Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 7/10

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings are after the jump.

Amalie Benjamin Red Sox Minor League notebook [Boston Globe]

Rich Thompson Red Sox Minor League notebook [Boston Herald]

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Video: Jon Lester Livestrong Commerical

Courtesy of our friend Dan over at Red Sox Monster comes this video of Jon Lester in a new ad campaign for wearyellow.com.

Jon Lester featured in new Nike Livestrong campaign

Video: Jon Lester featured in new ‘Livestrong’ campaign [Red Sox Monster]

Rich Eisen Twitter Page Hacked

I’m pretty sure that Rich Eisen from the NFL Network had his Twitter page hacked. What do you think?

Rich Eisen Twitter

Red Sox Sign Cuban SS José Iglesias

Jose Iglesias According to the El Nuevo Herald, the Boston Red Sox have signed Cuban shortstop José Iglesias to a 4-year, $8.2 million contract. His signing bonus is a reported $6 million dollars.

He has been compared to Ozzie Smith and at least gave him a respectable bonus in his first major league contract, but now it’s up to Jose Iglesias show wood is the best star in the baseball world.

Sources confirmed to El Nuevo Herald that the Cuban torpedo signed a $ 8.2 million contract with the Boston Red Sox for four seasons, including $ 6 just for signing.

Iglesias is just 19 years old and defected from Cuba during the World Junior Championships in Canada last year.

Depending on how fast he develops, it sounds as though he could help solidify the shortstop position for the Red Sox down the road.

Prospecto cubano firma contrato de $8.2 millones con Boston [El Nuevo Herald]

Red Sox Bullpen Let’s Them Down In 8-6 Loss To Royals

Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis, right, reacts to striking out against the Kansas City Royals with one man on in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday July 9, 2009. The Royals beat the Red Sox 8-6. At left is Royals catcher Miguel Olivo. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Boston Red Sox bullpen has really been great all season long. Tonight they brought the suck.

The Kansas City Royals scored 5 runs off the Red Sox bullpen on their way to an 8-6 win in front of 38, 189 on a spring-like night for baseball at Fenway Park.

The loss for the Red Sox (51-34) drops them into a tie for first place in the AL East with the Yankees, who swept the Twins. The Royals improve to 37-48.

Boston Red Sox starter Brad Penny delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday July 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric J. Shelton) Brad Penny gave the Red Sox a typical Penny outing. He went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk with a strikeout. He was decent early on but gave up all the runs in the 4th.

The Red Sox bullpen on the other hand stunk tonight with exception of Daniel Bard.

Manny Delcarmen allowed 2 hits in 2/3 of an inning and was charged with 2 runs. Justin Masterson allowed the runs charged to MDC to score and also decided it would be cool to give up 2 of his own in a 1/3 of an inning.

Ramon Ramirez wasn’t awful like the two before him as he struck out four in 1 2/3 innings but he did allow a run on 3 hits to his former club. Bard, the lone bright spot, struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced.

Luke Hochevar started for the Royals and didn’t have much luck early on as he gave up 4 runs in the first 3 innings. He settled down though and picked up the win as he went 6 innings, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts.

John Bale allowed a hit and had a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning. The Red Sox were able to touch up Juan Cruz for a run but Joakim Soria bailed him out by setting down all 4 batters he faced for the save.

Early on it looked the night would belong to David Ortiz who hit the 300th home run of his career (2-run variety) but it wasn’t meant to be. Dustin Pedroia had another 3-hit effort with a solo home run and Kevin Youkilis broke out of his slump with 2 hits and an RBI. Nick Green added a 2-hit effort while Jason Bay had a hit and a RBI. Mark Kotsay drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

The Red Sox will now look to Jon Lester to bring the awesome tomorrow night at the Fens. He’ll be opposed by Brian Bannister.

