bullpen role [CSN New England]

Wakefield takes another try at 200th career win [ESPN Boston]

Quiet morning in Seattle [Extra Bases]

Rays shuffle rotation after rainout [Extra Bases]

Will Tim Wakefield’s No. 49 Be Retired by the Red Sox Someday? [NESN.com]

Red Sox Put Streak of Road Dominance On Line at Seattle [NESN.com]

Video: Red Sox Manager Terry Francona Trusts Bench Coach DeMarlo Hale at Helm After Ejection [NESN.com]

Video: Red Sox Focused on Signing Amateur Draftees as Deadline Approaches [NESN.com]

Albers gets back on track after breather [Projo Sox Blog]

Rich Hill ahead of schedule — but not too far ahead of schedule [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox set rotation for Tampa Bay doubleheader [Projo Sox Blog]

Wakefield goes after elusive 200th win in Seattle [RedSox.com]

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

Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images

With Josh Beckett on the hill for the Boston Red Sox last night, we knew it might be another one of those nights for the offense since they had averaged 3.17 runs in Beckett’s starts this season. They did get four runs for him but unfortunately it wasn’t enough as they fell 5-4 to the Seattle Mariners.

The reason four runs wasn’t enough for the Red Sox is the fact that Beckett had an uncharacteristic bad 1st inning. And by bad, I mean awful.

Ichiro Suzuki took the first pitch he saw from Beckett and took it out of the park for a home run. The Mariners followed that up with three straight hits and just like that it was 3-0. Two batters later, it was 5-0 when Casper Wells hit a two run blast.

The Red Sox had a run taken away from in the 4th inning on a disputed call at home plate. Before I describe the play, I will say that without a doubt, the umpires ended up getting the call right. Some Red Sox fans won’t agree with me but honestly the umpires got it right.

Dustin Pedroia hit a fly ball to right field to Ichiro. Jacoby Ellsbury tagged up and made his way home colliding with Josh Bard after Ichiro’s throw was perfect. As Bard was laying on the ground, home plate umpire Mark Ripperger called Ellsbury safe. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez along with manager Eric Wedge protested the call.

After some consultation with his fellow umpires, Ellsbury was ruled out on the play. This brought out Terry Francona to argue the call and eventually find himself tossed from the game. He would eject the umpire on his way out. Francona said after the game he never received an explanation of why the call was reversed.

With watching the game on television at home, we were privy to some slo-mo replays of the play at the plate. You could see Bard showing the ball to Ripperger who must have initially thought Bard dropped the ball. The replay showed he did drop the ball on his chest protector but that was AFTER he had shown the ball to Ripperger.

It would end up that the disputed call would turn out to be the difference in the game.

In the 6th inning, the Red Sox would finally get to King Felix when Ellsbury and Pedroia would each hit two-run homers. But that’s all they would get as Jamey Wright and Brandon League would shut them down the rest of the way.

Tough loss for the Red Sox even if the umpire got the call right. It was definitely not what expected from Beckett either. The good thing that despite his high pitch count early on, Beckett settled down and kept the score where it was. In the end, it just wasn’t enough.

The loss coupled with the New York Yankees win over the Rays cuts the lead in the AL East back to a game over the Yankees. A win today would be a nice thing before heading into tomorrow’s off day.

We’ll be back in a while with this afternoon’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now enjoy 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 can’t recover [Boston Globe]

Ortiz sure looks like a keeper [Boston Globe]

Blasts from the past [Boston Globe]

Sox can’t climb out [Boston Herald]

Phocus needed as Sox near October [Boston Herald]

Beckett gets Sox off to a rough start [Boston Herald]

Wily Mo back with a bang [Boston Herald]

Drew mulls surgery [Boston Herald]

Wake goes back [Boston Herald]

Beware the Rays [Boston Herald]

Jacoby Ellsbury: ‘From my angle, it looked like he got the call right’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Beckett’s blue after a rare rough outing [CSN New England]

J.D. Drew will play through pain [CSN New England]

Notes: Sox again cross paths with Wily Mo [CSN New England]

Rapid reaction: Mariners 5, Red Sox 4 [ESPN Boston]

Reversed call adds to Red Sox troubles [ESPN Boston]

Beckett gives up 5 in first, and Sox can’t make up the difference [Providence Journal]

Reddick delivers with 2 strikes [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Trayvon Robinson knew it wasn’t meant to be [Providence Journal]

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 Oregonian, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times and Tacoma Tribune websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Mariner Mayhem.

