Jon Lester wasn’t at his best last night for the Boston Red Sox against the Arizona Diamondbacks but sometimes Lester doesn’t have to perfect to get a win. That was definitely the case last night.

Lester had command issues but switched to his off-speed stuff to help him get seven strikeouts on the evening. He only gave up four hits and the two runs he allowed came on a Justin Upton 2-run homer. He walked three hitters and went to a few 3-2 counts. But even when Lester isn’t on his game, he’s still pretty darn good.

It was the above mentioned off-speed pitches that bewildered the Diamondbacks hitters. In counts where a fastball is usually called, Victor Martinez would call for a curve or changeup and most of the time, the D’Backs hitters would just watch it for a called strike three.

Lester along with Clay Buchholz have been the aces of the staff this year in a rotation that also includes Josh Beckett and John Lackey. But with Beckett hurt and Lackey struggling at times, both of them have stepped up to push the Red Sox to the top of the AL East.

In fact, Lester has been on a nice run as of late as he is 8-0 with a 2.01 ERA over his past 11 starts. If Beckett can get back to health and form and Lackey can get through his struggles and get on a Lester-like run, the Red Sox starting pitching could help propel them to another playoff berth.

Offensively, Dustin Pedroia is back on track after a mini-slump that came about after a minor injury to his right knee in Detroit. He had an MRI at the beginning of the homestand that came back negative and he’s done nothing but hit, including a big two-run homer that got the Red Sox started last night. Pedroia has now hit in his last six games. He’s also made some big defensive plays including one last night that helped Lester escape a bases loaded jam.

Hopefully the Red Sox can close the series with a sweep, something they haven’t been able to do in their last four series after taking the first two games.

Don’t forget tonight’s game has been moved up to 6:10 p.m. to accommodate Celtics fans who want to watch the game at 9 p.m. on ABC. And please take a few moments and vote 25 times for the Red Sox in the AL All-Star voting. Lord knows they need it.

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

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Lester won’t be left out of discussion of the best [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Pedroia, Sox stay on target, drill Arizona [Boston Globe]

Doubront on fast track [Boston Globe]

Lester realized that change can be good [Boston Globe]

They’re looking for finishing touch [Boston Globe]

Games are a family reunion [Boston Globe]

Dodging the boos? [Boston Globe]

Sox recap: Red Sox 6, Diamondbacks 2 [Boston Herald]

Jon Lester snakes way to a win [Boston Herald]

Dustin Pedroia back in swing [Boston Herald]

Felix Doubront to debut [Boston Herald]

Lester continues streak in win over D-Backs [CSN New England]

Cubs’ Fukudome not likely headed to Red Sox [CSN New England]

Lester shaky in victory [ESPN Boston]

Is Daniel Bard pitching too much? [Extra Bases]

Prospect Iglesias sidelined at least two weeks with finger fracture [Full Count]

Closing Time: Red Sox 6, Diamondbacks 2 [Full Count]

Pedroia on HR: ‘I’m strong – I drink milk’ [Full Count]

Red Sox Bullpen Starting to Find Groove [NESN.com]

Jon Lester Continues to Dominate at Home While Beating Diamondbacks [NESN.com]

Josh Beckett Does Long-Toss Drills, Continues Rehab Process [NESN.com]

Manny Ramirez’s Red Sox Lowlights: Manny Shoves Traveling Secretary Jack McCormick [NESN.com]

Manny Ramirez’s Red Sox Highlights: ‘That’s When You Know You Are a Bad Man’ [NESN.com]

Who Is the Ace of Red Sox Rotation? [NESN.com]

With Doubront on his way, Lester recalls debut [Projo Sox Blog]

Lester keeps Arizona off balance [Providence Journal]

Pedroia rediscovering his stroke [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Bard leads A.L in appearances [Providence Journal]

Francona in no position to offer Celtics advice [RedSox.com]

Scutaro returns to lineup after day off [RedSox.com]

Dice-K stretches out arm in long-toss session [RedSox.com]

Lacking command, Lester grinds out ‘W’ [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 check out the enemy papers, you can head over to the Arizona Republic and Arizona Daily Star websites.

