Boston Red Sox @ Cleveland Indians 7:05 p.m Progressive Field SP: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Fausto Carmona TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/7 [SOX & Dawgs]

After taking 2-of-3 in Baltimore over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox will finish their seven-game road trip with a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:05 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game will be shown on STO (SportsTime Ohio) in the Indians television market. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

The question everyone wants to know is which Daisuke Matsuzaka will show up. Will it be the dominating one or will it be the one that struggles? In his seven starts this season, Dice-K is 4-2 with a 5.49 ERA. He’s made three career starts against the Indians and is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He’s made one start at Progressive Field back in 2007 and picked up the win after allowing no runs over seven innings.

Fausto Carmona makes his 12th start for new Indians skipper Manny Acta. In his previous 11 starts, he is 4-4 with a 3.53 ERA. He’s made five appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox in his career and sports 1-2 record with a 5.94 ERA.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

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

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Feeling drafty [Clubhouse Insider]

Pregame notes: Papelbon, Ellsbury & welcome back Victor [Clubhouse Insider]

Fenway Park to host soccer match on July 21 [CSN New England]

Papelbon placed on bereavement list [CSN New England]

Ex-Red Sox pitcher Jerry Stephenson dies [CSN New England]

Red Sox Early Notes: Bonser ready in Boston bullpen [CSN New England]

Looking at the decline of Hideki Okajima [Extra Bases]

Red Sox well-stocked for draft [Extra Bases]

Sox news and notes from Cleveland [Extra Bases]

Two guys very happy to be here [Extra Bases]

The Factors – Week Nine [Full Count]

The Red Sox, the draft and medical risk [Full Count]

Marco Scutaro’s Offense Measuring Up Well With Past Red Sox Shortstops [NESN.com]

Boof Bonser Pitched Scoreless Inning in Last Rehab Appearance, Will Return Soon [NESN.com]

Red Sox Activate Boof Bonser, Send Jonathan Papelbon to Bereavement List [NESN.com]

Celtic Football Club and Sporting Clube de Portugal Will Play Soccer Game at Fenway Park on July 21 [NESN.com]

Victor Martinez Excited to Return to Cleveland [NESN.com]

Red-faced Red Sox [Projo Sox Blog]

And now for the good news… [Projo Sox Blog]

Various media outlets around Boston are reporting that the Boston Red Sox have placed closer Jonathan Papelbon on the bereavement list and have activated pitcher Boof Bonser from the disabled list.

Papelbon will miss at the least the next three games although it’s not known why he was placed on the list.

Bonser started the 2010 season on the disabled list with a sore groin and was in Pawtucket rehabbing when he had setback with his surgically repaired shoulder. Overall in Pawtucket, he made nine appearances (eight starts) and had 0-2 record with a 6.34 ERA in 32 2/3 innings.

After being embarrassed back in early May by the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Boston Red Sox were looking to return the favor while pushing the O’s losing streak to 11 games. But Nick Markakis had other plans as his RBI single in the 11th inning ended the misery as the Orioles prevented the Red Sox from the sweep.

John Lackey was much better this time out then in previous outings. He allowed just two runs over seven innings after throwing a season-high 124 pitches. Unforunately, those runs given up by Lackey came after Victor Martinez had put the Red Sox up 2-0 on a home run in the top of the 2nd.

Lackey battled all game though and you can see how fiery he is on the mound. When a call didn’t go his way, you could see the emotion on his face. What’s concerning to me though is the lack of velocity.

Although his fastball was coming in at 90-91 at the end of the 7th, it was coming at the same speed he had thrown it most of the game. His curveball wasn’t as sharp as it has normally been but he did pitch to contact and let the defense do the work behind him. But his bulldog effort kept the Red Sox in the game and that’s all you can ask for from him.

With Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester just humming along, if Lackey can get going things could get really nasty for opposing teams.

The Red Sox offense did battle back though against the Orioles bullpen they had battered during the series. But they were only able to get the tying run in the 9th and nothing else.

Even though it was a loss on Sunday, the Red Sox are still playing good baseball right now. This one loss won’t make break or this season. You know the Red Sox will put this behind them and look to take the four games from the Cleveland Indians before heading home to start interleague play on Friday.

We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, news and any links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links.

