Boston Red Sox @ Detroit Tigers 1:05 p.m Comerica Park, Detroit, MI SP: John Lackey vs Armando Galarraga TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Late Morning Red Sox Delight – 5/16 [SOX & Dawgs]

After a disappointing loss to the Detroit Tigers last night, the Boston Red Sox will look to take the series finale at Comerica Park this afternoon.

Today’s game will start at 1:05 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game can be seen in the Tigers television market on FOX Sports Detroit. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

John Lackey has pitched well for Terry Francona and the Red Sox as of late. He’s made seven starts this season and is 4-1 with a 4.60 ERA. In his one start against the Tigers in 2009, he took the loss after allowing five runs in six innings. He’s had good success though against the Tigers in his career as he is 6-1 with a 3.79 ERA in nine starts. He’s a perfect 4-0 with a 3.46 ERA in four starts at Comerica Park.

Armando Galarraga will make his first start of 2010 for Jim Leyland and the Tigers. He was 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA for the Tiger’s Triple-A affiliate the Toledo Mud Hens. He did face the Red Sox once in 2009, taking the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings. Overall, he’s made two career starts against the Red Sox and is 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA.

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

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

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Red Sox allow Tigers to claw back and win [Boston Globe]

Feeling they got taken [Boston Globe]

Beckett to return Tuesday against Yankees [Boston Globe]

Subs surfaced on time [Boston Globe]

Red Sox lose grip, let Tigers walk off with a win in 12th [Boston Herald]

Tigers turn tide on Jon Lester in 6th [Boston Herald]

David Ortiz blossoms like May flower [Boston Herald]

Jonathan Papelbon goes long [Boston Herald]

Blue Jays appear close to taking wing [Boston Herald]

Tough night, and a quick turnaround [Clubhouse Insider]

Morning notes: Pedroia gets day off [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox-Tigers pregame: Pedroia gets day off [CSN New England]

Notes: Papelbon’s effort for naught [ESPN Boston]

Missed opportunities do in Sox [ESPN Boston]

Pedroia sits out today’s game [ESPN Boston]

Ellsbury will start rehab on Monday [Extra Bases]

A few morning updates [Extra Bases]

Closing Time: Tigers 7, Red Sox 6 [Full Count]

Walk-Off Walk a Tough Loss to Swallow for Red Sox [NESN.com]

Do Hitters Have an Unfair Advantage by Wearing Body Armor? [NESN.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury Joins Team in Detroit, Will Play in Pawtucket on Monday [NESN.com]

Walk on wild side in 12th sinks Sox [Providence Journal]

All eyes are on Boston’s shortstop phenom [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Johnson, Damon go way back to minors [Providence Journal]

Ortiz starts against Tigers lefty Willis [RedSox.com]

Beckett in line to start Tuesday in Bronx [RedSox.com]

Cameron moves closer to rejoining club [RedSox.com]

Prospect Pimentel pitches six perfect innings [RedSox.com]

Ellsbury will likely begin rehab stint Monday [RedSox.com]

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UConn Football links

Mailbag May 15: Would Fincher Consider UFL If No NFL Opp? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Charles, Griffin shine for Sun [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

10 Questions For President Obama [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Rookies help Sun rise over Sky [New Haven Register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Remember the name: Chasson Randle [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

Baseball: Huskies Set Program Win Record with 13-5 Victory at USF [UConnHuskies.com]

Big East mulls options to help itself survive [The Republican-American]

Baseball: UConn bids to host NCAA First Round at Dodd Stadium [The Day]

Eyes on the prize: A UConn Contract [Hartford Courant]

Brothers Nick and Mike Ahmed of East Longmeadow have bright baseball futures [The Springfield Republican]

Things were lined up nicely for the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night. Jon Lester had been looking like an ace in his past three starts while David Ortiz has been looking like the Big Papi of old. Unfortunately for Lester and the Red Sox, the bullpen failed them in last night’s 7-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in extra innings.

While it won’t go in the books as a quality start for Lester, he was pretty dang good last night. He went seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks and finished with ten strikeouts. He left with a 6-4 lead but then Hideki Okajima gave it up in the 8th.

He gave up a leadoff homer to Magglio Ordonez, then walked Miguel Cabrera and allowed a single to red-hot Brennan Boesch. Rather than go to the bullpen for Manny Delcarmen who had been warming up alongside Jonathan Papelbon, Terry Francona chose to stick with Okajima and it didn’t work out. Brandon Inge came through with the game-tying double.

Okajima did settle down after that though as he struck out Gerald Laird and got pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago to line out. Francona finally went to the bullpen and brought in Papelbon who got Adam Everett to foul out.

The question remains as to why Tito didn’t yank Okajima earlier. He clearly didn’t have it last night but yet Francona chose to keep him in. I’m definitely not in the position to question Francona’s decision but given how MDC has pitched of late, why wouldn’t you go to him over an ineffective Okajima.

Offensively, the Red Sox were able to take advantage of a wild Dontrelle Willis. The Red Sox took advantage of seven walks by the D-Train to score four runs.  All told the Red Sox received 12 walks, five of them by Kevin Youkilis. After a Bill Hall 2-run homer in the 5th inning, four Tigers relievers gave up just two hits the rest of the way.

Ramon Ramirez had pitched well as of late but he had a night to forgot last night. He came in during the 12th inning and had two walks, including a four-pitch walk to Santiago that forced in the winning run.

It was a frustrating loss for the Red Sox last night, one that clearly got away from them. The big thing is that they bounce back today and put last night’s loss behind them and move forward. There’s no reason to dwell on the past anymore.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day.

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

And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News and MLive.com websites. You can also check out what our Bloguin brother, Detroit4lyfe, has to say.

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