After seeing the Tampa Bay Rays end their nine-game winning streak last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back into the win column in game two of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

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 Rays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Josh Beckett makes his 14th start of 2011 for Terry Francona. In his previous 13 starts, Beckett is 5-2 with a 2.06 ERA.  He has not faced the Rays in 2011 and had no record and a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/7 IP) in one start against them in 2010. He’s made 16 career starts against the Rays and is 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA. Six of those starts have come at the Trop where he is 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA.

Rookie Jeremy Hellickson makes his 13th start of the season for the Rays. In his previous 12 starts, Hellickson is 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox this season picking up the win after allowing two runs in 5.1 innings back on April 11th. In his career against the Red Sox, he’s made two appearances (one start) and is 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA. He’s never faced the Red Sox at the Trop.

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

Here are tonight’s lineups:

39-27		36-31
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Johnny Damon	DH
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Ben Zobrist	2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Matt Joyce	RF
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Evan Longoria	3B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Casey Kotchman	1B
6. Carl Crawford	LF	6. B.J. Upton	CF
7. Jed Lowrie	SS	7. John Jaso	C
8. J.D. Drew	RF	8. Justin Ruggiano	LF
9. Jason Varitek	C	9. Reid Brignac	SS
Josh Beckett	SP	Jeremy Hellickson	SP

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

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

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Source: Andrew Miller to start next week for Red Sox [Clubhouse Insider]

Source: Miller to be promoted; will pitch Monday [CSNNE.com]

Unhappy return coming for Wakefield [CSNNE.com]

David Ortiz Slugging Earlier, More Often This Season Thanks to Balanced Lineup, Confidence [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Julien appreciates Francona reaching out [ESPN Boston]

Source: Miller to start Monday against Padres [ESPN Boston]

Analyzing the approach of Adrian Gonzalez [Extra Bases]

Johnny Damon, Hall of Famer? [Extra Bases]

Andrew Miller stays with Red Sox; promotion is pending [Extra Bases]

Jerry Remy on D&C: Stanley Cup Game 7 a reminder of 1978 Red Sox-Yankees playoff [Full Count]

Red Sox prospect health updates: Kalish, Navarro, Middlebrooks, Tazawa [Full Count]

Transcript of Terry Francona on The Big Show: Andrew Miller ‘in our plans, that’s for sure’ [Full Count]

Rajon Rondo, Carl Crawford Among Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics Supporting Bruins on Twitter [NESN.com]

Terry Francona Hops Aboard Bruins Bandwagon, Lends Support to Claude Julien [NESN.com]

Andrew Miller to Remain With Red Sox, Reportedly Will Join Rotation Next Week [NESN.com]

Jerry Remy on Robert Luongo: ‘Hopefully, He Stinks [in Game 7]’ [NESN.com]

Tale of two players — and two payrolls [Projo Sox Blog]

Making sense of the Andrew Miller situation [Projo Sox Blog]

Francona not looking forward to losing DH in interleague games [Projo Sox Blog]

Bobby Jenks still coming along slowly [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox still waiting for Papelbon’s appeal [Projo Sox Blog]

Francona OK with proposed realignment [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett looks to start new winning streak for Boston [RedSox.com]

Summer brings deserved focus on Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo

Well it definitely wasn’t the return that Carl Crawford was hoping to have in his return to his old stomping grounds at Tropicana Field. He ended up going 0-for-3 against his old team the Tampa Bay Rays.

But more importantly, the Boston Red Sox saw their nine-game hitting streak come to an end with a 4-0 loss to the right arm of James Shields and the Rays on Tuesday night.

It’s not like the Red Sox didn’t have chances against Shields who allowed just five hits and three walks while picking up the complete game win. They did get them but obviously from looking at the final score, they didn’t take advantage of them.

The Red Sox had Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez at first and third base with one out in the 1st inning before Shields struck Kevin Youkilis. After a walk to David Ortiz, the aforementioned Crawford grounded out to Casey Kotchman to end the threat.

In 3rd inning, Ellsbury led off the inning with a single which extended his hitting streak to 11 games. After Dustin Pedroia flew out, Gonzalez picked up his second single of the night. This time the inning ended when Youk grounded into a inning-ending double play.

