Boston Red Sox @ Oakland A’s 3:35 p.m Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum SP: Clay Buchholz @ Gio Gonzalez TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/21 [SOX & Dawgs]

After stranding the population of Rhode Island on the bases last night, the Boston Red Sox will look to take the series in the rubber game of a three-game set against the Oakland A’s at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Today’s game will start at 3:35 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game can be seen in the A’s television market on CSN California.. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz returns from the disabled list to make his 16th start of the season for the Red Sox. In his previous 15 starts, he is 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA. He’s never faced the A’s in Oakland and has one career start against them. That start came in 2009 when he allowed two rus over 5 2/3 innings to take a no decision.

Gio Gonzalez makes his 20th start of the season for the A’s. In his previous 19 starts, he is 8-6 with a 3.63 ERA.  He took a no decision against the Red Sox on June 1st when allowed three runs over five innings. He’s made two career starts against the Red Sox with both of them coming at Fenway Park. In those starts, he has no record with a 5.23 ERA.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

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

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

Roster moves, injury report [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox activate Lowrie [ESPN Boston]

VIP tickets for Aerosmith/Geils available [Extra Bases]

Remy, NESN agree to contract extension [Extra Bases]

Pregame notes from Oakland [Extra Bases]

Lucchino on D&C: Luxury tax not a worry [Full Count]

Fenway Park Prepares for Rowdy Soccer Crowd by Keeping Fans of Opposing Teams Apart [NESN.com]

Red Sox Color Analyst Jerry Remy Agrees to Multiyear Contract Extension [NESN.com]

‘Laser Show’ Leads List of Top 10 Dustin Pedroia Quotes [NESN.com]

Boxscore Breakdown: Another Runner Out At Home [Nuggetpalooza]

Lucchino denies that Red Sox are preoccupied by luxury tax [Projo Sox Blog]

Lowrie to start at shorstop for Boston today [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox catching prospect Mark Wagner back on the field, but still not 100 percent [Providence Journal]

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo

Nine out of ten times when the Boston Red Sox lose a game like they did last night to the Oakland A’s, it stems from one bad inning from the starting pitcher. Couple that with a ton of missed opportunities and you get exactly what happened in the 5-4 loss.

The Red Sox seemingly had A’s starter Dallas Braden on the ropes at times early and were able to get four runs. And with Tim Wakefield’s relatively easy first two innings, things seemed to be in control for them.

They had a 4-0 lead and a chance to gain ground on both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the standings but the one bad inning and missed chances at the plate would cost them that shot.

Wake had gotten the first out of the 3rd inning before a Coco Crisp double and a walk to Daric Barton. After a double steal by the pair of A’s, Wake hit Kurt Suzuki after getting two strikes on him. Jack Cust, who had good numbers against the 43 year-old Wakefield, came through with a two-run double. A passed ball and a sac fly would tie the game up for the A’s and it would stay that way until the 10th.

But before that the Red Sox would squander a few chances to get themselves back out in front.

A bases loaded situation with two outs in the 5th fell by the wayside as did a bases loaded siuation with one out in the 6th. Those were the best chances for the Red Sox to put the game out of reach but they failed to do so.

There is some good news on the injury front. Josh Beckett was cleared to make his start on Friday in Seattle and it looks Victor Martinez should return next week in Anaheim. Also, infielder Jed Lowrie joined the team in Oakland and will be activated today as well Clay Buchholz who is making the start.

It was learned after the game that Ryan Shealy was designated for assignment to make room for Lowrie and that Dustin Richardson was optioned back to Pawtucket to make room for Buchholz. Jeremy Hermida will also join the team on Thursday in Seattle and it’ll likely be Daniel Nava or Darnell McDonald as the unlucky man out.

I’d put my money on Nava being the odd man out since he has options left on his contract. If they put McDonald on waivers, it’s quite likely he’d be picked up by another team and the Red Sox certainly don’t want to let him go unless they could get something in return.

We’ll be back in a while with this afternoon’s starting lineups (3:35 p.m. game time), batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.

