After winning falling last night 6-4, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series tonight in the rubber game of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester looks for his second win of 2012 in his team-high seventh start. In his previous six starts, Lester is 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA. He made two starts against the Royals in 2011 going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11 IP). He’s had good success against the Royals as he is 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA (7 ER/48.1 IP) in seven career starts. Two of those starts have come at Kauffman Stadium where he is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA (5 ER/11 IP).

Bruce Chen looks for his first win of 2012 in his seventh start. In his previous six starts, Chen is 0-4 with a 4.98 ERA. He took the loss in his only start against the Red Sox in 2011 when he allowed 10 runs in four innings back on July 27. The well-traveled veteran, including a stop in Boston in 2003, has made 16 career appearances (nine starts) against the Red Sox and is 3-6 with a 5.98 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 today’s lineups:

12-17		10-19
1. Mike Aviles	SS	1. Jarrod Dyson	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Alex Gordon	LF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Billy Butler	1B
4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	4. Jeff Francoeur	RF
5. Will Middlebrooks	3B	5. Johnny Giavotella	DH
6. Cody Ross	LF	6. Brayan Pena	C
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. Irving Falu	3B
8. Marlon Byrd	CF	8. Chris Getz	2B
9. Ryan Sweeney	RF	9. Alcides Escobar	SS
Jon Lester	SP	Bruce Chen	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

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

Red Sox family mourns the loss of public address announcer Carl Beane [RedSox.com]

Bobby V on radio: Looking into rumor that Josh Beckett played golf despite sore lat [Clubhouse Insider]

Valentine: Beckett golfing not the best thing [CSN New England]

R.I.P. Carl Beane [CSN New England]

Bobby V sorting out Beckett golf report [ESPN Boston]

The pitching numbers are hard to believe [Extra Bases]

Report: Beckett played golf after injury [Extra Bases]

Bobby Valentine on Big Show: ‘Trying to sort feelings’ about Beckett rumor [Full Count]

Daniel Bard is playing out of position [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

Dustin Pedroia’s Laser Show Continuing in Series Against Royals [NESN.com]

That’s now three wins . . . [Projo Sox Blog]

Report: Beckett played golf on day off before missing start [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox mourn the passing of Carl Beane [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox aim to continue winning ways on road [RedSox.com]

Report of golf outing sparks Beckett controversy [RedSox.com]

Cherington: Youk plays third when healthy [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

The voice of Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox PA announcer Carl Beane, has passed away at the age of 59 after a single car crash in Sturbridge, MA according to NECN.

Beane has been the public address announcer for every home game at Fenway Park since 2003. He got his start in sports in radio broadcasting in 1972.

It just won’t be the same going to Fenway Park anymore and not hearing that familiar voice.

Our condolences go out to his family, friends and the entire Red Sox organization.

Here’s the full release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA— The Boston Red Sox today lost a member of their family, Public Address Announcer Carl Beane, who died after suffering a heart attack while driving his car in Sturbridge, MA.  Beane, 59, had been the “Voice of Fenway Park” since the start of the 2003 season.

The veteran Boston sports reporter began his work at Fenway Park Opening Day, 2003, after winning a competition held after the 2002 season.

“We are filled with sadness at this tragic news,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino.  “No one loved his role with the Red Sox more than Carl did his.  He adored the opportunity to pay homage each game to Sherm Feller, and to contribute to the culture of Fenway Park, a place he loved passionately.  His legion of friends with the Red Sox and the media will miss him enormously, and all of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice.

“On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, our partners, and our entire organization, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Lorraine; his daughter, Nicole; and his granddaughters, Maddie and Gena.”

His is the lead-off voice in “The Baseball Experience” at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

Even before he began his role with the Red Sox, he was the manager of the Boston media baseball game versus the New York media, a game held twice each year, once at Fenway Park and once at Yankee Stadium.

Beane was born and raised in Agawam, MA.  He graduated from Agawam High School in 1971 and the Career Academy School of Broadcasting in 1972, when he began his broadcasting career at WMAS in Springfield.