Then in the 5th inning after a J.D. Drew single, Marco Scutaro flew out to center. The inning ended when Shields induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Ellsbury. Pretty much the same thing happended in the sixth inning after Gonzalez’s third single of the night when Youk grounded into his second inning-ending double play of the game.

The Red Sox would only get one more chance in the 8th but they wasted a one out walk to Scutaro by seeing Ellsbury flying out and Pedroia striking out.

And it wasn’t like Tim Wakefield was all that bad.

Up until the 5th inning, he matched zeroes with Shields until Justin Ruggiano took a knuckler out of the park. The Rays added another run in the 6th on the strength of two passed balls by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Tommy Hottovy struggled for the first since being called up as he gave up a double to Matthew Joyce in the 8th and then hit Evan Longoria. Kotchman chased him from the game with a RBI single. Alfredo Aceves came in and after recording an out, gave up an RBI single to John Jaso that provided the final margin.

Just another night of missed opportunities for the Red Sox. And with Shields having his changeup really working for him, it made the job all that harder for the Red Sox. Maybe it was the day off that killed the momentum, maybe it wasn’t.

But when you look at things, the Red Sox still are 9-1 in their last 10 games and 9-2 for the month of June. The lead is still 2.5 games over the Yankees who won and 3.5 games over the Rays.

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

For Red Sox, Miller ‘dilemma’ is a luxury [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Shields silences Red Sox [Boston Globe]

Maddon beams about Rays [Boston Globe]

Julien fan base hits home [Boston Globe]

Miller on the way up? [Boston Globe]

Carl, Sox come up empty [Boston Herald]

No consolation for Wake [Boston Herald]

Bruins’ Game 7 brings back memories for Red Sox [Boston Herald]

Decision day for Miller [Boston Herald]

No love lost between Rays fans, Carl Crawford [Boston Herald]

Anything but a normal day for Carl Crawford [Boston Herald]

Rays snap Red Sox’ streak, 4-0 [CSNNE.com]

Nation STATion: Red Sox revolve around Gonzalez [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Crawford’s return gets mixed reaction [CSNNE.com]

Rapid reaction: Rays 4, Red Sox 0 [ESPN Boston]

Tampa Bay Rays moving on after Carl Crawford’s departure [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Sox winning streak stopped by ‘Big Game James’ in Tampa Bay [Full Count]

Team sources: No decision on Miller until after Wednesday meeting [Full Count]

Miller on opt-out decision: ‘It would be a shame not to keep it going’ with Sox [Full Count]

What Is Your Fondest Manny Ramirez Home Run Moment? [NESN.com]

James Shields Provides Prime Example of How Tampa Bay Can Remain in AL East Race [NESN.com]

Video: Tim Wakefield Battles Control Issues As James Shields Shuts Down Red Sox [NESN.com]

Red Sox Continue Decade of Dominance With 2007 World Series Title [NESN.com]

Shields in shutdown mode [Providence Journal]

Carl Crawford hears heckles upon return to Tampa Bay [Providence Journal]

Small-market Rays again coming up big [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Andrew Miller has tough decision to make [Providence Journal]

Crawford’s homecoming doesn’t go as planned [RedSox.com]

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over the to St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

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 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.

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

UConn Men’s Basketball links

All is Right with Ryan Boatright [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Coombs-McDaniel Visits Hofstra; Missouri Next [Jeff Goodman – CBSSports.com]

RTC NBA Draft Profiles: Kemba Walker [Rush The Court]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

How Is Maya Moore Doing? Glad You Asked [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football links

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

Recruit John Green: Jensen Beach Falcon T&F Classic Results [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Commitment No.3: Free Safety Obi Melifonwu [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Athlon Sports Preseason Magazine: Plenty Of UConn Props [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Another One: UConn Recruit No.4 WR Neally Cunningham [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Recruit No.5 in Class of 2012: Jon Hicks PA Linebacker [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Huskies getting some national love [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Preseason magazines coming out; Athlon up (almost) first [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

UConn Huskies Football Opponent: Vanderbilt [Hartford Courant]

After taking winning their last nine straight games, including the past six on the road, the Boston Red Sox look to keep those streaks alive in the first game of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

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 Rays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. 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 steps to the hill for his seventh start (16th appearance) of the season for Terry Francona. In his previous 15 appearances (six starts), Wake is 3-1 with a 4.84 ERA. He’s made one appearance against the Rays in 2011 and was knocked around a little bit. He allowed five runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings back on April 11th. Wake’s made 45 appearances (34 starts) against the Rays in his career and is 21-7 with a 3.78 ERA and three saves. 25 of those appearances (19 starts) have come at the Trop where he is 10-4 with a 3.40 ERA and three saves.

