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UConn Football links

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

Post-spring position rankings: WR [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Rivalries we’d like to see in the Big East [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Spring absentees who need to come through [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Post-spring position rankings: RB [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

Six Big East players on Phil Steele All-America teams [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Some This And That About The UConn Women [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Healthy Outlook For Incoming UConn Women Freshmen [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ranking the UConn Alumni in the NBA [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

Big East Death Watch [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

After using up the bullpen in the brief two-game set in New York, Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona would need his young horse Clay Buchholz to eat up some innings. And a win if he could get that too.

Buchholz stepped up to the plate in a big way on Wednesday night as he allowed two runs in 8+ innings to help the local nine to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in front of 37,426 soggy fans at Fenway Park.

It’s the second straight win for the Red Sox as they get back over .500 at 21-20. The AL Central-leading Twins fall to 24-16.

Young Clay had it going well on the bump. He was able to mix in all of his pitches and had great life and movement on his fastball. At one point during the 5th and 6th innings, he had five ground ball outs and finished with ten of them on the night.

He had thrown 100 pitches through eight innings but went back out for the 9th. But a leadoff infield single by Denard Span ended his night. All told, Buchholz went 8+ innings, allowing two runs on five hits with just one walk and recorded seven strikeouts.

Despite giving up a hit and a walk, Daniel Bard picked up his second career save and first of the 2010 season a night after picking up the win.

David Ortiz had the big blow as his 2-run homer got the Red Sox out front. It didn’t come easy for him though as it hit the top of the Green Monster in the 4th inning. After a four minute review delay, it was ruled it was indeed a home run that made it 2-1 Red Sox.

Both Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre added two hits and Bill Hall’s RBI single in the 6th inning proved to be the difference. The only member of the starting nine without a hit was J.D. Drew, who was in the leadoff spot for Marco Scutaro who had the night off.

After the comeback win on Tuesday night, this win was just as nice as it came over a quality opponent.

The Red Sox will look to get another win before heading south to Philadelphia to begin interleague play. It’ll be a matchup of lefties as Francisco Liriano and Jon Lester will toe the rubber. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Minnesota Twins @ Boston Red Sox 5.19.10 box score

According to a tweet by Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, the Boston Red Sox have designated Scott Schoeneweis for assignment. There’s no word on a corresponding roster move as of yet.

Schoeneweis, who was one of the last players to make the Red Sox out of spring training, had a rough time coming out of the bullpen. In 15 appearances, he was 1-0 with a 7.90 ERA. He had allowed 12 earned runs on 19 hits to go along with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Minnesota Twins @ Boston Red Sox 7:10 p.m. Fenway Park – Boston, MA SP: Scott Baker vs Clay Buchholz TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Early Evening Red Sox Delight – 5/19 [SOX & Dawgs]

After splitting a two-game set in New York, the Boston Red Sox return home for a brief two-game homestand with the Minnesota Twins 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 Twins television market, you can catch the game on FOXSports North. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz makes his 8th start of the season for Terry Francona. In his seven starts, he is 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA. He hasn’t faced the Twins in 2010 and has made only one career start back in 2008. In that game, he took the loss after allowing seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Scott Baker is making his ninth start of the season for the Twins. In his previous eight starts, he is 4-3 with a 4.93 ERA. He hasn’t faced the Red Sox in 2010 and was 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA (6 ER/4.2 IP) in one start in 2009. Overall in his career, he’s made three appearances (two starts) and is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA with all of them coming 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:

Before tonight’s game, the Red Sox announced that they have placed Josh Beckett on the 15-day DL with a back strain. Beckett was pulled in the 5th inning of last night’s start with a tight back. To replace him on the 25-man roster, they have called up reliever Joe Nelson from Pawtucket.

In 16 appearances for the PawSox, Nelson was 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA and a save. Tim Wakefield will take Beckett’s place in the rotation which means Wake will square off with Roy Halladay on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.

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

Josh Beckett goes on 15-day DL [CSN New England]

Red Sox hope Beckett will miss just one start [Clubhouse Insider]

His fight with Father Time leaves scars [ESPN Boston]

Francona, Mauer to honor Mass mentors [Extra Bases]

Hermida has earned his at-bats [Extra Bases]

Beckett on DL; Wakefield in rotation [Extra Bases]

Globe 10.0: Is Beckett overrated? [Extra Bases]

Francona on D&H: ‘The game should be played a certain way’ [Full Count]

Pre-Game Notes: Francona, Sox ‘err on the side of caution’ with Beckett [Full Count]

Wakefield: ‘I shouldn’t have to’ prove anything [Full Count]

In 7-6 Win, Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox Remind Us That It’s Still May [NESN.com]

Jeremy Hermida Providing Offensive Spark When Red Sox Need Him Most [NESN.com]

Struggling, but still battling, Red Sox “keep playing” [Projo Sox Blog]

Drew healthy, hitting leadoff [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett placed on disabled list [Projo Sox Blog]

Ortiz hosting fundraiser at restaurant [RedSox.com]

Back problem forces Beckett to DL [RedSox.com]

Lowell, MA (May 19, 2010) – The fourth annual Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt tournament was announced today and is scheduled to take place today July 1, 2010 at the Tsongas Center @ UMASS Lowell, Lowell MA. This year’s event is held to benefit Journey Forward. The 18 custom made putting holes will be hosted by one of Varitek’s Boston Red Sox teammates or other Boston celebrities, who in the past have included, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, hockey legend Ray Bourque and many more.

Tickets for the 2010 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt tournament are open to the public and can be purchased for $17.00 each by visiting the following websites and location:

• www.ticketmaster.com
• http://www.uml.edu/tsongascenter/tickets.html
• Tsongas Center Box Office
  300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
  Lowell, MA 01852

In his 14^th season with the Boston Red Sox, the Captain has been a strong asset to the baseball club. “I enjoy the time that I get to play, and work hard to consistently make myself a better and stronger player” stated Jason. Varitek has had a successful start to the season in a new role and will continue to work his hardest on and off the field. “This event is a great experience for fans and benefits a great cause, Journey Forward. I enjoy meeting all of the fans, and taking the time away from the baseball field to pick up a putter and support charity. Each year the event seems to grow, and the crowd enjoys the atmosphere all around them. It’s a great feeling to know that I can help to make that happen.”

About Journey Forward

Journey Forward was founded by Dan Cummings who was paralyzed one day while going for a swim with his friends. Dan was diagnosed a C6 quadriplegic and was in ICU for four weeks. Dan fought to live and showed improvement but was told there was a good possibility of never walking again. Dan promised to anyone that would listen that he would walk again and after three years in Boston and four years in California he did. Dan realized that his new mission was to make the program he used in California easily accessible to those in need so he moved back to Boston and began Journey Forward. Journey Forward is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord Injury through an intense exercise program. Journey Forward’s exercise program is designed to assists those with Spinal Cord Injuries so that they can achieve basic lifelong functions and receive the benefits.