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

Five Things We Learned: Sox left with a sinking feeling [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Red Sox ejected, dejected [Boston Globe]

Excitement is starting to develop [Boston Globe]

Lowrie might get activated [Boston Globe]

Recap: A’s 5, Red Sox 4 [Boston Herald]

On road to recovery [Boston Herald]

Checks and balances doom Red Sox [Boston Herald]

Jed Lowrie set to return from mono [Boston Herald]

Michael Bowden flunks first big test [Boston Herald]

Opportunities pass Tim Wakefield by again [Boston Herald]

Red Sox eye $10M upgrade to Fenway scoreboards [Boston Herald]

Red Sox fall in extras, 5-4 [CSN New England]

Buchholz returns to rotation Wednesday [ESPN Boston]

Wakefield done in by one bad inning [ESPN Boston]

One That Got Away [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Jed Lowrie Feeling Healthy, Excited for Return to Red Sox [NESN.com]

Football Clubs Invade Revamped Fenway Park [NESN.com]

Tim Wakefield Makes Convincing Case to Stay in Rotation, Though Bullpen Likely Awaits [NESN.com]

Red Sox Suffer Frustrating Loss to A’s, Miss Opportunity to Gain Ground [NESN.com]

What Big Event Will Fenway Park Host Next? [NESN.com]

Richardson, Shealy out to make room for new additions [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox on wrong end of close calls in the 10th [Providence Journal]

Beckett still on track for Friday return; Martinez getting closer [Providence Journal]

For rookie Nava, Oakland is home turf [Providence Journal]

Jed Lowrie back with team, hopes to help down stretch [Providence Journal]

Reddick’s frustrating year showing signs of change [Providence Journal]

Slider now big piece of Bowden’s repertoire [RedSox.com]

Awaiting activation, Lowrie rejoins Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Here’s the pitch: Fenway set for soccer [RedSox.com]

Boston rotation close to full strength [RedSox.com]

Red Sox left frustrated after 10-inning loss [RedSox.com]

Pitching coach Farrell tossed for arguing [RedSox.com]

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

And if you must read the enemy papers, you can check out the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News websites.

Photo credit: AP Photos

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 and by 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

Guard Zach Hurd: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

DC was also busy answering questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Orlovsky takes his fund-raising to a higher level [CT Post]

Abrams commits to Huskies for college [Dover Post]

WVU Game 8: Connecticut [Charleston Gazette]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn targets lead U.S. [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Tina Charles Exceeding The Expectations For No. 1 Pick [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jerome Dyson Back From NBA Summer League [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Fear and upside in Las Vegas: UConn summer-league roundup [The UConn Blog]

Twitter is thine enemy, Roscoe Smith [The UConn Blog]

Butler building for the future [Journal Times]

Other UConn related links

The curious case of Jeff Hathaway [ESPN.com]

Boston Red Sox @ Oakland A’s 10:05 p.m Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum SP: Tim Wakefield vs Dallas Braden TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Evening Red Sox Delight – 7/20 [SOX & Dawgs]

After a nailbiting 2-1 win last night, the Boston Red Sox will go for another win against the Oakland A’s in game two of a game three set at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Tonight’s game will start at 10:05 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game can be seen in the A’s television market on CSN California.. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Tim Wakefield is likely heading back to the bullpen after his 20th appearance (16 starts) this season for Terry Francona. In his previous 19 appearances (15 starts), Wake is 3-8 with a 5.65 ERA. He’s made one start against the A’s in 2010, taking a loss back on June 3rd when he allowed six runs in six innings. He’s made 40 career appearances (29 starts) against the A’s in his career and is 11-7 with a 4.22 ERA. Wake’s made 17 appearances (15 starts) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and is 6-4 with a 5.61 ERA.

Dallas “get off my mound” Braden returns from the disabled list to make his 16th start for Bob Geren and the A’s. In his previous 15 starts, he is 4-7 with a 3.83 ERA. He hasn’t faced the Red Sox this season and since his perfect game on May 9th against the Rays, he is 0-5 with a 4.31 ERA in eight starts. Braden has made two career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

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

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

For Sox pitcher, sushi is a hit [Boston Globe]

Lowrie returns [Clubhouse Insider]

Thumbs up for V-Mart; Beckett progressing [Clubhouse Insider]

Fenway ready for soccer match [CSN New England]

Notes: Jed Lowrie re-joins Red Sox [CSN New England]

Health, Not a Trade Deadline Blockbuster, Will Propel Red Sox Back Into Contention [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Post All-Star blues [ESPN Boston]

Sox to activate Lowrie on Wednesday [ESPN Boston]

Lowrie ready for action [ESPN Boston]

Martinez takes BP, inching closer to return [ESPN Boston]

Beckett preps for Friday return [ESPN Boston]

Let’s-make-a-deal time for Ranaudo after leaving Cape [Extra Bases]

Molina clears waivers [Extra Bases]

Dice-K is dealing for charity [Extra Bases]

Pregame news from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum [Extra Bases]

Lowrie might be activated tomorrow [Extra Bases]

Gammons: Rockies rejected offer of Lowrie for Iannetta [Full Count]

Molina returns to Pawtucket [Full Count]

