Boston Red Sox All-Star Pitcher Josh Beckett, Local Stars and Athletes Throw Strikes for Children at Fourth Annual Beckett Bowl Presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino

Star-Studded Lineup of Boston’s Hottest Celebrities and Athletes Compete in Charity Bowling Tournament to Benefit Children’s Hospital Boston

Famed Country Rocker Jason Aldean to Perform at the Absolut Beckett Bowl Concert presented by MGM Grand at Foxwoods at House of Blues Boston

BOSTON (June 3, 2010) – Boston Red Sox All-Star pitcher Josh Beckett will throw strikes of a different kind on July 29, when he hangs up his cleats and ties on a pair of bowling shoes at the fourth-annual Beckett Bowl presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino, a star-studded bowling tournament held at Lucky Strike Lanes in Boston.

The fun-filled evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a celebrity red-carpet event. The celebrity bowling tournament will kick-off at 7:15 p.m. and festivities will conclude with a concert by country music sensation Jason Aldean at the Absolut Beckett Bowl Concert presented by MGM Grand at Foxwoods at the House of Blues Boston.

A limited number of tickets for both the bowling tournament and after party concert will be on sale through www.ticketmaster.com this Saturday, June 5th at 10 am. Tickets to attend the bowling event and concert are $250 and tickets for the concert only are $40. Fans can purchase a VIP concert ticket for $125 which includes a meet & greet with Jason Aldean and a reserved seat at the House of Blues.

“We’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the local sports and business communities over the last three years and especially thrilled to have Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods as our presenting sponsor and the return of Absolut as our title sponsor for the concert,” said Beckett. “As a result of our collective efforts, we are fortunate enough to raise funds that make a positive impact on the lives of kids served by Children’s Hospital Boston. I’m thrilled to be back for another Beckett Bowl to rally around these deserving children and make an even greater impact in the community.”

Local companies and individuals are invited to sponsor four-person bowling teams for the event. Each team will be joined by a celebrity teammate and compete for unique prize packages. For information on sponsoring a team, companies and individuals can call 617-338-2766 or visit www.beckettbowl.com.

The all-star lineup of celebrities participating in the 2010 Beckett Bowl includes current and past Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and New England Revolution players, along with actors, comedians, musicians and celebrity chefs with New England ties.

“We’re honored to support this year’s Beckett Bowl and are excited to have our brand associated with a Boston sports hero like Josh and his foundation,” said Chief Marketing Officer for Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises Robert Victoria. “As a proud supporter of the Boston Red Sox and Red Sox Nation, we’re thrilled to be a part of a great event that has such a profound impact on communities across New England.”

The annual fundraising event is organized by The Josh Beckett Foundation, which supports community-based programs that improve the health and well-being of children, especially those who are seriously ill, disabled, poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Since its inception in 2007, Beckett Bowl has raised more than $750,000 to benefit the Foundation and the event’s primary beneficiary, Children’s Hospital Boston. Monies from these efforts facilitated the opening of The Josh Beckett Cancer Treatment room at Children’s Hospital Boston in 2009.

“Children’s has taken the lead in radically improving survival rates for pediatric cancer through cutting-edge research and exceptional inpatient care,” said Children’s Hospital Boston CEO James Mandell, MD. “Gifts from generous individuals like Josh will provide us with the opportunity to continue our work to save kids’ lives.”

The Josh Beckett Foundation is also hosting the Beckett Bowl Ultimate Raffle in partnership with the Red Sox Foundation, with proceeds benefitting both organizations. Fans have a chance to win 19 different items by purchasing raffle tickets for only $5 each (no minimum purchase). The one-of-a-kind grand prize includes two tickets to Beckett Bowl presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Absolut Beckett Bowl Concert presented by MGM Grand at Foxwoods, featuring Jason Aldean. The winner and a guest will also have the exclusive chance to watch a future Red Sox game against the New York Yankees from Beckett’s personal seats at Fenway. Fans can purchase raffle tickets for the Beckett Bowl Ultimate Raffle for only $5 at www.redsox.com/beckett.

After selling more than three million copies of his first three albums, topping the charts with eight smash hits including “The Truth,” “Big Green Tractor,” “She’s Country,” “Why,” and “Hicktown,” racking up award nominations and selling out arenas across the nation, 2010 Beckett Bowl Concert presented by MGM Grand at Foxwoods performer country rocker Jason Aldean is running full throttle into summer. He has taken a break from his hugely successful WIDE OPEN tour to join superstar duo Brooks & Dunn’s LAST RODEO tour through mid-June. His latest single, “Crazy Town,” from his platinum-selling third Album WIDE OPEN is in the Top 5 on the country charts.

