After a good start to last night’s game, the Boston Red Sox will look to put the loss behind them and try to take the rubber game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this afternoon.

The game this afternoon will start at 3:35 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Angels television market you can catch the game on Fox Sports West. 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.

In order to get the series win, Terry Francona hands the ball to offseason acquisition Brad Penny. In my humble opinion, Penny could be pitching for his life with the Red Sox as Clay Buchholz is currently tearing up Triple-A hitters. In 6 games this season, Penny is 3-1 with a 6.90 ERA and is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 1 start against the Angels this season. In 6 career starts against the Angels, Penny is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA and is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four career starts at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Ervin Santana makes his 2009 debut for the Halos after starting the season on the disabled list due to a sprained MCL in his pitching elbow. In 4 career starts versus the Red Sox, Santana is 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA. By the way, up until 2003, he was known as Johan Roman Santana but changed his name so he wouldn’t be confused with the other Johan Santana.

Red Sox seeking spark from starters [RedSox.com]

The Sox like Dumb and Dumber [Extra Bases]

Pedroia returns, Carter flies back to join Pawtucket [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox have another gem in Bard [FOXSports.com]

Who’s on first? [Full Count]

With West Coast trips, tough opponents under belt early, Sox feeling good. [Projo Sox Blog]

Titletown’s not tainted [NESN.com]

Live chat during Thursday’s Red Sox game (3:35 p.m.) [Extra Bases]

May Bay [Surviving Grady]

SoSH Auction for Curt’s Pitch for ALS [Sons of Sam Horn]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game.

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

It’s a new year and with a few new faces on the Boston Red Sox, it’s time to take a look at the 2009 2intro music for the players on the team.

Here is the list courtesy of the Red Sox Insider:

Batters:

• Jacoby Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)
• Dustin Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre
• David Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; “My Destiny” by Yomo
• Kevin Youkilis – “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
• J.D. Drew – (no music by choice)
• Jason Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam
• Mike Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine
• Jason Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down
• Nick Green – “Bet That”, Trick Daddy; “I Run”, Slim Thug
• Julio Lugo – “Como Yo”, Juan Luis Guerra
• George Kottaras – “Sad But True”, Metallica
• Rocco Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys
• Jeff Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin
• Jed Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring
• Chris Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West
• Mark Kotsay – “Low”, Flo Rida

Pitchers:

• Josh Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan
• Jon Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean
• Daisuke Matsuzaka – “The Next Door”, Exile (theme to Street Fighter IV!)
• Tim Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw
• Brad Penny – “Lunatic Fringe”, Red Rider
• Manny Delcarmen – “I’m From Boston”, MAV Entertainment
• Hunter Jones – “My Wave”, Soundgarden
• Ramon Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio
• Justin Masterson “Rebirthing”, Skillet
• Takashi Saito, “Zenryaku Michino Ue Yori”, Issei Fubi
• Hideki Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami
• Jonathan Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys

After the Boston Red Sox got four runs in the first two innings last night, Matt Palmer and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim turned the tables on them and at the end, the Red Sox found themselves on the shortend of the stick losing 8-4.

Palmer, a 30-year old rookie, had never gone longer than 6 1/3 innings in his previous three starts (all wins by the way). The knock on him was that he gives up runs early and settles down afterward. That once again proved to be the case as when the local nine scored 4 runs in two innings and then saw their final 19 batters retired.

Last night also marked the debut of one of the top Red Sox pitching prospects in Daniel Bard. He definitely didn’t disappoint as he came firing fastballs, striking out Mike Napoli on a 98 MPH high heater. He did have a little trouble finding his control with his off-speed stuff but that can be probably be chalked up to nerves. I think he’ll be fine his next time out. He also hadn’t thrown in a game since May 6th so that could have had something to do with it.

If he can continue his success that started in spring training this year, an already strong Red Sox bullpen will be even more effective. It will definitely be fun to watch this kid pitch.

Early game today for the Sox and Halos as they will get underway at 3:35 PM EDT. The pregame show gets underway at 2:30 PM on NESN.

Angels’ Palmer stops Sox [Boston Globe]

Tim Wakefield’s great run ends in loss [Boston Herald]

Palmer’s complete game sends Red Sox to 8-4 loss [Providence Journal]

Fireballing Bard gets rave review [Boston Globe]

Solid Brad Penny start yields arms surplus [Boston Herald]

Daniel Bard’s big-league career begins with a strikeout [Providence Journal]

Humble Bailey enjoying roller coaster existence [Boston Globe]

Dustin Pedroia remains out [Boston Herald]

Brutal slump weighs heavy on Ortiz’ mind [Providence Journal]

Burger sellers on way out of new Fenway [Boston Globe]

Daniel Bard bursts on scene

Red Sox journal: Chris Carter’s in Anaheim, awaiting activation [Providence Journal]

Bard brings the heat [Extra Bases]

Praise for rare home theft [Boston Herald]

Youkilis reluctantly accepts Sox’ decision to place him on the DL [Providence Journal]

Bard’s cheese too much for Napoli’s cuts [NESN.com]

Bard makes his mark [Full Count]

Five Things We Learned: Sox Have Starting Problems [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

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

And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites.

