Thursday, August 6^th @ 7:05 PM

John Smoltz, RHP (2-4, 7.12) vs Joba Chamberlain, RHP (7-2, 3.58)

TV: NESN, MY9, MLB Network, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Friday, August 7^th @ 7:05 PM

Josh Beckett, RHP (13-4, 3.27) vs A.J. Burnett, RHP (10-5, 3.89)

TV: NESN, YES, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Saturday, August 8^th @ 4:10 PM

Clay Buchholz, RHP (1-1, 6.05) vs CC Sabathia, LHP (11-7, 3.95)

TV: FOX

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Sunday, August 9^th @ 8:05 PM

Jon Lester, LHP (9-7, 3.79) vs Andy Pettitte, LHP (9-6, 4.35)

TV: ESPN

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

In need of some starting pitching depth, the Boston Red Sox have turned to an old friend in Paul Byrd.

Byrd, 38, is expected to be ready to join the major league staff around Sept. 1. He has yet to pitch this season and will require time in the minor leagues.

Byrd made 8 starts for the Red Sox during the regular season last year and was 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA.

This move isn’t surprising at all considering the struggles of John Smoltz, Brad Penny and Clay Buchholz.

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today selected left-handed pitcher Billy Traber to the active Major League roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. Outfielder Josh Reddick was optioned to Pawtucket. Traber, who will wear number 40, will be available for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Gil Velazquez was designated for assignment.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Traber, 29, is 7-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 games (four starts) for Pawtucket this season, tied for the club lead in wins. Signed by Boston as a minor league free agent in November 20, 2008, the left-hander owns a 5-3 record with a 2.15 ERA in 28 games out of the bullpen and has not allowed a run in his last 12 relief appearances over 17.1 innings. Four of his last five outings have been starts, most recently allowing two runs in 6.0 innings for the win at Buffalo on Friday. Traber is 12-14 with a 5.54 ERA in 95 career Major League games, including 28 starts, for the Indians (2003), Nationals (2006-07) and Yankees (2008).

Reddick, 22, was selected from Double-A Portland on Friday and went 5-for-16 with three doubles, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in four games with Boston in his first Major League stint. He began the season batting .277 (71-for-256) with 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 63 games for Portland before making his Major League debut. Boston’s 17th round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, the left-handed hitter will be making his first career appearance at the Triple-A level.

Velazquez, 29, was batting .190 (45-for-237) with two home runs and 13 RBI in 73 games at Pawtucket this season. Earlier this year, he appeared in six Major League games with Boston, going 0-for-2 at the plate. He is 1-for-10 with one RBI in nine career Major League games from 2008-09, all with the Red Sox.

Additionally, second baseman Travis Denker was outrighted to Pawtucket today after being designated for assignment on Friday. He hit .248 (74-for-298) with four home runs and 37 RBI in 88 games with the PawSox this season.

After using up all of their bullpen last night in the loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox will look to Brad Penny to try and go at least (gasp) 7 innings tonight.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:08 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. For those not in the Red Sox or Rays television markets, you’re in luck tonight as the game will be broadcast on ESPN. 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.

Penny will try to do what he hasn’t done all season long and get through 7 innings. He’s pitched in the 7th but never gotten to the end. Penny has made 20 starts this season and is 7-5 with a 5.07 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Rays this season and is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA. Penny has appeared in 6 games (5 starts against the Rays in his career and is 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA. He’s made just two starts at the Trop and is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA.

David Price looks to give the Rays a two-game sweep of the Red Sox tonight for Joe Maddon. Price has made 12 starts this season since being promoted from Triple-A Durham and is 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA. He has never made a start or an appearance against the Red Sox during the regular season. He did pick up the win in Game 2 and the save in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Red Sox last year.

With the bullpen being all used up last night, the Red Sox have called up Billy Traber from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the roster, they have sent Josh Reddick back to the minor leagues.

Reddick out, Traber in [Extra Bases]

Francona urges patience with Ortiz situation [Extra Bases]

Union will not file order for Ortiz results [Extra Bases]

Dice K speaks — in English [Clubhouse Insider]

Ortiz search continues and other pregame notes [Clubhouse Insider]

Penny will try to stop a bad trend tonight [Projo Sox Blog]

Terry Francona on Dale and Holley [Full Count]

Francona on Ortiz situation: ‘Nobody on this end is dragging their feet’ [Full Count]

Penny pressure; Red Sox pitcher needs deep outing against Tampa Bay tonight [Batter-up with Bruno]

Here are tonight’s starting lineups:

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

Tough loss last night for the Boston Red Sox as Evan Longoria hit the tying and game-winning home runs to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-2 win. With the loss, the Red Sox fell 1.5 games behind the Yankees and it also allowed the Rays to gain ground on them.