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 some of the other sports. 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

Expansion: Now I get it [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Chasing Orlovsky: Can UConn QBs come close to its finest QB’s numbers? [CT Post]

UConn Reserve Corners Waiting Their Turn [Hartford Courant]

UConn seeks solutions for shrunken receiver corps in football [Norwich Bulletin]

Reyes wants to make that leap from UConn to NFL [Nashua Telegraph]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Iverson to Visit Syracuse [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Incoming freshman DeAndre Daniels finds his footing [New Haven Register]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Banks opening some eyes; a little recruiting update [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Recruiting Update [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Bria Hartley returns with poise after international experience [Norwich Bulletin]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Men’s Soccer Exhibition Cancelled Due To Inclement Weather [UConnHuskies.com]

WE WERE THINKING: Remembering Dave Solomon [New Haven Register]

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

After coming back for the win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to do it again in the second game of a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field tonight.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Mariners broadcast area, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Josh Beckett takes the hill for the Red Sox tonight and hopes his mates provide him more than 3.17 runs of support in his 23rd start of 2011. In his previous 22 starts, Beckett is 9-4 with a 2.17 ERA. He picked up the win in his only start against the Mariners this year. In that start on July 23rd, he allowed one run over seven innings. He’s had good success in his career against the Mariners as he is 6-1 with a 2.87 ERA in eight starts. In three starts at Safeco Field, Beckett is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA (4 ER/19.1 IP).

King Felix Hernandez makes his 26th start of the season for the Mariners. In his previous 25 starts, King Felix is 10-10 with a 3.31 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Red Sox this season and is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (8 ER/13.1 IP). Hernandez has made 10 career starts against the visiting nine from Boston and is 4-2 with a 3.39 ERA. He’s made four of those starts at Safeco Field where he is 1-1 with a 4.78 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 this evening’s lineups:

73-44		50-67
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Carl Crawford	LF	2. Franklin Gutierrez	CF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Dustin Ackley	2B
4. Dustin Pedroia	2B	4. Mike Carp	1B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Wily Mo Pena	DH
6. Josh Reddick	RF	6. Casper Wells	LF
7. Mike Aviles	3B	7. Josh Bard	C
8. Jason Varitek	C	8. Luis Rodriguez	3B
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Jack Wilson	SS
Josh Beckett	SP	Felix Hernandez	SP

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

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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

Looking left: How Felix Doubront still could help the Red Sox’ bullpen [Clubhouse Insider]

J.D. Drew may need offseason surgery [Clubhouse Insider]

Youkilis out again with sore back [CSN New England]

J.D. Drew will play through pain [CSN New England]

Pregame notes: Catching up with Wily Mo [ESPN Boston]

Good luck for Lackey, not for Beckett [Extra Bases]

The literary flourishes at Safeco Field [Extra Bases]

Youkilis is ‘still sore’ and remains out [Extra Bases]

Red Sox sign 29th rounder Matt Spalding [Full Count]

Video: Clay Buchholz Reaches Third Step of Rehab Program, While J.D. Drew Focusing on Getting Swing Back [NESN.com]

Video: Felix Hernandez Thinks Mariners’ Future Looks Bright, But Considers Red Sox and Yankees to Be AL’s Best Teams [NESN.com]

Video: Adrian Gonzalez Not Concerned About Lack of Home Runs, As He’s More Focused on Being Complete Hitter [NESN.com]

Trayvon Robinson: “I was kind of confused, like, ‘What do they need me for?'” [Projo Sox Blog]

Weiland still making starts at Triple-A Pawtucket [Projo Sox Blog]

Mariners call up Wily Mo Pena [Projo Sox Blog]

Youkilis still out with stiff back [Projo Sox Blog]

Offseason surgery a possibility for J.D. Drew [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett seeks elusive 10th win in Seattle [RedSox.com]

Josh Beckett Addresses His Teammates, Holding a Pair of Hedge Clippers By Sheer Coincidence [Surviving Grady]

Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners home park of Safeco Field had only yielded 40 home runs all season long before last night’s game against the Boston red Sox. So it’s safe to say that Safeco isn’t a hitter’s park.

