If the Boston Red Sox want to play spoiler over the final three weeks of the season, they’re going to need to stop throwing out mediocre pitchers at the New York Yankees and their other AL East brethren not named the Toronto Blue Jays.

Of course that’s pretty much what the Red Sox have in their starting rotation right now with the exception of Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester.

Once Aaron Cook lost his sinker last night, that was it for the Red Sox as the Yankees took advantage and went on to a 5-4 win over the local nine. It was a big win for the Yankees as it keep them even in the AL East race with the Baltimore Orioles who walked off with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

It wasn’t all that bad for Cook in the early part of his start. In the first two innings, he had retired five of the first six batters on ground balls with the other being a strikeout. In the 3rd inning, he worked around a leadoff double by Eric Chavez by getting a ground out, a fly out and a strikeout.

But the 4th inning was his undoing.

Curtis Granderson led off with the first of two home runs on the night. Alex Rodriguez followed with a single and came around to score on a Robinson Cano two-run homer. Three batters in, three sinkers up in the zone and just like that the Red Sox found themselves trailing 3-0.

The Sox managed to get a run back in the bottom half of the inning when James Loney singled in Dustin Pedroia who had reached on a 1-out double.

Alfredo Aceves was tagged with Granderson’s second home run of the game after he allowed Derek Jeter to reach on a lead off single. Once again the Red Sox battled back with two runs off of three different Yankees relievers in the 7th. But other than a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run in the 9th, the Red Sox really couldn’t mount another challenge.

Pedroia had one of those “oh shi*” moments last night when he found out his wife had gone into labor at the end of the 6th inning. He had two hits in the game before having to leave.

I’m really at the point now where I’ve run out of good things to say except for this.

It was nice to see Cody Ross arguing with the umpire about a blown strike call late in the game. Bobby Valentine and Jerry Royster were also both ejected as well. I say this because of the following reason.

Sometimes we look at this team and think they’ve given up. I may not like Valentine and as embattled as he is, he’s out there sticking up for the players in a situation where they were probably right.

Now if only the whole entire roster could show that much fight, they might actually be able to spoil the dreams of at least one of those three AL East teams fighting for the playoffs.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take a look at the overnight links from the media.

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

Sox fight back but fall short [boston herald]

Bobby Valentine can’t argue this mark [boston herald]

James Loney unsettles in [boston herald]

Finding cash value in Sox situation [boston herald]

Granderson leads Yankees over Red Sox, 5-4 [csn new england]

Valentine: Tazawa an integral part of Red Sox [csn new england]

Red Sox tempers flare in loss to Yankees [csn new england]

Valentine: Saltalamacchia ‘did a very good job tonight’ [csn new england]

Sox lose; Ross loses it; Aceves, Bobby V. downplay latest dustup [csn new england]

Dodgers’ Gonzalez struggling since trade [espn boston]

Pedroia exits game, with wife in labor [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 [espn boston]

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine: Don’t blame me for Kevin Youkilis’ struggles [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox still showing some fight, for better (Cody Ross) and worse (Alfredo Aceves) [espn boston]

Bobby Valentine introduces Aceves-ology to Harvard curriculum [full count]

Pedro Ciriaco Credits Training With Robinson Cano for Yankee-Killing Reputation, Career Year [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine Brings Fire to Red Sox Team That Couldn’t Ask for More Care, Fight From Manager [nesn.com]

Derek Lowe Says ‘I’ve Brought a Lot of Losing’ to Yankees, Agrees 2004 Red Sox Were Something Special [nesn.com]

Manny Ramirez ‘Sometimes’ Misses Baseball, But Now Has ‘Incredible Peace’ [nesn.com]

Alfredo Aceves’ Strange Exit, Cody Ross’ Displeasure With Umpire Highlight Feisty Night for Red Sox [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis, Bobby Valentine and the strange free-agent class of first basemen [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 ESPN New York, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and The Journal News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, NYY Stadium Insider.