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A day to shape a franchise: How one draft changed the Red Sox for years [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Red Sox get nicked up in the 11th [Boston Globe]

In return, Cameron at center of action [Boston Globe]

To Orioles, this was a big deal [Boston Globe]

Sox recap: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 [Boston Herald]

Catching up to Mike Cameron [Boston Herald]

Not the same, old draft [Boston Herald]

Victor Martinez going back, back . . . [Boston Herald]

Red Sox fail to complete sweep, lose to O’s in 11 [CSN New England]

Ortiz says he’s fine after being hit by pitch [CSN New England]

Ortiz sore after being hit on the hand [ESPN Boston]

Delcarmen’s battling a stiff back [ESPN Boston]

Cameron produces as Sox lose in 11 innings [ESPN Boston]

SoxProspects.com: Red Sox draft preview [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 [Full Count]

Lackey plays the role of the horse [Full Count]

Postgame reaction to Sox’ loss [Full Count]

Character, Chemistry, Guitar Lessons Driving Red Sox Up AL East Standings [Heidi Watney – NESN.com]

What to make of John Lackey [Lou Merloni – WEEI.com]

Terry Francona Pleased With John Lackey’s Fight on Sunday [NESN.com]

Who Has Been Theo Epstein’s Best Draft Pick? [NESN.com]

Drafting for Need Not on Boston’s Agenda in 2010 MLB Draft [NESN.com]

Sweep slips away [Providence Journal]

Red Sox fondly remember day they were drafted [Providence Journal]

Red Sox journal: Delcarmen struggles when back flares up [Providence Journal]

Cameron returns to lineup, plays center [RedSox.com]

Youk, Victor differ on World Cup favorites [RedSox.com]

Beltre back; Hermida remains out [RedSox.com]

Stephenson was one of a kind [RedSox.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.

And if you must read the enemy paper, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. Or you can check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.

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UConn Football links

Gray To Colonials: Updated [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Lake Braddock QB Michael Nebrich commits to Connecticut [Washington Post]

Rivals.com Top 100 Players Countdown (skip to photo #14) [Rivals.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Calhoun speaks at American Cancer Society event [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

UConn’s Calhoun defends integrity of program [CT Post]

Other UConn related links

Baseball: UConn Ends Season with 4-3 Loss to Oregon [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn ousted in NCAA Baseball [Hartford Courant]

UConn brought back the college baseball buzz [Hartford Courant]

UConn Baseball: Now the bar is raised [Hartford Courant]

Oregon ousts UConn from NCAA baseball tourney [New Haven Register]

UConn eliminated from Norwich Regional [Norwich Bulletin]

Huskies hit end of road [The Day]

Norwich Regional Game 5 report: UConn vs Oregon [The College Baseball Blog]

Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles 1:35 p.m Oriole Park at Camden Yards SP: John Lackey vs Brian Matusz TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/6 [SOX & Dawgs]

After their last trip to Camden Yards found themselves being swept by the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox look to return the favor this afternoon.

This afternoon’s game will start at 1:35 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game will be shown on MASN in the Orioles television market. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

John Lackey looks to continue the strong starting pitching that Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester have delivered in this series in his 12th start of the season. In his previous 11 starts, Lackey is 6-3 with a 4.95 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Orioles in 2010 and is 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA. He’s made 14 starts against the Orioles in his career and is 9-3 with a 3.17 ERA. In eight starts at Camden Yards, he is 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA.

Brian Matusz has struggled in his rookie campaign for the O’s this season. He’s made 11 starts and is 2-6 with a 5.28 ERA. He’s made only career start against the Red Sox and that came back on April 24th of this season. In that game, he took a no decision after allowing three earned runs in six innings.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

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

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

Trade Clay Buchholz!?!?!?!? [Batter-up with Bruno]

Pregame notes: Cameron brings sexy back [Clubhouse Insider]

Early Sox Notes: Cameron starting in center for Sox [CSN New England]

Cameron returns to the lineup [ESPN Boston]

Bonser to join Sox [ESPN Boston]

Historic starting lineup? [ESPN Boston]

News and notes from Baltimore: Cameron back in the lineup [Extra Bases]

Bonser throws 95 mph in relief appearance [Full Count]

Cameron gets another chance [Full Count]

Mike Cameron brings his ‘sexiness and color’ back to the Sox lineup [Projo Sox Blog]

Boof Bonser completes rehab assignment, activation could be coming soon [Projo Sox Blog]

The last time the Boston Red Sox were at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles swept them under the leadership of Dave Trembley. Now with Captain Kirk out and Juan Samuel at the helm for the Orioles, the Red Sox were hoping to return the favor.