At the end of Friday night though, the Red Sox blasted three home runs but none was bigger than Josh Reddick‘s two-run homer in the 6th that would the Red Sox to an eventual 6-4 win.

With the win coupled with the New York Yankees losing to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox picked up a game on the Yankees in the AL East standings. That lead is now two games.

Early on it didn’t look the Red Sox would even have a chance. While he hadn’t lost in his last six starts (five wins, one no decision), John Lackey wasn’t exactly sharp. But what’s beginning to turn into the norm for Lackey, he settled down after a few roughing innings.

He gave up two runs in the bottom of the 1st but had the offense get them right back in the top of the 2nd on a David Ortiz mammoth blast and a Mike Aviles sacrifice fly. His struggles continued in the 2nd when he allowed another run and then again in the 4th. He would allow just two hits the rest of the way including two rare 1-2-3 innings which came back to back.

Lackey never really establish any sort of rhythm in the game. But instead of dwelling on the negatives of his outing, let’s look at the positives.

He looks healthy as his velocity has gotten a little higher over his little run. He’s now won six of his last seven starts. The main thing though is that he’s healthy and that can only bode well for him and the Red Sox down the stretch.

Of course when you have the Red Sox offense backing you up, it can make your suckiness all the more better.

Every member of the starting nine had at least one hit. Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Big Papi and Jarrod Saltalamacchia led the way with two each. Carl Crawford and Pedroia also added stolen bases.

Tonight’s matchup on the mound should be a heavyweight battle as Josh Beckett and Felix Hernandez take the hill. Hopefully the Red Sox offense can forget that it’s Beckett on the mound and pretend it’s someone else. Then maybe they’ll score more than 3.17 runs per game for him.

We’ll be back later with this evening’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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Red Sox run down Mariners [Boston Globe]

Digging deep on Gonzalez [Boston Globe]

Old stomping grounds for Big Papi [Boston Globe]

Sox overpower M’s [Boston Herald]

Long road leads to victory [Boston Herald]

Hernandez keeps Sox guessing [Boston Herald]

Youk, Scutaro back out [Boston Herald]

Lackey extends streak; homers pace Sox, 6-4 [CSN New England]

Bad backs sideline Youkilis, Scutaro [CSN New England]

Reddick turns good luck into good fortune [CSN New England]

Notes: Gonzalez still producing despite power dip [CSN New England]

Rapid reaction: Red Sox 6, Mariners 4 [ESPN Boston]

Once again, Sox bench rises to challenge [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Josh Reddick does it again, leads the Red Sox past Mariners [Full Count]

Video: Josh Reddick’s Two-Run Home Run Propels Red Sox to Series-Opening Win in Seattle [NESN.com]

Red Sox Starter John Lackey Earns Amica Pitcher of the Week Honors [NESN.com]

Video: Boss, Moko Moanaroa Help Red Sox Nation Extend Into Australia [NESN.com]

Jonathan Papelbon Perhaps More Dominant Than Ever in 2011 [NESN.com]

Jonathan Papelbon-Daniel Bard Combination Is One Red Sox Should Try to Keep Together [NESN.com]

Three homers help Lackey to victory [Providence Journal]

Road is where the heart is for the Red Sox [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Youkilis, Scutaro sidelined with back issues [Providence Journal]

Dustin Pedroia’s deal: One unique contract for one unique player [Rob Bradford – 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 Oregonian, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times and Tacoma Tribune websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Mariner Mayhem.

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

Photo credit: Getty Images