He provided national updates for ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Westwood One, Associated Press, and MetroNetworks, and also worked for WBZ Radio in Boston, WBRK in Pittsfield (1974-76), WARE in Ware (1976-94), and WESO in Southbridge (1994-98).

He taught sports broadcasting and play-by-play classes at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Needham, MA.  He has also been a national spokesman for The American Diabetes Association, and served as a narrator for Talking Books at the Perkins School for the Blind.

The Red Sox will pay tribute to him in pre-game ceremonies tomorrow before their 7:10 p.m. home game versus the Cleveland Indians.

His family asks that contributions in his memory be donated to the Holland Congregational Church Building Fund (11 Sturbridge Road, Holland, MA  01521) and the American Diabetes Association (via www.diabetes.org).

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

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

The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team already has two German born players on its roster in Niels Giffey and Enosch Wolf. Apparently now there will be three.

According to the Recruit Scoop, Leon Tolksdorf, a 6’7 combo forward from Berlin, Germany, has given the Huskies a verbal commitment to play next season.

Tolksdorf played last season for the ALBA Berlin II where he averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 21 games playing an average of 14.5 minutes per game. He shot 40% from the floor, 34.1% from beyond the arc and 71.4% at the free throw line.

It looks as though he’ll be replacing Roscoe Smith, who decided to transfer, in the rotation although it’s way too early to tell.

Tolksdorf is the third recruit to commit to the Huskies for the 2012-13 season joining Omar Calhoun and Phil Nolan.

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

Photo credit: FIBA.com

One big fat meatball pitch from Matt Albers was the final difference from keeping Daniel Bard from picking up his second win as a starter for the Boston Red Sox and third overall this season last night in Kansas City.

Look, I’m not going to bash Albers at all even with him serving up a three-run homer to Billy Butler that gave the Kansas City Royals the 6-4 win.

The Red Sox bullpen has been outstanding as of late despite the fact the local nine has lost six of their last seven games. If we were to get on anything at all, it should be the starting pitching.

Bard ventured to a place where he’s normally comfortable, if he was still a reliever. For the first time this season, Bard pitched into the 8th inning. Take away his meltdown in the 2nd inning and the two walks to the last two batters he faced in the 8th, Bard threw the ball well and continued to be one of the, if not the only, consistent starter the Red Sox have had this season.

The 2nd inning runs were mostly his doing. Bard became too worried with the runners on base and lost his focus. He balked in a run and then committed another balk to move the runner to third only to see him come around to score on a Chris Getz single. Then he uncorked a wild pitch to move Getz into scoring position. Getz would score the third run of the inning on a Humberto Quintero single.

After that, Bard settled down as he retired 13 of the next 14 batters. He ran into some trouble in the 7th inning but was bailed out when the Royals tried a safety squeeze with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Alcides Escobar‘s bunt went right to Adrian Gonzalez who threw home to nail Jeff Francouer with Kelly Shoppach doing an excellent job of blocking the plate.

Will Middlebrooks got the Red Sox going offensively in the 2nd inning when he doubled and eventually scored on a Kelly Shoppach single. Unfortunately for the Red Sox and Middlebrooks, he had to leave with hamstring tightness, the same ailment that caused him to miss a game last week. The Red Sox added another run that inning when Dustin Pedroia reached on a bases loaded walk.

Pedroia provided the tying run in the 4th when he brought in former Royals SS Mike Aviles who had doubled the batter before. They took the lead in the 5th when Gonzalez scored on a throwing error.

Sure Gonzo has been struggling off and on for the past week or so. But if you watched his swing on his two hits last night, you could tell that he’s found it again. Hopefully it sticks around for a while longer. For those of you worried about his numbers, I wouldn’t be. He’s one of the best hitters in the game and his numbers will come. Marlon Byrd also added two hits in the game.