Past Beckett Bowls have attracted some of Boston’s top professional athletes and celebrities, including Beckett’s Red Sox teammates Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield and Mike Lowell; HBO’s Entourage star Adrian Grenier; performer Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of legendary hip-hop trio Run DMC; country music star Pat Green; Boston Celtics 2008 Finals MVP Paul Pierce and teammate Glen “Big Baby” Davis; Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic; New England Patriots Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Adalius Thomas and Steve Gostkowski; New England Revolution stars Matt Reis and Taylor Twellman; and many more.

Foxwoods Resort Casino, MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Absolut, Liberty Bay Credit Union, American Airlines, and EMJ Corporation, are working with the Foundation in support of Beckett Bowl.

About The Josh Beckett Foundation
The Josh Beckett Foundation is a charitable organization established in 2007 by Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett to support community-based programs that strive to improve the health and well-being of children, especially children that are seriously ill, disabled, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged. The Foundation provides Beckett with an opportunity to have a direct and permanent impact on the lives of children throughout New England.

In 2009, Children’s Hospital Boston unveiled the Josh Beckett Cancer Treatment Room which features Boston Red Sox imagery including Beckett and his teammates, crowd scenes and the historic Fenway Park sign.

After taking the first two games, the Boston Red Sox will look to keep the momentum going and try to get a sweep of the Oakland A’s this afternoon at Fenway Park.

This afternoon’s game will start at 1:35 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the A’s television market, you can catch the game on CSN California. And if you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as the game will also be shown on the MLB Network. 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 making his 12th appearance and 8th start of the season for skipper Terry Francona. In his previous 11 appearances (seven starts), he is 1-3 with a 5.68 ERA. He made two starts in 2009 against the A’s and was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA (15 IP/ 3 ER). In 39 games (28 starts) against the A’s, Wake is 11-6 with a 4.08 ERA. Since the 2004 season, Wake has seven quality starts against the A’s.

Brett Anderson has made five starts for Bob Geren and the A’s this season and just one since returning from the disabled list. In those five starts, he is 1-1 with a 2.35. He’s made three starts against the Red Sox, with all of them coming in 2009 and he is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA. Both of his wins came at Fenway Park where he had 1.80 ERA (15 IP/3 ER).

Keep reading for lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and pregame links.

Here’s the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers in their careers:

Note: More links will be added as they become available.

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

Francona: Thumbs down on instant replay [CSN New England]

Quiet morning at Fenway Park [Extra Bases]

David Ortiz Regaining ‘Big Papi’ Status [NESN.com]

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

UConn Football links

DC got more Big East predictions from the beat writers [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video: Offensive player of the year [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Analyzing the position group rankings [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Dixon off to UFL [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Dixon to UFL’s Colonials [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

UFL Draft: Colonials Select Ex-UConn Running Back Dixon [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Charles is WNBA’s Rookie of the Month [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Tina Charles Named WNBA Rookie Of The Month [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Charles Named Rookie Of The Month [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Other UConn related links

Husky Hockey To Play Doubleheader At Rentschler Field [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Penders Named NEIBA Coach of the Year [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn, SHU to meet at Rentschler in hockey extravaganza [CT Post]

NCAA Baseball: Norwich Regional Breakdown [FoxSports Florida]

If anyone can figure out Daisuke Matsuzaka, can you please let the rest of us know?

Last night at Fenway Park,the Boston Red Sox found themselves trailing 3-0 to the Oakland A’s after the top of the 1st when Dice-K looked like, well Dice-K. I’m sure your first thought like mine was, okay here we go again what else is on television. But then after the bottom of the 1st thanks to a Kevin Youkilis double, the Red Sox found themselves trailing 3-2 and you wondered if Dice-K was going to suck again the next inning.

He was far from that as he scattered six hits the rest of the way and didn’t walk anyone. He just went out there and battled and pitched like he did in his near no-hitter. He attacked the strike zone like it was nobody’s business as he threw 84 of his 109 pitches for strikes.