James Shields looks to bring the Rays closer to the Red Sox in the AL East standings in his 14th start of 2011. In his previous 13 starts, Shields is 5-4 with a 2.85 ERA. He has not faced the Red Sox yet in 2011 and was 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA in four starts against them in 2010. Shields has made 16 career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-9 with a 5.17 ERA. In six starts at the Trop against the Red Sox, Shields is 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA.

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

Here are tonight’s lineups:

39-26		35-31
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Johnny Damon	DH
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Ben Zobrist	2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Matt Joyce	RF
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Evan Longoria	3B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Casey Kotchman	1B
6. Carl Crawford	LF	6. B.J. Upton	CF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. John Jaso	C
8. J.D. Drew	RF	8. Justin Ruggiano	LF
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Reid Brignac	SS
Tim Wakefield	SP	James Shields	SP

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

Darnell McDonald has been activated from the 15-day DL. To make room on the roster for him, Drew Sutton was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket.

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

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

Agent: ‘Win-win situation thus far’ between Andrew Miller, Red Sox [Clubhouse Insider]

Epstein to meet with Miller; Rays were ‘party central’ to Crawford [Clubhouse Insider]

Notes: McDonald back with the Red Sox [CSNNE.com]

Deadline looms for Andrew Miller [ESPN Boston]

Better lineup bringing out best in Gonzalez [ESPN Boston]

Crawford’s improvement vs. righties [ESPN Boston]

Francona makes the right call — to Julien [ESPN Boston]

Sox activate Darnell McDonald [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox haven’t approached David Ortiz about future [ESPN Boston]

What does the future hold for David Ortiz? [Extra Bases]

Podcast: Streaking into summer [Extra Bases]

Pregame news from Tropicana Field [Extra Bases]

Andrew Miller, Red Sox arrive at potential crossroads [Full Count]

Red Sox set to call up left-hander Andrew Miller [HardBall Talk]

Cool, collected Crawford returns to St. Pete [MLB.com]

MLB Appropriately Installing Concussion Protocols As Head Injuries in Baseball Continue to Grow [NESN.com]

Carl Crawford Deserves High Praise in Return to Tampa Bay [NESN.com]

Jerry Remy Discusses Carl Crawford’s Return to Tampa [NESN.com]

Carl Crawford Would Love Another Six-Steal Performance, This Time for Red Sox [NESN.com]

30 Clubs/30 Nuggets [Nuggetpalooza]

Red Sox Announce Plans To Return Fenway To Original 1912 Conditions [Onion Sports Network]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Rays and the Quest for the Perfect Road Trip [Projo Sox Blog]

Theo Epstein to sit down with minor-league lefty Andrew Miller [Projo Sox Blog]

McDonald back, ready to see more playing time [Projo Sox Blog]

Boston aiming for perfect 10 behind Wakefield [RedSox.com]

Decision looming for southpaw Miller, Red Sox [RedSox.com]

McDonald sharpened skills while on rehab stint [RedSox.com]

Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo

When the updated AL All-Star voting totals came out last week, we found one member of the Boston Red Sox in David Ortiz in a starting position. Well after another week of voting, there are two players from the Red Sox who could start in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game in Arizona in July.

After trailing Mark Teixeira by 65,000 votes last week, Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has jumped in first and leads Teixeira by around 250,000 votes. Big Papi has increased his lead at DH to about 550,000 votes over Michael Young from the Texas Rangers.

The big shock to me is the fact that after not being listed for the first two weeks, Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has jumped into fourth place in the voting at catcher. But he stills trails Yankees catcher Russell Martin by about 950,000 votes.

Kevin Youkilis has jumped into third place at third base and now trails Alex Rodriguez by 670,000 votes. Dustin Pedroia remains in second place at second but trails Robinson Cano by 1.1 million votes.

In the outfield, Jacoby Ellsbury has moved ahead of Ichiro Suzuki into fourth place and is just 352,000 votes behind Josh Hamilton for the final starting position. Carl Crawford jumped up a spot to sixth but trails Hamilton by 577,000 votes.  J.D. Drew also jumped three spots to No. 10 and trails Hamilton by over one million votes.