This was definitely a game the Red Sox should have won. You could question as to why Bobby Valentine didn’t bring in a reliever to start the 8th clean. But with Bard’s pitch count under 100 at the time, it might be hard to second guess him.

A win tonight though against one of the worst teams in baseball would go a long way right now before heading back home to Fenway Park where they have struggled this season.

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

No finishing touch as Royals top Sox [Boston Globe]

Gonzalez’s birthday a Royal pain [Boston Globe]

Leg woes slow Middlebrooks [Boston Globe]

Times Co. reported near deal on Sox [Boston Globe]

No relief for Red Sox [Boston Herald]

Rare Daniel Bard balks come at bad time [Boston Herald]

Will-ing to be creative [Boston Herald]

Will Middlebrooks up, down [Boston Herald]

The search is still on for Daniel Bard’s eighth-inning replacement [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Butler’s home run leads Royals to 6-4 win [CSN New England]

Middlebrooks leaves game with hamstring tightness [CSN New England]

Bard’s late-inning control problems doom Red Sox [CSN New England]

Rapid Reaction: Royals 6, Red Sox 4 [ESPN Boston]

Middlebrooks: Hamstring ‘not a big deal’ [ESPN Boston]

Bard, Sox were smelling victory too soon [ESPN Boston]

Video: Kruk on what Sox need to improve [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Billy Butler, Royals spoil night for Daniel Bard, Red Sox [Full Count]

Will Middlebrooks Downplays Severity of Cramping Issue, Explains Team Just Playing It Safe [NESN.com]

Daniel Bard Still Learning How To Finish Games While Mixing Longevity With Efficiency [NESN.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Could Be Miracle Elixir for Red Sox Rotation Struggles [NESN.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Looks Like He May Be ‘Rolling,’ and That’s Good for Red Sox [NESN.com]

Chat Live With Will Middlebrooks on NESN.com on Friday at Noon ET [NESN.com]

Brunansky’s ‘still in awe’ over honor from Red Sox [Pawtucket Times]

Pena, Greenville ‘pen combine on historic no-hitter [RedSox.com]

Valentine visits Negro Leagues Museum [RedSox.com]

Facing another lefty, Salty, Sweeney sit again [RedSox.com]

Red Sox enthused by Ellsbury’s progress [RedSox.com]

Middlebrooks: Hamstring tightness not serious [RedSox.com]

Eighth-inning fatigue caps Bard’s erratic night [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 Kansas City Star and Topeka Capital-Journal websites.

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

photo credit: AP Photo

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

Preseason rankings and the Big East [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Florida Transfer Graham Stewart Visiting UConn Wednesday [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn’s Memorial Stadium Coming Down [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Stokes To Be In A Boot For Six Weeks [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

CPTV Disappointed, Saddened As UConn Teams With SNY [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Atlanta Dream cut … [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Kevin Ollie no longer UConn’s coach-in-waiting? [NBCSports.com]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. Connecticut Huskies main focus for Hockey East expansion [ESPN Boston]

M. Soccer. Chris Gbandi Named Assistant Coach at Holy Cross [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Baseball Holds on to 8-7 Win at Northeastern [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. LJ Mazzilli Has Grown Into A Top Hitter At UConn [Hartford Courant]

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

After winning 11-5 last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series in the second game of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Daniel Bard looks to even up his record in his sixth appearance (fifth start) of 2012. In his previous five appearances (four starts), Bard is 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA. He made three appearances against the Royals in 2011 and had no record with 0.00 ERA (0 ER/4 IP). He’s made nine career appearances against the Royals and is 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA (3 ER/10.1 IP). Five of those appearances have come at the home of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game where he is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA (3 ER/5 IP).

Danny Duffy makes his fifth start of 2012 for the struggling Royals. In his previous four starts, Duffy is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA. His only two career starts against the Red Sox came last year when he went 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA (8 ER/9.2 IP). The loss came in his only start against the Red Sox at home when he allowed two runs in six innings of work on August 21, 2011.

