After losing two-of-three to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox welcome to the Detroit Tigers to Historic Fenway Park this afternoon for the first game of a four-game set.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Tigers television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Detroit.  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Felix Doubront looks to get the Red Sox back to .500 in his 10th start of 2012. In his previous nine starts, Doubront is 4-2 with a 3.96 ERA. He has never faced the Tigers in his career.

Doug Fister is also looking to get his team to the .500 mark in his sixth start of 2012. In his previous five starts, Fister is 0-2 with a 1.84 ERA. He picked up a no decision in his only start of 2012 against the Red Sox when he threw 3.2 innings of shutout ball before leaving with an injury. He’s made five career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-2 with a 2.89 ERA (9 ER/28 IP). Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/12 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:

23-24		23-24
1. Quintin Berry	CF	1. Daniel Nava	LF
2. Ryan Raburn	RF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Miguel Cabrera	3B	3. Adrian Gonzalez	RF
4. Prince Fielder	1B	4. David Ortiz	DH
5. Delmon Young	DH	5. Kevin Youkilis	1B
6. Jhonny Peralta	SS	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Andy Dirks	LF	7. Ryan Sweeney	CF
8. Gerald Laird	C	8. Will Middlebrooks	3B
9. Danny Worth	2B	9. Mike Aviles	SS
Doug Fister	SP	Felix Doubront	SP

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

NOTES: As you can tell from the lineup, Sweeney has been activated from the seven-day DL. To make room on the 25-man roster, Che-Hsuan Lin was optioned to the PawSox.

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

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Long faces [Boston Globe]

Gonzalez had a blast – up until the end [Boston Globe]

A no-win situation [Boston Globe]

Red Sox again can’t get over hump [Boston Herald]

Red Sox have changed for better [Boston Herald]

Good old Clay [Boston Herald]

Aceves’ stellar run hits snag [Boston Herald]

Alfredo Aceves, Red Sox blow it [Boston Herald]

Ryan Sweeney returns; Adrian Gonzalez in RF; Daniel Nava leads off [Clubhouse Insider]

Aceves blows late lead as Sox fall to Rays, 4-3 [CSN New England]

Strong outing, but no win for Buchholz [CSN New England]

Aceves’ blown save snaps nine-game streak [CSN New England]

Gonzalez homers in the midst of struggles [CSN New England]

Sweeney (concussion) starting in centerfield [CSN New England]

Iglesias coming on strong [ESPN Boston]

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

Aceves blows Buchholz’s best start of 2012 [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox are getting it together despite dropping an emotional series to Tampa Bay Rays [ESPN Boston]

Nick Punto knows bench-clearing altercations (thanks to Izzy Alcantara) [Full Count]

Closing Time: Alfredo Aceves, Red Sox give it up in the ninth, fail to go over .500 [Full Count]

Adrian Gonzalez, Will Middlebrooks explain two pivotal defensive plays [Full Count]

Adrian Gonzalez Thinks Jarrod Saltalamacchia Should Get Consideration as All-Star [NESN.com]

Which Red Sox Outfield Addition Will Have the Biggest Impact This Year? [NESN.com]

Red Sox, Yankees, Angels Among Surprises and Disappointments as MLB Season Enters Summer Stretch [NESN.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Happy to Put Red Sox Ahead With Three-Run Homer, Not Happy With Loss (Video) [NESN.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Starting to Find Power Stroke, Says He Now Has ‘Consistent Feel’ [NESN.com]

Clay Buchholz Leans on Improved Changeup to Finally Provide Stability, Longevity in Start [NESN.com]

Yankees Are Florida’s Favorite Baseball Team, Poll Shows, With Red Sox, Rays, Marlins Not Far Behind [NESN.com]

Which Ballpark Food Is Your Favorite? [NESN.com]

Aceves’ saves streak ends in Boston’s loss [RedSox.com]

Doubront takes the hill in opener vs. Detroit [RedSox.com]

Kalish: ‘I’ve just got to push through it’ [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, head over to the Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

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

photo credit: Getty Images, 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.

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UConn Football links

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

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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.