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

MLB has released the full schedule for next year and in it we see the Boston Red Sox opening up their 2013 schedule in New York against the Yankees on April Fool’s Day. They’ll begin it with a six-game road trip in NYC and Toronto.

They’ll return home on April 8th when they kick off a seven-game home stand against the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League next season, there’ll be interleague play every day during the 2013 season. The Red Sox will start their interleague play in May when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies.

During interleague play, the Red Sox will host the Phillies, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. On the road, they’ll play the Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Rockies.

Full 2013 Boston Red Sox schedule

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

Given everything that’s happened with him health wise over the summer, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun is going to announce his retirement.

According to a report on NBC Connecticut, Calhoun will announce his retirement on Thursday at Gampel Pavilion. In the report, it states that Calhoun wants to meet with his players before any official announcement.

“Don’t be surprised by anything, even this week,” Calhoun said.

It is a matter of Calhoun and his agent “dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’,” according to the source.

A second source said Calhoun wants to meet with his players in person before any announcement is made.

We usually go through this each year with Calhoun but the bike accident may have forced his hand. One of the things Calhoun had wanted was to announce Kevin Ollie as the coach-in-waiting.

And by retiring one month before the 2012-13 lameduck season ends, Calhoun may have forced the hand of new AD Warde Manuel. It’ll be hard for Manuel to find a suitable replacement on short notice and Ollie seems to be ready.

He’s had a heavy hand in getting some of the better players in Storrs since he joined Calhoun’s staff. If he’s not going to be the coach, it could affect the decisions recruits have made.

UPDATE: It looks as though Ollie will be named as the successor to Calhoun.

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

photo credit: hartford courant

After walking off with a win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to make it two in-a-row in the middle game of a three-game set with the New York Yankees at historic Fenway Park.

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 Yankees television market, you can catch the game on YES.  And if you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the ESPN will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Yankees television markets). The game will also be available online and for your mobile device (where available) on WatchESPN. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Aaron Cook looks to turn his dismal season around in his 15th start of 2012. In his previous 14 starts, Cook is 3-9 with a 5.17 ERA. He suffered the loss in his only start of 2012 against the Yanks after allowing six runs in four innings of work back on July 27th. He’s made just two career starts against the Yankees and is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA (11 ER/9.2 IP). This will be the first time Cook has faced the Evil Empire at the Fens.

David Phelps makes his sixth start (28th appearance) for the Yankees tonight. In his previous 27 appearances (five starts), Phelps is 3-4 with a 3.55 ERA. His three career appearances (one start) against the Red Sox have come this season. In those, Phelps is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA (6 ER/12.2 IP). His lone Fenway appearance came on April 21st when he allowed three runs in four innings of work.

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

Here are today’s lineups:

79-62		64-78
1. Derek Jeter	SS	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Curtis Granderson	CF	2. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
3. Alex Rodriguez	DH	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Robinson Cano	2B	4. James Loney	1B
5. Nick Swisher	1B	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. Raul Ibanez	LF	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Eric Chavez	3B	7. Daniel Nava	LF
8. Ichiro Suzuki	RF	8. Scott Podsednik	DH
9. Chris Stewart	C	9. Jose Iglesias	SS
David Phelps	SP	Aaron Cook	SP

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

NOTES: Scott Atchison has been activated from the 15-day disabled list.

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

How David Ortiz wants to help fix the Red Sox [rob bradford – weei.com]

Red Sox look to make their misery contagious [csn new england]

Red Sox to celebrate Pesky’s life at Fenway Sept. 23 [csn new england]

Bobby V: I think I’ll be here in ’13 and beyond [espn boston]

Saltalamacchia returns to lineup [espn boston]

Pedro Ciriaco: Scourge of the Yankees [extra bases]

Valentine’s WEEI appearance more cordial this time around [extra bases]

Podcast: Spoilers allowed [extra bases]

Atchison returns to roster, Salty to the lineup [extra bases]

