After beating the Toronto Blue Jays last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the rubber game of a three-game set in the series finale tonight at Fenway Park.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and you can watch the game on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet. 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 goes in search of career win No. 198 again in his 11th start (20th appearance) of 2011 for Terry Francona. In his previous 19 appearances (10 starts), Wake is 4-3 with a 4.82 ERA. Both of his appearances this season against the Jays have come out of the pen. In those two relief outings, Wake has no record with a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/10.1 IP). He’s made 56 career appearances (42 starts) against the Blue Jays and is 17-14 with a 3.87 ERA. 29 of those appearances (23 starts) have come at the Fens where he is 11-9 with a 3.36 ERA.

Ricky Romero has struggled in 10 career starts against the Red Sox. In those starts, he is 2-5 with a 7.69 ERA. Five of those career starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-2 with a 5.53 ERA.  He took the loss against the Red Sox in his only start against them season after allowing five runs in 4.1 innings back in April. On the season, Romero is 7-7 with a 2.75 ERA in 17 starts.

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

Here are this evening’s lineups:

42-45		50-35
1. Yunel Escobar	CF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Eric Thames	LF	2.  Marco Scutaro	SS
3. Jose Bautista	3B	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Adam Lind	1B	4. David Ortiz	DH
5. Edwin Encarnacion	DH	5. Kevin Youkilis	1B
6. Aaron Hill	2B	6. J.D. Drew	RF
7. Travis Snider	RF	7. Darnell McDonald	LF
8. J. P. Arencibia	C	8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
9. Rajai Davis	CF	9. Yamaico Navarro	3B
Ricky Romero	SP	Tim Wakefield	SP

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

Notes: Scott Atchison was called up to replace Jon Lester on the DL with a lat strain.

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

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Why Jays ace Ricky Romero is rooting for a Red Sox draftee [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Jon Lester headed to the disabled list [Clubhouse Insider]

Adrian Gonzalez goes to the bench for first time this season [Clubhouse Insider]

Sox can’t escape the pain [CSNNE.com]

Francona: Sox leaning toward putting Lester on DL [CSNNE.com]

Gonzalez given night off vs. Blue Jays [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Lester to DL, Gonzalez (neck) out tonight [CSNNE.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury Answers Last Year’s Critics by Making First All-Star Team [Don Orsillo – ESPN.com]

Video: State of the Nation with Gordon Edes [ESPN Boston]

Holding our breath on Lester [ESPN Boston]

What if Lester needs to go on the DL? [ESPN Boston]

Lester to miss Sun. start; no further update [ESPN Boston]

Red Sox put Lester on DL [ESPN Boston]

Sox target July 18 for Crawford’s return [ESPN Boston]

Gonzalez sits as Wake, Sox take on Blue Jays [ESPN Boston]

Keeping the fans informed at Fenway [Extra Bases]

A few thoughts on selecting All-Stars [Extra Bases]

Pregame news: Lester to DL [Extra Bases]

Jerry Remy on D&C: Injury-depleted Sox need to keep John Lackey in rotation [Full Count]

Schilling on M&M: Sox lack options with Lackey [Full Count]

Gammons: Lackey ‘a perplexing problem’ [Full Count]

Transcript of Terry Francona on The Big Show: Jon Lester won’t pitch Sunday, DL possible [Full Count]

Red Sox notes: Post All-Star break return for Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez has a stiff neck [Full Count]

Is Jason Varitek a Hall of Famer? [NESN.com]

Jon Lester’s Injury, Derek Jeter’s Milestone, Phil Hughes’ Return This Week’s Hottest AL East Items (Video) [NESN.com]

Carl Crawford May Not Return to Red Sox Lineup Until July 18 [NESN.com]

Jon Lester Placed on 15-Day Disabled List Due to Left Lat Strain [NESN.com]

Chiang Named June Player of the Month [OurSports Central]

Travis Shaw Named NYPL Player of the Week [OurSports Central]

You can never have too much . . . [Projo Sox Blog]

Crawford likely to rehab with PawSox after All-Star break [Projo Sox Blog]

Lester DL’ed, Atchison called up [Projo Sox Blog]

Gonzalez sits, Youkilis moves over to first base [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox officials huddle to discuss Buchholz [Projo Sox Blog]

Wakefield inching closer to 200-win plateau [RedSox.com]

Red Sox place Lester on disabled list [RedSox.com]

Sox take conservative approach with Crawford [RedSox.com]

Stiff neck keeps Adrian out of Boston’s lineup [RedSox.com]

The Ladder: 7.6.11 [SoxProspects.com]

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo

Here’s the release from UConn about tight end Ryan Griffin being named to the John Makey Award watch list.