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:

12-16		9-19
1. Mike Aviles	SS	1. Jarrod Dyson	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Alex Gordon	LF
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Billy Butler	DH
4. Cody Ross	RF	4. Eric Hosmer	1B
5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	5. Jeff Francoeur	RF
6. Will Middlebrooks	3B	6. Mike Moustakas	3B
7. Darnell McDonald	LF	7. Chris Getz	2B
8. Marlon Byrd	CF	8. Alcides Escobar	SS
9. Kelly Shoppach	C	9. Humberto Quintero	C
Daniel Bard	SP	Danny Duffy	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

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

Sox hope time heals Clay Buchholz [Boston Herald]

Sox ‘tossed around’ Middlebrooks in OF [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Cherington: Middlebrooks’ success didn’t happen overnight [Clubhouse Insider]

Will Middlebrooks not worried about receiving Bryce Harper treatment [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox on pace for historic struggles at home [CSN New England]

Red Sox’ Ortiz, Hawks’ Horford a couple of pals [CSN New England]

Ellsbury: I’m making ‘great progress’ [CSN New England]

Left is right for Papi [CSN New England]

Cherington: Youkilis will play third upon return [CSN New England]

Ellsbury goes through agility drills [CSN New England]

Pregame notes: Youk rehab on schedule [ESPN Boston]

On Pedroia, Gonzalez and perceptions [Extra Bases]

Podcast: Competition at third base? [Extra Bases]

Ask Nick: Does Youkilis get his job back? [Extra Bases]

Red Sox contemplate using Will Middlebrooks in outfield [Extra Bases]

Reactions to Middlebrooks on Twitter [45 Miles From Fenway]

Buchholz, BoSox need to right ship [FoxSports.com]

The secret behind David Ortiz hitting lefties [Full Count]

Mike Gonzalez will not be returning to the Red Sox organization [Full Count]

Mike Aviles Rewards Faith of Ben Cherington, Returns to Kansas City as Big Piece of Red Sox Offense [NESN.com]

Will Mike Moustakas or Will Middlebrooks Have a Better Major League Career? [NESN.com]

Dustin Pedroia Swinging Red-Hot Bat, As He Quietly Continues to Have Stellar Start to Season [NESN.com]

Kevin Youkilis, Nick Punto Among Red Sox Who Rely on All Types of Walking to Help Game, Fitness [NESN.com]

Vicente Padilla Steps Up for Red Sox in Bullpen, Pays Debt to Felix Doubront [NESN.com]

Will Middlebrooks May Play Outfield Once Kevin Youkilis Returns to Red Sox Lineup [NESN.com]

David Ortiz Looking Like He Could Be Poised to Make Push for 40 Home Runs This Season [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Don’t pigeonhole Wilson as a reliever, PawSox pitching coach warns [Projo Sox Blog]

Buchholz to start Friday [Projo Sox Blog]

Sox discuss Middlebrooks in the OF [Projo Sox Blog]

Valentine doesn’t want pitchers whining about umps [Projo Sox Blog]

Sweeney may get first start against southpaw [Projo Sox Blog]

Facing Royals, Bard seeking consistency [RedSox.com]

Baseball world teams up to strike out epilepsy [RedSox.com]

Greenville pitchers combine for first no-hitter in franchise history [SoxProspects.com]

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

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

After 18 years, the days of CPTV covering the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team are over as the University of Connecticut and SNY are putting the final touches on a four-year deal.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut has selected SNY to be its women’s basketball regional television broadcast partner for the next four seasons, pending finalization of an executed contract between the parties.

This historic agreement will further reinforce UConn women’s basketball television package as the best in the nation, which will now include enhancements in terms of household reach, programming opportunities and rights fees.

SNY will expand UConn women’s basketball television coverage to nearly 14 million homes. SNY’s regional territory includes all of Connecticut, NewYork , New Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania for a reach of 8.7 million households. With national coverage on DirectTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Cable and AT&T U-Verse, SNY’s total distribution is 13.7 million homes.