For big spenders, it’s money for nothing [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Jerry Remy ‘Wouldn’t Be Surprised’ If Bobby Valentine Returns Next Season [nesn.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia Batting for Red Sox’ Future After Picking Off Yankees With Timely Hits [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia’s Second Half Performance Has Been One of Few Bright Spots in Red Sox’ Tailspin [nesn.com]

Red Sox Can Repay Years of Yankees Misery, Redeem Poor Season With Well-Placed Wins [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia Leads Charge With Yankee-Killer Pedro Ciriaco Looking to Continue Spoiler Ways [nesn.com]

Pedro Ciriaco Credits Training With Robinson Cano for Yankee-Killing Reputation, Career Year [nesn.com]

Junichi Tazawa Has Evolved Into Reliable Reliever After Long Road From Tommy John Surgery [nesn.com]

Leiter: “Same cauldron” for ’12 Sox as ’02 Mets [projo sox blog]

Bryce Brentz could be on the Will Middlebrooks track [projo sox blog]

Valentine says he expects to be back in 2013 ‘and beyond’ [projo sox blog]

Saltalamacchia returns to Red Sox lineup [projo sox blog]

Atchison activated [projo sox blog]

Healthy and throwing hard, Tazawa justifying what teams saw in him in Japan [projo sox blog]

Ciriaco handling third without a problem [projo sox blog]

Five questions with Nomar Garciaparra [touching all the bases]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Well how about that. The Boston Red Sox actually won a game. And it was a game that mattered. Well for the New York Yankees it did.

They entered Tuesday night’s game with a one game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. And when they walked on to their team bus after the game, they were once again tied for first with the O’s.

And it was all thanks to the birthday boy Jacoby Ellsbury, who was celebrating his 29th birthday.

With David Robertson on the mound for the Yanks in the bottom of the 9th, Yankees killer Pedro Ciriaco reached on a one out single. Mike Aviles followed with an infield single setting the stage for Ellsbury’s walkoff single that set the real Fenway faithful into a frenzy. It was Ellsbury’s 4th hit of the night.

Like I said, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to feel this way. And what better time than against the biggest rivals the Red Sox have.

It almost wasn’t to be though.

Jon Lester had an un-Jon Lester like night.

He lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a career-high seven walks. He did strikeout five and those five strikeouts put him atop the Red Sox franchise lead for strikeouts by a lefty.

The walks are disconcerting though. It’s not like he wasn’t around the strikezone, because he was. There may have been one or two times where he got squeezed by the home plate umpire. And usually when he did, he lost his cool and that hurt him.

If Lester ever wants to be a true ace which he can be, he needs to harness his emotions. Sure it’s great to see it. But when it starts to affect his pitching then it becomes a problem.

After a close pitch in the 3rd inning to Robinson Cano was called a ball giving him his second walk to start the inning, Bobby Valentine came out and basically gave Lester the business. While Valentine did yell it loud enough for the home plate umpire to hear as well, his message was well received by Lester. He bounced back to strike out the next two batters and got Curtis Granderson to end the inning.

It was nice to see the Red Sox play spoiler last night. Let’s just hope they could keep doing it going for the final 20 games (17 of which are against teams in a playoff fight).

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day.

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 ESPN New York, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and The Journal News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, NYY Stadium Insider.

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

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 offense leaves D hanging [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn moving on from NC State loss [jim fuller – new haven register]

Tuesday presser — UConn-Maryland, the IQ test [john silver – journal inquirer]

It’s not just any other game: Why UConn cannot beat Randy Edsall and Maryland by enough [the uconn blog]

Edsall’s ungraceful departure no longer hot topic with Huskies [ct post]

As ex-coach Edsall awaits, UConn works on fixing mistakes [ct post]

Masters Says UConn’s Offensive Line Better Than It Has Shown [hartford courant]

Edsall Wishes He Told Players About Maryland Job Face-To-Face [hartford courant]

Edsall Has One Regret [hartford courant]

Guarded Edsall shows remorse for how he left UConn [new haven register]

Huskies’ Maryland natives ready for reunions [new haven register]