The Red Sox had the right pitcher on the mound in Jon Lester, who had ten wins in 13 starts with no losses against the O’s in his career. And for the better part of last night’s 8-2 win, Lester found himself in a pitcher’s duel with Jeremy Guthrie.

But it would Guthrie who would crack first as the Kevin Youkilis continued his reign of terror on American League pitchers blasting a solo shot. The Red Sox would add another run in the 8th off of Guthrie and then six runs in the 9th off of the hapless O’s bullpen.

Lester was on his game as he had complete control and command of the strike zone. The telling moment though came in the 7th inning when Lester began to tire and walked three straight Orioles hitters. They would be the only walks Lester would issue in the game. And when he left the game, he gave the dugout seats a little pounding before settling down to watch Daniel Bard try and help him out of the jam.

Bard, who’s been the most used and most consistent reliever out of the bullpen this season for the Red Sox, found himself in a pressing situation of bases loaded with out against the worst team in all of MLB. But Bard did his job as he got pinch-hitter Luke Scott to fly out to short center and got Corey Patterson to foul out to Youk at third. One of the first people to greet Bard when he got back to the dugout was Lester, who looked to breath a sigh of relief.

Lester had some kind words to say about the job Bard did last night:

“He’s great. He bailed me out. He’s done that all year for us,” Lester said. “Hopefully he can continue to do it. Obviously you see what he brings to the table every night he pitches. He’s done great and you can’t speak highly enough about what he’s done out of the bullpen for us.”

Lester and Clay Buchholz have been the anchors of the Red Sox pitching rotation and their resurgence in the AL East. They’ve narrowed a big gap down to 3½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place and just a 1½ games behind the New York Yankees in second place.

Hopefully a sweep is in there future in just a short while at Camden Yards.

We’ll be back very shortly with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links that may become available but for now enjoy the overnight links.

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A Bard’s answers to the makeup questions [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Lester, Red Sox still not in a giving mood [Boston Globe]

Reddick is recalled to fill in for Hermida [Boston Globe]

After early doubts, the race is on [Boston Globe]

Recap: Red Sox 8, Orioles 2 [Boston Herald]

Mike Lowell left without a role [Boston Herald]

Ga. Tech? Try Ga. Tek [Boston Herald]

Scott Boras keeps beat with Sox quintet [Boston Herald]

Daniel Bard’s all set in bullpen [Boston Herald]

Lester continues his O’s domination in win [CSN New England]

Lester continues to produce [ESPN Boston]

About that dugout spat between Beltre and Martinez… [Full Count] (video)

Closing Time: Red Sox 8, Orioles 2 [Full Count]

Students at Joyce Kilmer School Rewarded With Clay Buchholz Visit [NESN.com]

Kevin Youkilis Praises Jon Lester’s 11th Straight Win Over Orioles [NESN.com]

How Many Red Sox Should Make the AL All-Star Team? [NESN.com]

Lester outduels Guthrie, Sox bats show up late [Providence Journal]

For Reddick, it’s about more than the numbers [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Hermida just sore, no broken ribs [Providence Journal]

Celts-Lakers rivalry great, but it takes back seat to Sox-Yanks [Providence Journal]

Reddick called up, returns to city of debut [RedSox.com]

Beltre OK, but rests after collision [RedSox.com]

Hermida’s CT scan shows no injury [RedSox.com]

Lester improves record vs. O’s to 11-0 [RedSox.com]

Kelly records first Double-A win [RedSox.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.

And if you must read the enemy paper, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. Or you can check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.

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

UConn Football links

UConn’s Reyes Beefing Up, Staying Lean [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Idol Thoughts From Geno [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Baseball: Huskies Down Central Connecticut 25-5 to Stay Alive in NCAA Play [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn rolls over Central [Hartford Courant]

Draft can’t be a distraction [Hartford Courant]

Huskies blast Devils, ends CCSU’s dream season [New Britain Herald]

UConn erupts, ousts CCSU [New Haven Register]

Olt leads the pack for UConn draft prospects [New Haven Register]

UConn demolishes Central Connecticut [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn rips CCSU in elimination game [The Day]

Norwich Regional Game Report: UConn vs CCSU [The College Baseball Blog]

Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles 7:05 p.m Oriole Park at Camden Yards SP: Jon Lester vs Jeremy Guthrie TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/5 [SOX & Dawgs]