We’ve got two starters so far and we need to keep it this way. It would also be nice to see Ellsbury sneak in there as well. I’ve done my part with multiple email addresses and now you need to do the same.

Since the Red Sox are partnering up with the San Francisco Giants in the NL, be sure to Vote the Ticket! and get our boys to starting positions at the 2011 MLB All-Star Game.

For a full look at the vote totals, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page

Just how hot are the Boston Red Sox right now? Well they’re so hot that were able to increase their lead in the AL East by a ½ game on both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

Actually we have the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers to thank for that but given how strong the AL East is, you’ll take them any way you can get them. The Red Sox lead over the Yanks in the AL East is now 2.5 games while it’s 4.5 games over the third place Rays, who just happen to the local nine’s opponents for the next three days.

The Red Sox come into the Trop tonight as winners of nine straight games after outscoring the Toronto Blue Jays 35-6 over three games. In those nine straight wins, the Red Sox have swept their last three opponents including two straight sweeps on the road.

This was a big 10-day nine-game road trip through the AL East and at 6-0, it can be considered a success. But what would make it a little more sweeter is a three-game sweep of the Rays. Heck even two out of three wouldn’t be so bad considering the struggles have had in the Trop the past few seasons.

The Sox are 7-11 in the past two seasons at the Trop going 4-5 last year and 3-6 in 2009. The Red Sox actually took the first three games at the Trop last year before losing five of the last six. Overall in the past two seasons, the Red Sox are 16-20 against their rivals.

Sure every game is important but when it comes to the AL East, they’re even more important. So while a sweep these next three days would be nice, I’ll take two wins before heading back to Boston to start up interleague play again.

A side note to watch is the fact that Carl Crawford returns back to Tampa for the first time since signing with the Red Sox. It will be interesting to see what type of reaction he gets from the Rays faithful.

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

Welcome mat for Crawford? [Boston Globe]

Aceves applies himself [Boston Globe]

Carl Crawford’s return might not cause ripple [Boston Herald]

Jacoby Ellsbury strongest of week [Boston Herald]

Relievers accept fate [Boston Herald]

PawSox hurler Weiland showng promise [CSNNE.com]

Andrew Miller may soon join Red Sox’ rotation [CSNNE.com]

Nation STATion: Dissecting Dice-K [CSNNE.com]

Lundblad: Sox offense on tear during streak [ESPN Boston]

Video: State of the Nation [ESPN Boston]

Power Rankings: Sox up to No. 1 [ESPN Boston]

A team rolling and two players on different paths [Extra Bases]

Morales pitches in second rehab game [Extra Bases]

Report: Red Sox eighth-rounder Senquez Golson unlikely to sign [Full Count]

Sox near deals with seven draft picks [Full Count]

Lavarnway continues steady rise in Red Sox system [Full Count]

Crawford’s Return To Tampa Anything But Just Another Game [Hartford Courant]

Red Sox, BHCHP Teaming Up for ‘Sox for Socks’ Program at Fenway Park July 9-10 [NESN.com]

Red Sox Break 86-Year Drought in 2004, Able to Make Easy Case for Best Sox Team Ever [NESN.com]

Red Sox Mailbag: 2011 Sox Starting to Show Similarities to 2007 World Champion Team [NESN.com]

Fenway Park Undergoes Renovation in 1933, Construction of Green Monster Begins [NESN.com]

How the Red Sox pitched to Bautista [Projo Sox Blog]

Off-day Red Sox musings [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox can’t get much hotter, can they? [Providence Journal]

Tommy John surgery isn’t always risky business [RedSox.com]

Cool, collected Crawford returns to St. Pete [RedSox.com]

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

Photo credit: Reuters Pictures

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.

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

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Omar Will Be at Top 100 Camp [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Kemba Walker: Kings Pre-Draft Workout and Interview [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Stokes honored [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

BIG EAST Announces Women’s Basketball Home and Away Matchups [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn Football links

UConn in recruiting [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Big East start dates [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Huskies Land Recruit No.2: John Green Speedy WR From Miami [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football Player In The Spotlight: End Marcus Campbell [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. UConn Baseball Players Go Separate Ways [Hartford Courant]