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UConn Football links

Big East Looks For A Big TV Deal Amid Realignment [Hartford Courant]

Zach Hurd hoping for his shot to make Oakland’s roster [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Montgomery Making The Most Of New Role [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn To Open 2012 Paradise Jam vs. Wake Forest [UConnHuskies.com]

DeAndre Daniels has more work in Storrs [New Haven Register]

Video: Kemba Walker Talks UConn, Charlotte Bobcats and Giving Back [Opposing Views]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. UConn Falls 1-0 in Pitching Duel to USF [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies Eliminated After Doubleheader Sweep to USF [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Track. UConn’s 400M Relay Sets New School Record At NCAA First Round [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Track. Flowers & Wilson Advance To NCAA Championships Finals [UConnHuskies.com]

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Hindsight is 20/20 but the moves Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine made during the game last night almost cost his team the game.

Luckily for him, one of his later moves bailed him out when he had Jarrod Saltalamacchia pinch-hit for Marlon Byrd in the 9th inning. All Salty did was deliver a two-run walkoff homer against Tampa Bay Rays closer Fernando Rodney to give the home team a 3-2 win in dramatic fashion.

Obviously the Red Sox are in a strange predicament having to have Adrian Gonzalez play right field to keep both Will Middlebrooks and Kevin Youkilis in the lineup. Nothing against David Ortiz at all but having him on the team hamstrings Valentine’s decisions as what to do with three of his better hitters. If Middlebrooks had struggled when called up for Youk, it would have been easy to send him back to Triple-A.

Instead, Valentine is now having to find ways to keep all of his bats in the lineup at the same time.

So last night, Valentine put Gonzo in right and had Youk play first with Middlebrooks at third. Gonzo had volunteered to play right last weekend and did so in Baltimore as well. Last night he made his first start in the cavernous Fenway right field. During his six innings out there, he didn’t see the ball once. But we all knew he would be taken out of the game in the later innings especially with the game was tight.

But in a tight pitcher’s duel between David Price and Josh Beckett, Valentine made the switch a little earlier than I think we all expected.

After Big Papi had single Dustin Pedroia who reached on a walk to start the 6th, Gonzo laced a single to center that we all thought would easily score Pedey. Instead, a great throw from B.J. Upton nailed him at the plate to keep the game scoreless. Then Valentine made his move and inserted Che-Hsuan Lin as a pinch-runner for Gonzo. Lin would only get to third base on a Middlebrooks single that scored Big Papi.

The Rays would respond back in the 7th with two runs off of Beckett who had been cruising through the first six innings. But then the questions arose of would this move backfire.

When Lin’s spot came up in the 8th, he didn’t even get a chance to bat. Instead, Valentine pinch-hit Scott Podsednik for him. That move didn’t work out as Pods popped out to third. And as I stated earlier, Valentine was bailed out by the Salty walkoff homer.

We know this isn’t an ideal situation for the Red Sox to be in. But you’re paying Gonzo $154 million over the life of his contract. You got him for both his glove and his bat. Youk hasn’t played first base in a year or so. Wouldn’t you rather see Gonzo at first base than Youk with the game on the line? I know I would. And I have nothing against Youk playing there especially since he won a Gold Glove at first base.

Gonzo’s just the better first baseman.

Something tells me this isn’t going to be the last time this happens either. But it’s obvious the Red Sox need to do something with the situation.

The problem is they just can’t trade Youk, at least not yet. With him coming off the injury, he needs to play to show possible suitors that he’s healthy and can play on a daily basis.

You don’t want Middlebrooks sitting on the bench. He needs to play every day. He’s proven he belongs. But right now, the Red Sox may be better served with having Middlebrooks going back to Triple-A until a possible Youk move.

And before you crazy kids say anything, the Red Sox ARE NOT going to trade Middlebrooks. That won’t happen with Youk in the final year of his contract even with the Red Sox holding a club option for next year.

So as the days go on, we’ll just have to sit back and watch to see what happens.

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.