Things were so bad for Dice-K in that first inning that he actually hearing boos from the Fenway Faithful. But by the time he walked off the mound after seven innings, he left to a standing ovation and gave those same fans who were booing him, a tip of the cap.

To say David Ortiz is in a zone right now is an understatement. Simply put, the man is on fire and he’s fully back from the struggles that plagued him earlier this season.

How do we know this? It’s quite simple actually.

After hitting a 2-run homer in the 5th inning to put the Red Sox up 4-3, he earned an intentional walk his next time up in the 7th inning. He finished the night 2-for-2 with the 2-run homer, two runs scored and two walks.

Marco Scutaro continues to shine at the top filling in for Jacoby Ellsbury as he had a three-hit effort while Darnell McDonald added two hits as well.

Things are certainly clicking right now for the Red Sox on all cylinders and they’ll look for that to continue this afternoon when they try to complete a three-game sweep of the A’s before heading south to Baltimore.

We’ll be back in just a short while with this afternoon’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links but for now enjoy the overnight links.

Making sense of Matsuzaka, ‘The Magic Man’ [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Sox are paced by pair [Boston Globe]

Dice-K takes the fifth [Boston Globe]

Big week on and off the field for Sox [Boston Globe]

Beckett’s return at least a month away [Boston Globe]

Recap: Red Sox 6, Athletics 4 [Boston Herald]

Papi’s big once again [Boston Herald]

Red Sox no-no kids feel for costly call [Boston Herald]

AL honors David Ortiz, Jon Lester [Boston Herald]

Mike Cameron bids Ken Griffey Jr. adieu [Boston Herald]

Sox climb out of early hole, win fourth straight [CSN New England]

Cameron calls for instant replay in baseball [CSN New England]

Johnson gets the boot [ESPN Boston]

Cameron averts DL, but questions remain [ESPN Boston]

SoxProspects.com: May minor league notes [ESPN Boston]

Sox talk Griffey, replay and another win [Extra Bases]

Ortiz: Wrist no longer an issue [Full Count]

Closing Time: Red Sox 6, Athletics 4 [Full Count]

Bard brought the heat, and then some [Full Count]

Cameron and Junior: Forever linked [Full Count]

Red Sox and People Magazine Announce Finalists for ‘People All-Stars’ Campaign [NESN.com]

David Ortiz Stays Patient, Waits for Pitch and Hammers Home Run [NESN.com]

Matsuzaka rolls with the punches [Providence Journal]

Beltre’s bat warming up with the weather [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Beckett on the shelf for at least 10 more days [Providence Journal]

It’s time for baseball to change its rules on instant replay [Providence Journal]

Striking turnaround for Dice-K vs. A’s [RedSox.com]

Red Sox get good news on Cameron [RedSox.com]

Beckett won’t throw for another 10 days [RedSox.com]

Deciphering how much Boras influences Ellsbury [Rob Bradford – WEEI.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.

While former UConn Huskies running back Andre Dixon is still awaiting a call from the NFL after attending the New York Giants mini-camp, he was able to hear his named called during the UFL Draft on Wednesday night.

Should Dixon not make it to an NFL camp, he’ll have a home where he played his college football at Rentschler Field as the Hartford Colonials took him with the No. 2 overall pick.

As a sophomore with the Huskies, Dixon teamed up with former Husky and current Colts running back Donald Brown in the backfield. Dixon finished the 2007 season with 167 carries for 828 yards and  three touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown.

The 2008 season was a lost cause for Dixon as he sprained his ankle during the preseason and that paved the way for Brown to be the starter in the backfield. And we all know how that turned out. Dixon was also suspended after being arrested for DUI but was reinstated in time for UConn’s bowl game against Buffalo.

Splitting time with Jordan Todman during the 2009 season, Dixon had 239 carries for 1,093 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and starting pitcher Jon Lester have been voted the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for May. It marks the first time that the two A.L. monthly awards were captured by teammates in the same month since June 2006, when Minnesota’s Joe Mauer and Johan Santana won the honors.