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UConn Football links

McClain, Easley Sign Deals [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

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

Easley signs with Bills [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Former UConn WR Easley faring well at Bills’ camp [CT Post]

Bills sign UConn’s Easley [CT Post]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Maya in select company [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Summitt Conference [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Moore A Finalist For Honda-Broderick Cup [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Niels Giffey Visit [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Bucks work out draft hopeful Robinson [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Soccer: UConn Women’s Soccer Releases 2010 Schedule [UConnHuskies.com]

Three Named Winners Of 2009-10 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards [UConnHuskies.com]

Volleyball Standout Colby Billhardt: UConn ‘A Perfect Fit’ [Darien Patch]

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings are after the jump.

If you would like to listen to any of the Red Sox minor league affiliates’ games, MiLB.com offers them for free.

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

Prospect Iglesias sidelined at least two weeks with finger fracture [Full Count]

Players of the Week, June 7-13; Mitch Dening & Ramon A. Ramirez [SoxProspects.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox

The PawSox were off on Wednesday night.

Pawtucket 2010 Roster

Pawtucket Red Sox stats

International League standings

Pawtucket Red Sox website

Portland Sea Dogs:

The Erie SeaWolves trounced the Sea Dogs 9-3.

Dogs no match for Erie [Portland Press Herald]

Hadlock Headlines [Central Maine Sports Blog]

SeaWolves Cruise to 9-3 Win over the Sea Dogs [OurSports Central]

Erie SeaWolves @ Portland Sea Dogs 6.16.10 box score [MiLB.com]

Portland 2010 Roster

Portland Sea Dogs stats

Eastern League Standings

Portland Sea Dogs website

Salem Red Sox:

Salem held off a Wilmington Blue Rocks rally to win 9-6.

Lavarnway gives Red Sox leg to stand on [Roanoke Times]

Padron’s Perfect Night Paces Sox to 9-6 Victory [OurSports Central]

Wilmington Blue Rocks @ Salem Red Sox 6.16.10 box score [MiLB.com]

Salem 2010 Roster

Salem Red Sox stats

Carolina League standings

Salem Red Sox official blog

Salem Red Sox website

Greenville Drive:

The Drive were off on Wednesday night.

Greenville 2010 Roster

Greenvillle Drive stats

South Atlantic League standings

Greenville Drive website

Lowell Spinners:

The Lowell Spinners will begin their season on Friday, June 18th.

Top Sox prospects to shine for Lowell [Lowell Sun]

Lowell Spinners 2010 Roster

Lowell Spinners stats

NY-Penn League Standings

Lowell Spinners Blog

Spinners website

Gulf Coast League Red Sox

The GCL Red Sox will begin their season in late June after the MLB Draft.

GCL Red Sox 2010 Roster

GCL Red Sox 2009 stats

Gulf Coast League Final 2009 Standings

Gulf Coast Red Sox website

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today signed the club’s top selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, infielder Kolbrin Vitek out of Ball State University. The club also signed its second overall selection, outfielder Bryce Brentz of Middle Tennessee State University.

The announcement was made by Red Sox Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein and Director of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye.

Both Vitek and Brentz have been assigned to the Short-Season A Lowell Spinners.

The 20th overall selection in the draft, Vitek was named 2010 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound infielder led the league with 73 runs, tied for second with 17 homers and ranked third with 68 RBI and 161 total bases. The junior also earned Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American honors, pacing the Cardinals with a .361 (84-for-233) batting average, .691 slugging percentage, 20 doubles and three triples (tied) in 58 games. He stole 16 bases in 20 attempts and walked 33 times with a .445 on-base percentage. The 21-year-old also made 17 pitching appearances, including 13 starts, and finished second in the MAC with a 3.28 ERA (29 ER/79.2 IP). He was 3-4 with three saves, 60 strikeouts and just 20 walks. The right-handed hitter was one of 30 finalists for 2010 Golden Spikes Award and last summer won the Triple Crown in the Great Lakes League, batting .400 (54-for-135) with six home runs and 38 RBI. Vitek was rated by Baseball America as the top second baseman in this year’s draft as well as the third-best pure hitter among college players.

