Frustration is starting to set in for the Boston Red Sox and it’s fans as they have now been held scoreless by the New York Yankees for the past 24 innings. Yesterday, it was C.C. Sabathia who shut them down in the 5-0 loss that saw them manage just four more hits.

You can’t place blame on Clay Buchholz for the loss because he went out and gave the Red Sox 6 innings of 6-hit ball. He allowed 2 runs and did walk 5 but had three strikeouts. Given the fact the entire bullpen had been used in Friday night’s 15-inning affair, it was just what Terry Francona needed from his young pitcher.

Unfortunately, the offense has gone AWOL and not been able to do anything against the Yankee pitching staff since scoring 2 runs in the 9th in Thursday’s 13-6 loss.

The hole for the Red Sox is getting deeper and deeper as they now are 5.5 games out of first place. Sure they are 8-3 against the Yankees this season but that doesn’t mean a darn thing when they are not ahead of them in the standings.  The local nine still holds the lead in the wild card by one game over the Texas Rangers and 1.5 games over their other AL East rivals in the Tampa Bay Rays.

I think we all thought that the proverbial monkey would be lifted from David Ortiz and the Red Sox when he spoke to the media about being on the so-called steroids list. That simply just wasn’t the case as he went 0-for-3 and is now mired in a 1-for-22 slump. The entire team over the past two games is hitting just .105 (8-for-76) and is 0-for-12 with RISP over that same stretch.

Something has to give at some point for the Red Sox. We can only hope and pray that Jon Lester pitches a gem and gets some run support. Otherwise after tonight, we could be witness to the Boston Massacre of 2009 as we were in 2006 when the Yankees took 5 games from the Red Sox in one weekend.

Links coming up after a 10-second pause on the Red Sox blogging network.

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UConn Football links

Football To Host Three Practices Open to Public [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn Has Question Marks As It Prepares To Open Camp [Hartford Courant]

Cullen not your average captain [New Haven Register]

WVU looks to continue trend against Huskies [Beckley Register-Herald]

Big East coaches plead for 9th league member [Connecticut Post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Inside USA Basketball [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Get your facts straight [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

UConn self-reports 17 minor NCAA violations [Connecticut Post]

Dear Michael…. [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

After a heartbreaking 15-inning loss early this morning, the Boston Red Sox will look to get a game back from the New York Yankees at the new Yankee Stadium.

This afternoon’s game will start at 4:10 PM and will be shown on FOX to most of the country. If you’re not sure what game you’re are getting, click here for the list. If the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can also catch the game on the radio on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

Clay Buchholz will need to give Terry Francona some innings today as the entire bullpen was used in last night’s game. Buchholz is 1-1 with a 6.05 ERA in 4 starts, three of those since being recalled when Tim Wakefield went on the disabled list. He’s faced the Yanks twice in his career and has no record with a 7.45 ERA. He’s faced them once in New York last year and was knocked around as he gave up 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

C.C. Sabathia looks to continue the winning for Joe Girardi. He’s made 23 starts this season and is 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox this season taking the loss. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits back on June 11th. He’s made 8 career starts and is 2-5 with a 4.07 ERA against the Red Sox.

It’s been a busy day for the Red Sox once again as they have made another roster move. They placed Jed Lowrie on the disabled list and recalled Enrique Gonzalez from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Also David Ortiz spoke about the report from 10 days ago about him being on the steroid list. He stated he never used or bought steroids. More information can be found here as well as statements from the MLBPA, MLB and the Red Sox.

The latest on injuries, etc. [Extra Bases]

Here are the starting lineups for this afternoon’s game:

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

Red

Here is a statement released by the Boston Red Sox after DH David Ortiz spoke to the media in New York this afternoon:

The Players Association made clear in its public statement [Saturday] that there are substantial uncertainties and ambiguity surrounding the list of 104 names from the 2003 survey test. Indeed, there is even uncertainty about the number of players on this 2003 government list, whether it is 104, 96, 83, or less. Many of those uncertainties apparently relate to the use of then-legal nutritional supplements that were not banned by [Major League] Baseball.

David vigorously denied ever buying or using steroids. As important, Major League Baseball has informed us that David has been tested every year since the implementation of the MLB/MLBPA program in 2004 and, under the program, he has been tested 15 or more different times. We have been informed that, during this entire six-year period (2004-2009), David has never tested positive for a steroid. Also during this period, David voluntarily submitted himself to the Olympic standard of drug tests administered in connection with the World Baseball Classics in 2006 and in 2009. We are informed he did not test positive for steroids under those tests either, and he participated actively in both international tournaments.

Last week, David said he would keep people informed after he personally looked into reports of his inclusion on the 2003 survey test. He has done so. David Ortiz is a team leader, and his contributions on the field and in the community have earned him respect and a special place in the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

We appreciate the attention given to this specific matter by the Players Association and the Office of the Commissioner. The Boston Red Sox continue to support all efforts to rid the game of steroids. We again salute Commissioner Selig for his staunch and continuing leadership in eradicating the use of steroids in Major League Baseball.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and MLBPA general counsel Michael Weiner met the media this afternoon in New York to address the report about Ortiz being on the “list” of players that tested positive for steroids and/or performance-enhancing drugs.

Ortiz came right out during his opening statement saying that he “never used or bought steroids” and blamed his positive test on supplements. He stated that he was he was “careless when he was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter.” He said they were legal supplements and vitamins. He said he got more educated about the situation once the list came out.

Most importantly, he said that he was never notified by the MLBPA association that he tested positive for steroids. This statement was backed up by Weiner when he made his statement.

Ortiz said that this was a “major distraction” this week and offered apologies to the fans, his Red Sox teammates, Terry Francona and the Red Sox ownership group.

The media hammered Ortiz on the fact that he waited 10 days to come out but he said he wanted to gather information before making a statement. Weiner added, “if it was simply up to David he would have been up there a lot sooner than he was today.”

The most compelling information to come out of the press conference though was something that Weiner said. He stated that there was 83 positive results during the testing. Not 83 players that tested positive but rather 83 results. He did say that a maximum of 96 players could have tested positive but that would include the players who tested positive for supplements.

This brings into question “the list” and that 104 names were on it. Is there really 104 names or is the union right when it says there is 83 positive results? We’ll never know though because the list under a court seal and cannot be disclosed right now. The way this is going it probably won’t ever be revealed.

So now that we’ve heard Big Papi speak, the question is do you believe him when he said that he didn’t take steroids?

My initial gut feeling tells me to believe him. He didn’t look comfortable up there talking to the media and we all know how he is when it comes to things. He’s always the jovial, happy-go-lucky guy and he was far from it.

He’s always been up front with the fans and the media so that gives us reason to believe him. I’m sure there will be naysayers out there and that’s fully to be expected in this situation. Many will use the fact that he waited 10 days to address this but the union did back him up in telling him to wait.

Hopefully with him talking today, it will break him out of the funk he is currently in at the plate.

Please take a moment to vote in the poll on the left sidebar at the top about whether you believe Big Papi or not.