In 23 games in May, Ortiz hit .363 (29-80) with four doubles, 10 home runs, 16 runs scored and 27 RBI. The 34-year-old also posted a Major League-best .788 slugging percentage and a .424 on-base percentage. Last month marked the second time in his career that he has tallied at least 10 homers, 25 RBI, and a .350 batting average in a calendar month, previously accomplished in June of 2004. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native reached base safely in 21 of his 23 games in May, including nine multi-hit performances and eight multi-RBI outings. On May 14th versus the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, David earned his 36th career multi-homer game and his 34th with the Red Sox, ranking him third in club history behind Hall of Famers Ted Williams (37) and Jim Rice (35). In Boston’s final game of May, the five-time A.L. All-Star hit his 10th home run, reaching double-figures in a month for the first time since August 2006. That home run, which led the Red Sox to an 8-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, was the final base hit of his eight-game hitting streak to finish the month of May, marking his longest streak since April 2009. This marks David’s fourth career Player of the Month Award (last accomplished: September 2007).

Lester, who posted a perfect 5-0 record in six outings during May, allowed just 24 hits through 44.0 innings of work while leading the Majors with 45 strikeouts. The 26-year-old also posted a 1.84 ERA, the lowest of any A.L. pitcher with more than 27 innings pitched. Lester earned a 6-2 win for the Red Sox in his 100th career start on May 20th against Minnesota at Fenway Park, allowing only one earned run on six hits in the complete-game effort. It marked Jon’s fifth career complete game and the first time a Sox pitcher has earned a complete-game win with no walks and at least nine strikeouts since Pedro Martinez accomplished the feat on August 12, 2004. On May 25th, the second-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft fanned nine and combined with his bullpen on a one-hitter against the Rays. The southpaw’s five wins in May boosted his career record to 48-18, and his .727 winning percentage is the best in M.L.-history (since 1901) among pitchers with at least 50 decisions and the ninth-best winning percentage ever through a pitcher’s first 100 starts. This marks Jon’s third Pitcher of the Month honor (last accomplished: September 2008).

The runner up for the A.L. Player of the Month was Texas Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, who batted .330 with 10 home runs and a Major League-leading 31 RBI. Finishing second to Lester in the A.L. Pitcher of the Month balloting was Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shaun Marcum, who posted a 5-0 record with a 1.85 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 39.0 innings pitched.

Ortiz and Lester will each receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, to commemorate their Player and Pitcher of the Month performances.

Oakland A’s @ Boston Red Sox 7:10 p.m. Fenway Park – Boston, MA SP: Ben Sheets vs Daisuke Matsuzaka TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/2 [SOX & Dawgs]

After coming back for a 9-4 win last night, the Boston Red Sox host the Oakland Athletics in game two of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:10 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the A’s television market, you can catch the game 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.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound for Terry Francona and the Red Sox tonight and only God knows which Dice-K will show up. Dice-K has made six starts this season and is 3-2 with a 5.77 ERA. After almost throwing a no-hitter against the Phillies, he came back with an eight walk start. He made one start against the A’s in 2009 and took a no decision after allowing five first inning runs. He’s made five career starts against them and is 201 with a 4.21 ERA. He’s made one career start in 2008 against the A’s at the Fens and picked up the win after allowing two runs in eight innings.

Ben Sheets started off slow for the A’s but has been a much better pitcher as of late. In his 11 starts this season with his new club, he is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA. Sheets will be making his first career start against the Red  Sox and at Fenway Park.

Keep reading for lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and pregame links.

Here’s the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers in their careers:

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

No new injury for Cameron; Beckett taking it slow [Clubhouse Insider]

Cameron may return to action Friday [CSN New England]

Early Sox Notes: Beckett shut down for 10 days [CSN New England]

Beckett shut down for 10 days [ESPN Boston]

Martinez out tonight, back tomorrow [ESPN Boston]

Good news on Cameron [ESPN Boston]

Martinez takes a hot bat to the bench [Extra Bases]

Cameron OK, Beckett slowed down for 10 more days [Extra Bases]

Remy on D&C: ‘I can’t figure it out’ with Matsuzaka [Full Count]

The man who almost stopped Pedroia from being a Red Sox [Full Count]

Pregame Notes: Beckett held back, Cameron moving forward [Full Count]

Victor Martinez Gets Night Off, Will Catch Tim Wakefield on Thursday [NESN.com]

The Jimmy Fund and the Red Sox Team Up to Help a Fan Fight Cancer [NESN.com]

Where Will the Red Sox’s Next Star Come From in the MLB Draft? [NESN.com]

Red Sox Seeking to Draft Player With Biggest Impact [NESN.com]

Mike Cameron’s Progress Encouraging News for Red Sox Fans [NESN.com]

Exam shows no new problems for Mike Cameron, OF could return in a few days [Projo Sox Blog]