UConn Football links

Randy Edsall Has Built The Program [Hartford Courant]

Hello again [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Butler marks new age for UConn [NESN.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Bio: Hall Of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Bio: Hall Of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun [Hartford Courant]

Hasheem Thabeet Pre-Draft Interview [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer: Coyle Excels on Battle, Soccer Fields [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball: Baseball Will Finish 2009 Regular Season at Villanova [UConnHuskies.com]

Things started out nicely for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night before they made a complete 180 and went south.

After giving up 4 runs in the first two innings, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starter Matt Palmer settled down as he retired the last 19 batters he faced to help his team to an 8-4 win over the Red Sox in front of 35,666 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

The loss drops the Red Sox to 21-13 and they stay a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays who lost. The Angels improve to 17-15 on the young season.

Tim Wakefield started strong in this one for the Red Sox but ran into some trouble in the 3rd inning and that was all it took for things to head south. Wake ended up going 4 2/3 innings, allowing 7 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks while recording two strikeouts. Hunter Jones worked a 1/3 of an inning, giving up a run on a hit and a walk.

Daniel Bard made his MLB debut and threw the ball hard and well. His first batter of the night went down on 3 pitches, the last being 98 MPH. He ended up giving the Red Sox 2 innings of 1-hit ball with a walk and the one strikeout. Takashi Saito went an inning with just a hit allowed.

Palmer went all 9 innings, giving up the 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8 Red Sox batters.

Jason Bay had 2 hits for the Red Sox, including 2-run homer. Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Nick Green had the other hits for the visiting nine with Ellsbury and Green adding an RBI each.

The Red Sox got going right out of the gate in this one.

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After trailing 3-1 last night, the Boston Red Sox came back for their second straight victory, this time against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Tonight, they’ll look to make it 3 in-a-row with their best pitcher of 2009.

Tonight’s game will start at 10:05 PM and the game will be televised on NESN. 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.

Tim Wakefield will make the start for the Red Sox. On the season, he is 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA. The only loss he’s suffered this season has come at the hands of the Angels. In that game back in April, he went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs to take the loss. In his 29 career games (24 starts), Wake is 9-13 with a 4.79 ERA. In 16 games (14 starts) in Anaheim, Wake is 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA.

Matt Palmer made his first start for Mike Scoscia and the Angels back on April 23rd and has won all 3 of his starts since the callup. He has a 3.06 ERA in those 3 games.

Buchholz dominates … again [Extra Bases]

Pitching change [Extra Bases]

Why Pedroia is out [Extra Bases]

The trainer’s room [Extra Bases]

Youkilis aching to be back on field [Projo Sox Blog]

Pedroia still sitting, but expects to be back Thursday [Projo Sox Blog]

Ortiz slogs ahead, with help from his friends [Projo Sox Blog]

Smoltz moving along, Kotsay could return next week. [Projo Sox Blog]

Carter, Velazquez play waiting game [Projo Sox Blog]

There Goes the Runner… Safe. [Nuggetpalooza]

Buchholz continues to dominate [NESN.com]

Angels bullpen rocks? Really? [Batter-up with Bruno]

Scot Shields: Dude, you suck. [Batter-up with Bruno]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game.

And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers. No one on the Red Sox has faced Palmer.

According to Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence  Journal, the Boston Red Sox have summoned Chris Carter to Anaheim.

PawSox Infielder Gil Velazquez was brought to California yesterday and activated to fill in for Youkilis with Dustin Pedroia ailing, but if Pedroia is ready to return to the lineup as expected, then the team’s need would be for a slugging first-base bat, not a spare utility infielder.

As Terry Francona said earlier this afternoon,  Dustin Pedroia won’t play tonight and but should be back very soon. And with David Ortiz getting hit on the wrist last night, the Red Sox do not have a backup first baseman now that Youk is on the DL.

Carter brought to Anaheim, could be activated for tonight [Projo Sox Blog]

Dustin Pedroia: During his weekly appearance on the Dale and Holley show, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that Dustin Pedroia will not play in tonight’s game against the Angels. “He wanted to kill me (on Tuesday night) after the game, which is a good sign,” said Francona. [Fenway West]