BETHPAGE, N.Y. – University of Connecticut junior tight end Ryan Griffin (Londonderry, N.H.) has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2011 John Mackey Award preseason released by the Nassau County Sports Commission.

Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by a vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The 2011 John Mackey winner will be presented live at the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on December 8, 2011 at 6 p.m. EST on ESPNU.

Griffin has been UConn’s starting tight end for the past two seasons as he has played in 24 games with 18 starts. He was a very productive blocker in both the rushing and passing games in 2011.

Griffin earned an Offensive Game Ball following the Pittsburgh win (Nov. 11) along with other blockers in recognition of UConn’s 265 rushing yards, including 222 by Jordan Todman. Griffin has three pass receptions for 21 yards in regular season finale at USF as UConn clinched a berth in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl – its first-ever BCS game.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, lists ten NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark (’01) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (’02), Kellen Winslow II (’03) of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller (’04) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis (’05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 2008 Super Bowl Champion Matt Spaeth (’06), Fred Davis (’07) of the Washington Redskins, Chase Coffman (’08) of the Cincinnati Bengals, Aaron Hernandez (’09) of the New England Patriots and the 2010 John Mackey Award recipient D.J. Williams of the Green Bay Packers.

Click on the read more button below to see the full list if you’re on the home page.

The following is a complete list of the watch list:

Yesterday we learned from Darren Rovell of CNBC that former UConn Huskies All-American and Charlotte Bobcats draftee Kemba Walker had signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour.  I do wonder how is new boss Michael Jordan feels about this since MJ is Mr. Nike after all.

Here’s the official press release from Under Armour:

Under Armour (NYSE:UA), the leading athletic performance apparel, footwear and accessories brand, today announced a multi-year partnership with decorated college basketball star and incoming NBA rookie Kemba Walker. Selected with the ninth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, Walker engineered a prolific junior season, where he led the University of Connecticut to the 2011 NCAA National Championship and 2011 Big East Tournament Championship.

“Kemba has proven himself to be the ultimate winner, and as we continue to build our presence in the basketball world we’re thrilled to have him join the Under Armour team,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “He’s electrifying on the court, and his dedication to hard work and humility off the court are just as impressive.”

After a celebrated high school career, The Bronx, NY native dominated the college basketball world last year, winning Most Outstanding Player awards for both the 2011 Big East and NCAA Tournaments. Ignited by his scoring and playmaking, Walker’s Huskies punctuated an improbable winning streak by claiming the 2011 NCAA Tournament Championship.

“As a young player paving my own path to the game, teaming up with Under Armour feels like a great fit,” said Walker. “From what I see they are the next up and coming basketball brand. They bring a freshness and a new energy to the game of basketball.”

Walker set a new UCONN single-season scoring record with 965 points, earning First Team All Big East and All-American honors and claiming the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard. Walker joins 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner Cam Newton, All-America football player Julio Jones and Bryce Harper, the first pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, as the newest members to the Under Armour team.

Walker will wear UA footwear for training and on-court and will be featured, along with Brandon Jennings, in upcoming marketing campaigns for Under Armour Basketball.

Follow Walker on Twitter @KembaWalker and Under Armour @UnderArmour.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and     Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.underarmour.com.

About Kemba Walker
Coming off of a stellar college basketball career, wherein he led the University of Connecticut in winning the coveted NCAA Championship, standout Kemba Walker was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. The All-American earned numerous accolades during his UCONN tenure, including 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Big East Tournament MVP and the Bob Cousy Award, presented to the top point guard in the nation. An integral component of the UCONN squad, Walker, who graduated college in three years, was added to the Huskies of Honor following the team’s Championship victory. A Bronx, N.Y., native, he attended Rice High School and competed on the New York Gauchos AAU team, which went on to finish No. 1 in the nation that year. In addition to his basketball prowess, Walker is a talented dancer, and has performed three times at the Apollo Theater. For more information, visit kembawalker.com.

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.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jeremy Lamb Explodes For 35 Points In USA Victory Over Latvia [UConnHuskies.com]

Jeremy Lamb’s heroics lift Team USA past Lithuania [CT Post]

President wants Jim Calhoun to return [New Haven Register]

Under Armour Signs Kemba Walker [SportsBiz with Darren Rovell]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Cash, Charles honored by WNBA [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

UConn Football links

Maxwell, Bednarik watch Lists [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Big East position rankings: Defensive line [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Defendant in Jasper Howard case granted probation [CT Post]

UConn Football: Evaluating Left Guard [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. Five Men’s Hockey Players Earn All-Academic Honors [UConnHuskies.com]