It turned out to be a pitcher’s duel early on as Matt Garza and Jon Lester were dealing. The Red Sox were able to break through against Garza for two home solo home runs off the bats of Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia. The Rays were unable to get anything off of Lester but scored all 4 of their runs off of the Red Sox bullpen.

Both teams had many chances to win this in the late innings. After giving up the game-tying home run to Longoria, Daniel Bard came a bit unglued and loaded up the bases. Manny Delcarmen came in and bailed him out. The Rays also had their chances in the 10th inning against Ramon Ramirez but he got out of it. The Red Sox were unable to take advantage of their bases loaded situation as no one could deliver the clutch hit.

Things got so bad for the Red Sox bullpen last night as far as it’s usage that Saturday’s starter Clay Buchholz was warming up in case the game continued. I’m pretty sure we can expect to see a callup from Pawtucket to help the bullpen out. Had Justin Masterson not been traded, Terry Francona wouldn’t have had that problem.

The Red Sox need to pull out a win tonight before heading to the Bronx for a big 4-game set with the Yankees.

Links coming up after a 10-second station ID on the Red Sox Blogging Network.

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UConn Football links

UConn Sixth? You’re Not Surprised…Are You? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Most Coaches Favor Adding A Ninth Team [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video From The Big East Media Day: Desmond Conner [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Anthony Sherman On “O” Reggie McClain On “D” [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video From The Big East Media Day: Jeff Jacobs [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video From The Big East Media Day: Randy Edsall [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Just A Little Taste [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Well That Was Fun [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Picture This: Big East Media Day In Newport [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Quarterback questions dominate Big East media day [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

No respect? UConn and Rutgers have motivation [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Capping the Day [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Newport News [Ramblings from The Runway]

More on scheduling [Ramblings from The Runway]

More from the mansions [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

UConn picked 6th, Pittsburgh 1st at media day [Connecticut Post]

Lutrus not the UConn linebacker you remember [Connecticut Post]

UConn No. 6 In Big East Football Poll [Hartford Courant]

UConn Doesn’t Need Notre Dame [Hartford Courant]

UConn’s Cullen Won’t Punt On Leadership [Hartford Courant]

Fightin’ Words [Hartford Courant]

Huskies picked to finish sixth at Big East Media Day [Norwich Bulletin]

Cullen drawing attention, laughs as UConn’s colorful punter [Norwich Bulletin]

Huskies picked sixth in Big East [New Haven Register]

With Michigan set, Huskies to sack series with Irish [New Haven Register]

Pitt the pick in Big East football; UConn sixth [Waterbury Republican-American]

Huskies’ series with Notre Dame looks like no deal [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn Sixth In Big East Preseason Football Poll [New London Day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Emeka Okafor Likes Rabbit … And Chris Paul [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Giving Back: Hilton Armstrong’s Strong Foundation [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Okafor getting a fresh start in New Orleans [Norwich Bulletin]

Other UConn related links

Cape Cod Baseball League Update [UConnHuskies.com]

Donald Brown put the UConn Huskies football team on the map last season by leading the nation in rushing while being overlooked for all of the awards last season. The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum made sure that the Huskies were represented on the 2009 Doak Walker Award list.

They have nominated UConn running backs Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman. The two running backs are battling for the starting position in the backfield for Randy Edsall this season.

The full release after the jump.

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After enjoying a day off in sunny Tampa yesterday, the Boston Red Sox get set to do battle with their AL East brethren the Tampa Bay Rays for the next two days.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:08 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. 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.

Jon Lester looks to keep the momentum going for the Red Sox and Terry Francona tonight at the Trop. He hasn’t had much luck against the Rays this season as he is 0-2 with a 12.94 ERA in two starts. Lester has made 9 career starts against the Rays and is 4-2 with a 5.02 ERA. He’s made just two starts at the Trop and is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA.

Matt Garza may have a record under .500 this season (7-8, 3.69 ERA) but he’s owned the Red Sox in 2009 and in his career. In 3 starts this season against the Sox, he is 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA. He’s made 9 career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA.

Bay sits again, Wakefield improving? [Extra Bases]

Red Sox set to face the iron of the American League [Projo Sox Blog]

Boston’s banged-up outfield gets some needed breaks [Projo Sox Blog]

Wakefield’s arm and back progressing, but now his calf is a problem [Projo Sox Blog]

Ortiz remains in holding pattern [Clubhouse Insider]

Pre-game notes: Ortiz still not talking about positive test [WEEI.com]

The State of the Red Sox after the Deadline [Lou Merloni – Full Count]

Jim Rice on Dale and Holley [Full Count]

Make or Break Time? [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Felix Hernandez [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Remembering Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry Moments [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Pumpsie Green Changed the Face of the Red Sox For the Better [NESN.com]

Even With Martinez, Varitek’s Value Still Sky High [NESN.com]

Here are tonight’s starting lineups:

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