The rights fee provided to the University by SNY is anticipated to be $4.55 million over the four-year term of the contract which will cover the 2012-13 season through 2015-16 – approximately $1.14 million annually. The rights fee in the previous four-year agreement for UConn women’s basketball television rights averaged $900,000 annually.

The new agreement with SNY will provide UConn with unique cross promotional opportunities as UConn’s television packages for men’s basketball, women’s basketball and football will all be shown by the same carrier. SNY is the local television home for Husky football and men’s basketball through rights granted by the BIG EAST Conference to ESPN Regional Television.

“I am very excited that SNY will be our television home for the next four years,” says UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma. “This agreement will continue to provide all of our loyal fans in the state of Connecticut an opportunity to watch our team play and will also help us develop a whole new group of UConn women’s basketball fans throughout the Northeast and the entire nation. SNY will also allow us to showcase UConn women’s basketball to a larger audience, which will support our recruiting efforts and help us maintain the level of success in our program.”

“We’re thrilled to become the official TV home of UConn women’s basketball, the preeminent women’s basketball program in the nation,” said Steve Raab, President of SNY. “This is a landmark partnership and a special opportunity for SNY. Our unmatched distribution, unprecedented programming commitment, and live game production experience provides us the unique opportunity to help maintain and grow UConn’s leadership position.”

SNY is one of 14 managed regional sports networks by Comcast Sports Management Group. Comcast is the owner of NBC Universal and its NBC Sports Group. The entire NBC Sports Group will make Stamford, Conn., its new corporate headquarters next year.

“This new agreement with SNY will bring UConn women’s basketball to more Husky fans than ever before throughout the region and the nation,” said President Susan Herbst. “This is a great opportunity for the University to further showcase our outstanding women’s basketball program and reach our enthusiastic alumni base, both inside and outside the state of Connecticut.

“I would like to thank Connecticut Public Television, who has been our women’s basketball television home for the past 18 years. CPTV has been a loyal and dedicated partner, and both CPTV and UConn have benefitted from the relationship. We look forward to maintaining a relationship with CPTV, both institutionally and in terms of athletics with their new CPTV Sports channel.”

Similar to past years, a minimum of 17 live UConn games will be televised as part of the SNY package. The exact number of games is dependent on several factors related to BIG EAST broadcast agreements, including the number of games selected for national television.

“I am very impressed with the coverage that SNY will provide to our women’s basketball program,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “SNY has been a great partner as our television home of Husky football and men’s basketball and we look forward to that relationship flourishing even more. SNY will provide our loyal Husky fans a terrific game presentation and production and will also feature a number of exciting multi-platform presentations.”

SNY will devote approximately 325 hours of coverage annually to UConn women’s basketball. In addition to the live games, there will be game replays, an in-season weekly coach’s show and a new program called “Geno’s Legacy.” This program, which would have two to three episodes annually, would feature interviews with former UConn players who have played a major role in the history of the program and highlight what these players are now doing in their lives.

The annual number of hours also features in-depth pre game and post game shows for each broadcast that would originate live from SNY’s street-level studio — in the heart of Manhattan — directly across the street from Radio City Music Hall. SNY is the official television home of the New York Mets, New York Jets and the BIG EAST Conference.

SNY features unparalleled, exclusive access to the New York Mets with more than 130 live telecasts each, as well as other Emmy Award winning Mets entertainment programming. As the official TV home of the New York Jets, SNY delivers more than 300 hours of exclusive year-round content devoted to the Jets.

SNY also is the official TV home of the BIG EAST Conference – airing more than 125 BIG EAST football and basketball games – as well as other critically acclaimed BIG EAST programming. As the leader in local sports TV coverage, SNY delivers the most comprehensive access to all of the Tri-State area’s professional and collegiate sports teams through five nightly sports and entertainment programs. SNY’s programming roster also includes classic sports programming, critically acclaimed original entertainment shows and exclusive interview and magazine programs.

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