Congratulations To Big Papi On Career Home Run No. 300

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, right, watches his two-run home run off Kansas City Royals starter Luke Hochevar in the first inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday July 9, 2009. At left his Royals catcher Miguel Olivio. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

In the first inning of tonight’s game versus the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox David Ortiz hit his 300th career home run. It was a 2-run homer that gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/9

Boston Red Sox starter Brad Penny walks in from the bullpen as he heads out to face the Minnesota Twins in a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday April 2, 2009. The Twins beat the Red Sox 7-3.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

After taking two-of-three games from the Oakland Athletics, the Boston Red Sox now welcome the Kansas City Royals to Fenway Park. They’ll play a four game set before a break for the All-Star Game.

The game tonight will start at 7:10 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Royals’ television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

Brad Penny makes his 17th start of the season tonight for Terry Francona. He’s 6-3 with a 4.67 ERA. He’s made one career appearance against the Royals and took the loss after allowing 3 runs in 7 innings as a member of the Dodgers back in 2005.

Luke Hochevar has made 9 starts this season for the Royals and he is 4-3 with a 5.08 ERA. He’s faced the Red Sox twice in his career and is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA. One of those losses was when Jon Lester threw his no-hitter last year. In that loss and in his only appearance at the Fens, he gave up 7 runs (4 earned) in 6 innings.

Pregame: Lowrie could return on the 18th [Extra Bases]

Baldelli works out at first base [Extra Bases]

Pedroia uncertain, but wants to play in All-Star game [Projo Sox Blog]

No Red Sox on Baseball America’s Top 25 prospects list [Projo Sox Blog]

Question About Throwing [Ask 14]

Youkilis looking to rediscover his stroke [RedSox.com]

Forget Halladay … Red Sox need a bat [NESN.com]

Despite save tally, Papelbon struggling through first half [NESN.com]

Pap Attack [Center Field]

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

36-48		51-33
1. David DeJesus	CF	1. J.D. Drew	RF
2. Willie Bloomquist	SS	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Billy Butler	1B	3. Kevin Youkilis	3B
4. Jose Guillen	LF	4. David Ortiz	DH
5. Mark Teahan	3B	5. Jason Bay	LF
6. Mike Jacobs	DH	6. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
7. Miguel Olivo	C	7. Jason Varitek	C
8. Alberto Callapso	2B	8. Mark Kotsay	1B
9. Ryan Freel	RF	9. Nick Green	SS
Luke Hochevar	SP	Brad Penny	SP

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

Kansas City Royals vs Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 7/9

Boston Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield delivers to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of their baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Shelton)

Despite getting into some trouble last night, Tim Wakefield showed the Oakland A’s why he was chosen to be an All-Star this year as he helped lead the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win last night.

At times last night, Wakefield’s knuckleball was just downright nasty. The best part of the night for me though was when he broke out the 60 MPH curveball on a full count to strikeout Matt Holliday. He left Holliday quite confused with that pitch.

In the process last night, Wake took over the AL lead for wins with 11 and is now also tied with Jason Marquis from the Colorado Rockies for the most in MLB. Let the debate begin now whether or not Wake should get the start next Tuesday in St. Louis. Personally, I think he should be the starter.

David Ortiz continues to see his average climb and has regained his power stroke. His 3-run homer played a big part in last night’s game especially after the local nine was shutdown early on by A’s starter Trevor Cahill. He’s now up to 10 home runs and 42 RBIs on the season and needs one more HR to reach 300 in his career.

Even with Big Papi’s resurgence, there are rumors the Red Sox will look to the trade market for a bat. With Mike Lowell’s hip an uncertainty, although he claims he’s fine, the Red Sox want to make sure they aren’t left behind in case he ends up with more problems. And of course there’s going to be the Roy Halladay rumors.

Cracking the code [Boston Globe]

Red Sox Hang On To Defeat A’s [Hartford Courant]

With a bang, Ortiz makes all the difference [Providence Journal]

Big Papi takes charge [Boston Herald]

Putting the pieces together [Boston Globe]

Papelbon Not His Usual Self [Hartford Courant]

Another white-knuckle save for Papelbon [Providence Journal]

Absent Julio Lugo attends to family matter [Boston Herald]

Thus far, no pitch for Halladay [Boston Globe]

Green can’t put his foot on it, and it costs him [Providence Journal]

Dustin Pedroia has an MVP night [Boston Herald]

Strength in numbers for slugger recently [Boston Globe]