The Red Sox’ injury survival guide [Full Count]

Roster Moving [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Laughter Making Red Sox’ Injury-Plagued Campaign Easier to Stomach [NESN.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Successfully Transforming From Pitcher He Was in Early Red Sox Years [NESN.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka to Donate $500 Per Strikeout to Red Sox Foundation [NESN.com]

Curt Schilling Set to Debut His New Video Game at 2010 Comic-Con Convention [NESN.com]

Craig Hansen a Cautionary Tale for Red Sox in Dealing With Anthony Ranaudo [NESN.com]

Red Sox to Activate Infielder Jed Lowrie Before Wednesday’s Game [NESN.com]

Josh Beckett Looks to Regain All-Star Form In Seattle Friday [NESN.com]

Boxscore Breakdown: Late Monday Road Win! [Nuggetpalooza]

Lowrie joins Red Sox in Oakland [Projo Sox Blog]

Lowrie healthy, at long last, and ready to contribute [Projo Sox Blog]

Hey! Let’s Have a Fundraiser! [Surviving Grady]

Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images

Whenever Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound for the Boston Red Sox, it’s like playing craps. You’re hoping for a winning roll but your chance of winning are left in the shooter’s hands. Translate that to baseball and you’re giving the ball to Dice-K hoping for the best and praying that he doesn’t lose.

Even during his 18 win season in 2008, Dice-K would give us a scare here and there. The one thing he was lacking was his consistency on the mound. He’s shown flashes of it this year but other than a few times hasn’t been able to put it all together.

Last night in the 2-1 win over the Oakland A’s, Dice-K showed that if he attacks the strike zone CONSISTENTLY, good things will happen.

He threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes in 6 2/3 innings, picking up six strikeouts along the way. He allowed just one run on two hits and two walks. The one bad pitch he made last night was a hanging slider to Rajai Davis who proceeded to hit it out of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Other than that pitch, it was actually enjoyable to watch Dice-K pitch. When he attacks the strike zone like he did last night, we’re getting a look at the real Dice-K, you know the one the Red Sox invested $103.1 million in. This was the Dice-K who led Japan to WBC titles and picked up two MVP’s of the WBC in the process.

If he can continue to do this, it’s going to help the Red Sox during the last 2 1/2 months of the season especially with Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett rejoining the rotation.

Offensively it was a quiet night for the Red Sox who got their runs on a David Ortiz sacrifice fly after an Eric Patterson triple and Adrian Beltre’s solo home run on a mistake pitch from A’s starter Ben Sheets.

We’ll be back tonight with the starting lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links from the day but for now, enjoy the overnight links after the jump.

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

With Dice, Sox rotation is suddenly loaded [Alex Speier- WEEI.com]

Red Sox silence Athletics [Boston Globe]

Value of Cash has its limits [Boston Globe]

Deadline decisions on deck [Boston Globe]

Recap: Red Sox 2, A’s 1 [Boston Herald]

Trade prospects a sore subject [Boston Herald]

Jonathan Papelbon savors situation [Boston Herald]

Daisuke Matsuzaka unpredictably masterful [Boston Herald]

Playing it smart [Boston Herald]

Sox pour Cash into defense [Boston Herald]

Matsuzaka leads Sox past A’s, 2-1 [CSN New England]

Sox Notebook: Lowell receives shot; Full Red Sox injury report [CSN New England]

Papelbon, Bard a deadly combination [ESPN Boston]

Dice-K has his A-game vs. Oakland [ESPN Boston]

Beltre contemplates (sort of) the future [Full Count]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Gives Red Sox Just What They Need in Narrow 2-1 Victory [NESN.com]

Should Red Sox Try to Reacquire A’s Outfielder Coco Crisp? [NESN.com]

Mike Lowell Receives Hip Injection, Will DH for PawSox Thursday [NESN.com]

Coco Crisp Compares Playing in Boston to His Experience in Oakland [NESN.com]

For Red Sox, there’s an awful lot riding on this West Coast swing [Providence Journal]

Red Sox’ fill-in catchers have been punchless at the plate [Providence Journal]

Rehabbing Hermida working on rediscovering his hitter’s eye [Providence Journal]

Red Sox downplay interest in Chris Iannetta [Providence Journal]

In minor-league rehab stint, Lowrie is showing flashes of his old promise [Providence Journal]

Red Sox missing production from catchers [RedSox.com]

Lowell ready to start rehab assignment [RedSox.com]

Dice-K stays hot, shuts down A’s [RedSox.com]

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

And if you must read the enemy papers, you can check out the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News websites.

Photo credit: Reuters Pictures