Brentz, 21, was selected 36th overall in the supplemental first round after hitting .348 (64-for-184) with 51 runs, eight doubles, 15 homers and 49 RBI in 46 games as a junior for the Blue Raiders this season. He posted a .636 slugging percentage and walked 29 times with a .440 on-base percentage. In 2009, the right-handed hitter was the NCAA leader in batting average (.465), home runs (28), slugging (.930) and total bases (214) and was named Sun Belt Player of the Year. He also hit .366 (26-for-71) in 23 games during the 2009 Team USA season. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound native of Knoxville, Tennessee was rated by Baseball America as the third-best power hitter among college players in this year’s draft. He was selected out of high school by Cleveland in the 30th round of the 2007 draft but did not sign.

Also agreeing to terms with the club were 12th-round selection, right-handed pitcher Garrett Rau from California Baptist University; 13th-round selection, right-handed pitcher Keith Couch from Adelphi University; 34th-round selection, right-handed pitcher Michael Gleason from California State University-Chico; 39th-round selection, shortstop Nick Robinson from North Central College; 40th-round selection, outfielder Luke Yoder from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo; 41st-round selection, catcher Jayson Hernandez from Rutgers University; 45th-round selection, shortstop James Kang from Pomona-Pitzer College; and 49th-round selection, first baseman Trygg Larsson-Danforth from Yale University. Rau, Couch, Robinson and Hernandez have been assigned to Lowell while Gleason, Yoder, Kang and Larsson-Danforth have been assigned to the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Red Sox.

With the signing, Boston has 10 selections from this year’s draft under contract. Attached is a complete look at the club’s 2010 picks.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Boston Red Sox 7:10 p.m. Fenway Park – Boston, MA SP: Rodrigo Lopez vs Jon Lester TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

I apologize for skipping the Red Sox News & Notes post as well as the Afternoon Delight post. I had some last minute personal business come up and just returned home. I do apologize for the inconvenience and will be back on track tomorrow.

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UConn Football links

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

Robert McClain signs with Panthers [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

UConn vs Michigan Football Ticket and Travel information [UConnHuskies.com]

Spotlight on Dahna Deleston [Hartford Courant]

EA Sports releases UConn’s roster for NCAA Football 11 [The UConn Blog]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Paper or Plastic? [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Scared straight [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Calhoun: No assistant coach news this week [CT Post]

Spotlight on Robert Garrison [Hartford Courant]

UConn’s assistant search may carry into next week [New Haven Register]

USC ruling should scare UConn, Kentucky hoops fans [Athletic Business]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Volleyball: Connecticut Native Joins University of Connecticut Volleyball Team [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Ice Hockey: Six Women’s Ice Hockey Players Earn All-Academic Honors from Hockey East [UConnHuskies.com]

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Boston Red Sox 7:10 p.m. Fenway Park – Boston, MA SP: Ian Kennedy vs Clay Buchholz TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/15 [SOX & Dawgs]

Up, up, and Ellsway!?

Now let me get this straight. There’s ‘talk’ that the Boston Red Sox want to trade away Jacoby Ellsbury this offseason?

And I write ‘talk’ because this isn’t exactly a rumor being concocted. Actually, it’s more of a prediction, literally.

This past week, all ignited by The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, Ellsbury’s name has been swirling around, along with Jonathan Papelbon, in what appears to be some sort of scare tactic by Red Sox management.

Some people are claiming that Boston’s center fielder (sorry Mike Cameron, you are not Boston’s true center fielder) isn’t as achy as he says to be, which is posing some problems.