Pasqualoni wants the Huskies to focus on Saturday’s game [the day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ryan Boatright Asserting His Leadership Skills [dom amore – hartford courant]

Notes from Gampel Pavilion [kevin duffy – ct post]

Other UConn related links

W. Cross Country. Lauren Sara Named BIG EAST Cross Country Athlete of the Week [uconnhuskies.com]

General News. Costanzo Named Executive Director Of Recreational Services [uconnhuskies.com]

WTIC New Talk 1080 To Remain Flagship Of UConn-IMG Sports Network [uconnhuskies.com]

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

After being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox will finish up the six-game, seven-day homestand with the first game of a three-game set against the New York Yankees at historic Fenway Park.

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 Yankees television market, you can catch the game on MY9.  And if you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Yankees television markets). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester makes his team leading 29th start for the Red Sox. In his previous 28 starts, Lester is 9-11 with a 4.99 ERA. He’s made three starts against the Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA (9 ER/17.1 IP). Lester has made 20 career starts against the Yankees and is 9-4 with a 4.23 ERA.  Eight of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA.

Hiroki Kuroda is also making his 29th start of 2012. In his previous 28 starts, Kuroda is 13-11 with a 3.14 ERA. He’s made three starts against the Red Sox this season and is 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA. Kuroda has made four career starts against the local nine and is 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with a 5.45 ERA (8 ER/12.2 IP).

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

Here are today’s lineups:

79-61		63-78
1. Derek Jeter	SS	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Nick Swisher	RF	2. Scott Podsednik	DH
3. Alex Rodriguez	DH	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Robinson Cano	2B	4. James Loney	1B
5. Russell Martin	C	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. Steve Pearce	1B	6. Ryan Lavarnway	C
7. Curtis Granderson	CF	7. Ryan Kalish	RF
8. Andruw Jones	LF	8. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
9. Jayson Nix	3B	9. Mike Aviles	SS
Hiroki Kuroda	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

Dice-K to make next start; Franklin Morales likely shut down [clubhouse insider]

Bobby V on remembering 9/11: ‘I don’t think it’ll ever be the same’ [clubhouse insider]

Notes: Matsuzaka to pitch again; Morales most likely done [csn new england]

Ortiz: ‘Probably won’t be able to play this year’ [csn new england]

This Sox-Yankees series can be beaten [espn boston]

Red Sox 3B Will Middlebrooks gets cast off wrist [espn boston]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia out again with back spasms [espn boston]

PawSox go for Governor’s Cup glory [espn boston]

Valentine: “I’m the best man for the job’’ [espn boston]

Valentine says baseball helped after 9/11 [espn boston]

Doubront, Dice-K not done yet [espn boston]

Matsuzaka stays in Red Sox rotation [extra bases]

Valentine: ‘I’m the best man for the job’ [extra bases]

Bobby Valentine reflects on the anniversary of 9/11 attacks [full count]

Derek Jeter Remains Hot, Hopes to Lift Slumping Yankees Over Red Sox [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine’s Heart Still Aches for Those Affected by September 11th Attacks [nesn.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka, Felix Doubront to Stay in the Red Sox Rotation Despite Recent Struggles [nesn.com]

From the Journal Files: When last the PawSox won the Governors’ Cup … [projo sox blog]

Matsuzaka to start again Friday in Toronto [projo sox blog]

Valentine remembers 9/11 [projo sox blog]

Morales likely done for season; Doubront to go Thursday [projo sox blog]

Saltalamacchia still sidelined [projo sox blog]

Lester gets first crack at altering Yanks’ plans [redsox.com]

‘Bucks’ tests out-of-towners in 12th episode [redsox.com]

Middlebrooks eyes batting practice [alex speier – weei.com]

Bobby V: ‘I’m the best man for the job’ [alex speier – weei.com]

Daisuke to start again; Morales likely done [alex speier – weei.com]

These Red Sox are lousy, but not the worst [touching all the bases]

Emotional 9/11 Tribute Before Yankees Game [tmz]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images