After winning on a walkoff home run last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the rubber game of a three-game set this afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays at Historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Rays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. And if you don’t live in either market, you are in luck as TBS will have national coverage of the game outside of the Red Sox and Rays television markets. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz looks to give the Red Sox another series win in his 10th start of 2012. In his previous nine starts, Buchholz is 4-2 with a 7.84 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Rays this season and is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA (7 ER/12 IP). Buchholz has made 10 career starts against the Rays and is 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA.

Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, Jeremy Hellickson, makes his 10th start of the season for the Rays. In his previous nine starts, Hellickson is 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Red Sox this year and is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA (6 ER/11 IP). He’s made seven career appearances (six starts) against the Red Sox and is 3-1 with a 4.42 ERA. Four of those appearances (three starts) have come at the Fens where he is 2-0 with a 5.60 ERA.

Here are today’s lineups:

28-19		23-23
1. Carlos Pena	1B	1. Mike Aviles	SS
2. B.J. Upton	CF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Matthew Joyce	LF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Ben Zobrist	RF	4. Kevin Youkilis	1B
5. Luke Scott	DH	5. Adrian Gonzalez	RF
6. Sean Rodriguez	SS	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Drew Sutton	3B	7. Will Middlebrooks	3B
8. Will Rhymes	2B	8. Daniel Nava	LF
9. Chris Gimenez	C	9. Scott Podsednik	CF
Jeremy Hellickson	SP	Clay Buchholz	SP

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

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s blast gives Red Sox walkoff win [Boston Globe]

Injury epidemic a pain in the neck [Boston Globe]

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine rips Tampa’s coaching staff [Boston Globe]

Josh Beckett strong again for Red Sox [Boston Globe]

Hometown winner Alex Cobb lost in Red Sox-Rays scuffle [Boston Globe]

Pinch of Salt for Sox [Boston Herald]

Beckett in nice groove [Boston Herald]

Atchison’s hard work helps turn around ‘pen [Boston Herald]

Gonzo feels the pinch [Boston Herald]

Sun could be setting on Gonzalez’ RF stint [Clubhouse Insider]

Salty gives Sox sweet walk off homer [CSN New England]

Beckett sounds like a leader [CSN New England]

Saltalamacchia savors first walk-off homer [CSN New England]

Gonzalez not happy to be pulled [CSN New England]

Gonzalez back in right field for Red Sox [CSN New England]

Sweeney (concussion) hopes to play tomorrow [CSN New England]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 3, Rays 2 [ESPN Boston]

Gonzalez roams RF at Fenway for first time [ESPN Boston]

Ryan Sweeney could return to the Red Sox on Monday [Extra Bases]

Closing Time: Jarrod Saltalamacchia only needs to see two pitches to deliver win for Red Sox [Full Count]

The reason why Bobby Valentine took Adrian Gonzalez out in the sixth inning [Full Count]

Josh Beckett offered another not-so-subtle reminder [Full Count]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia Fights Through Dehydration, Launches Walk-Off Home Run for Red Sox [NESN.com]

Bobby Valentine Knows Baseball, From Beanballs to Walk-Offs, and Red Sox Respond [NESN.com]

Adrian Gonzalez ‘Not Happy’ With Early Exit, But Bobby Valentine Defends Decision to Yank Him [NESN.com]

Report: Roy Oswalt Was Eager to Work Out for Red Sox, But Would Still Rather Play for Cardinals or Rangers [NESN.com]

B.J. Upton on a Tear, Looking to Maintain Hot Streak Against Clay Buchholz, Red Sox [NESN.com]

Carlos Pena, Rays Express Confidence that Former Teammate Carl Crawford Will Impact Red Sox Upon Return [NESN.com]

Nava lives, learns, draws key walk in ninth inning [Projo Sox Blog]

Sweeney passes test, could play Monday [Projo Sox Blog]

Adrian starts in right for first time at Fenway [RedSox.com]

Crawford resumes swinging; not throwing yet [RedSox.com]

Returns for Sweeney, McDonald imminent [RedSox.com]

Kalish opens rehab assignment with Salem [RedSox.com]

Valentine bashes ‘immature’ Rays coaches [RedSox.com]

Dice-K strong in second rehab assignment [RedSox.com]

Buchholz aims to put Sox above .500 [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, head over to the Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

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

photo credit: Getty Images, AP Photo, AP Photo