Let’s see. Cracked ribs?

Now I have no experience whatsoever with cracked ribs, let alone a broken bone (knock on wood), but can we cut the kid some slack?

Yes, it was a blow when he finally came back off the disabled list on May 25, then five games later was put back on it. But to throw out there, trade Ellsbury away to send him a message is asinine.

He is what the Boston organization has been dreaming of in a long time. Speed (70 steals in 2009), defense, and small ball seems to be a rare find in Beantown and you want to oust him? What seems to be the issue lately with Red Sox management and their players? Is this the second coming of George Steinbrenner?

Pre-Madonna Red Sox or messed up management?

Unless you’ve been living underneath a rock, there have been no question, a lot of issues this season. The Ellsbury deal is now the sixth.

It all started with Mike Lowell trying to be traded away and we all know how that turned out.

The Texas Rangers wanted him to have his physical and it turned out Lowell had a broken thumb. So Lowell returns to the Sox and ends up on the 25-man roster on Opening Day.

Next was who to play more in the designated hitter role, Lowell or David Ortiz?

Apparently Lowell doesn’t like to DH very much, he’d rather play in the field, then of course you get Ortiz who literally had hissy fits when he wasn’t getting enough of at-bats. Then all of a sudden Papi started popping home runs left and right leaving Mikey in a predicament.

If that wasn’t enough, when Daisuke Matsuzaka returned after being placed on the 15-day DL to start the season, someone has to be kicked into the bullpen.

Well hello Tim Wakefield.

Even though you’ve been pitching great we really got no choice. I mean we can’t demote Josh Beckett to the pen who we just signed to a four-year, $68 million contract extension. And Clay Buchholz is finally becoming the pitcher we all thought of him to be in 2007 when he dished that no-hitter to the Baltimore Orioles.

And what’s up with Jonathan Papelbon?

The base of Cafardo’s Sunday notebook was about Daniel Bard being the next Red Sox closer.

Well, we all heard that before…last season…spring training…now. What’s the difference?

And it’s Nava here!

At least there is some happy news to report about.

His name?

Daniel Nava.

You weren’t alone being mind boggled on Saturday. ‘Who the hell is Daniel Nava?’

Ron Chimelis of The Springfield Republican has the background story on this 27-year-old who didn’t even make his college team as a walk-on and had to settle being the equipment manager at Santa Clara.

Nava joined Bill Duggleby Jeremy Hermida, and Kevin Kouzmanoff as the only other players in the big league to smash a grand slam in their first career at-bat. Nava is the second to do it on the first pitch as Kouzmanoff did it in 2006 for the Cleveland Indians.

That makes two great stories for rookies this season for the Sox. First it was Darnell McDonald and now Nava.

Hhhmmm, I guess the Ellsbury and Cameron injuries have been blessings in disguise after all.

Amanda Bruno is a freelance sportswriter for The Springfield Republican. She also writes over at Batter-up with Bruno where she shares her thoughts about the Boston Red Sox and the Boston sports media. You can follow her on Twitter @batterupbruno and can reach Amanda through email at brunosportshawk[at]gmail.com.

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football games on September 11 against Texas Southern and on September 18 against Temple will both kickoff at noon it was announced on Tuesday. The Texas Southern game will be the 2010 home opener at Rentschler Field while the Temple game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kickoff times have now been finalized for three of UConn six games at Rentschler Field with the Texas Southern game, the West Virginia game on Friday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2 and the Pittsburgh game on Thursday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Game times are still to be announced for the Buffalo (September 25), Vanderbilt (October 2) and Cincinnati games (November 27).

In terms of road games, three of those kickoff times have been set with the Temple game, the season opener at Michigan on September 4 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and the Rutgers game on Friday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Still to be announced are times for at Louisville on October 23, at Syracuse on November 20 and at USF on December 4. The USF game will be televised either on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

Information on additional television appearances will be announced at a later date.