Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

Will Middlebrooks hit a three-run double which proved to be the difference as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.

MOBILE/TABLET LINK

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Tampa Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: getty images

Note: Pitching matchups are subject to change

Friday, May 17  @ 8:10 PM

Clay Buchholz, RHP (6-0, 1.69) vs Vance Worley, RHP (1-4, 7.15)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Saturday, May 18 @ 7:10 PM

Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 3.75) vs Scott Diamond, LHP (3-3, 4.08)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Sunday, May 19 @ 2:10 PM

John Lackey, RHP (1-4, 4.05) vs Pedro Hernandez, LHP (2-0, 5.79)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

New England Patriots fans everywhere are stunned and confused after the team released DT Kyle Love on Wednesday afternoon.  Just days ago Love was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and it appears that the team has used that as an out in his contract.

Love recently signed a two-year contract that gave him some nice money after playing so well as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State.

Last season Love started 11 games and became a formidible team with veteran All-Pro Vince Wilfork.

In three seasons he has played in 41 games, with 25 starts and has 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Here is the statement released by Love’s agent, Richard Kopelman of KLASS Sports:

"We have been informed by the New England Patriots that Kyle Love will be released NFI (non-football injury/illness)," Kopelman told ESPNBoston.com. "This comes on the heels of Kyle having been diagnosed within the past two weeks with Type 2 diabetes. Naturally, we are disappointed that the Patriots decided to part ways with Kyle, especially in light of the fact that a number of elite, professional athletes with diabetes -- both Type 1, which is known to be far more difficult to manage than Type 2 diabetes -- have had very successful careers in professional football, hockey, baseball, and basketball.

"Prior to the diagnosis, Kyle recently experienced unexplained weight loss, but since being diagnosed and having altered his diet, Kyle has regained most of the weight he lost, is in good health and was not limited in any way during offseason workouts in which he was engaged up until being told he would be released.

"Having consulted with leading authorities on the effects of Type 2 diabetes, we have every reason to believe that Kyle will, in the immediate future, be at 100 percent, and will be prepared to participate in training camp in a couple of months. As Kyle said, 'There is no way something like this is going to stand between me and a long and successful NFL career.'"

Love will get that chance to prove Bill Belichick and the Patriots wrong as he was claimed on Thursday by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

photo credit: getty images

After slamming the Tampa Bay Rays last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series tonight in the rubber game of a three game set at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. If you live in the Red Sox television market you can catch the game on NESN. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports.And if you can't catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2013 Red Sox Radio Network.

Felix Doubront makes his sixth start (seventh appearance) of 2013. In his previous six appearances (five starts), Doubront is 3-1 with a 6.40 ERA. He last faced the Rays in 2012 when he went 2-0 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts. He's made seven career appearances (four starts) against the Rays and is 2-1 is 3.91 ERA. Six of those appearances (three starts) have come at the Trop where he is 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA.

Boston native Alex Cobb toes the slab for the eighth time in 2013 for the home team tonight. In his previous seven starts, Cobb is 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA. He took the loss on April 14th against the Red Sox after allowing four runs (three earned) in 6.2 innings of work. He's made four career starts against the visiting nine and is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA.

To see today's lineups, batter/pitcher matchups as well as the links from the local media, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

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 can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

While Jon Lester scattered eight hits over seven innings of work, Stephen Drew's grand slam capped off an eight run 3rd inning in a 9-2 win for the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

MOBILE/TABLET LINK

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Tampa Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: getty images

The American Hockey League team playing at the XL Center will be renamed the Hartford Wolf Pack in time for the start of the 2013-14 season, it was announced on Tuesday by both Madison Square Garden, owners of the team, and Global Spectrum, the new operators of the team and the arena in which the team will play, the XL Center.

The Wolf Pack, which originally played in Hartford from 1997 until 2010, was renamed the Connecticut Whale for three seasons. The Wolf Pack remain the New York Rangers AHL affiliate.

"The return to the Hartford Wolf Pack name signifies a return to the roots of this franchise, emphasizing the ties that this team has to the Hartford community," said Jim Schoenfeld, New York Rangers Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel and Assistant Coach. "It celebrates the winning tradition of the franchise and focuses on the qualities of teamwork and loyalty."

"The name change also coincides with our new partnership with Global Spectrum who will handle all of the marketing, advertising and game-day operations in Hartford for us," added Schoenfeld. "Global Spectrum has an outstanding reputation for operating world-class arenas and their attention to providing our fans with the ultimate experience is second to none."

Global Spectrum, a leader in operating public assembly facilities worldwide, is a subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company Comcast-Spectacor. The company was hired to operate XL Center, Rentschler Field, as well as the Wolf Pack.

Global Spectrum named Chris Lawrence to be the General Manager of the Wolf Pack, XL Center and Rentschler Field. Before arriving in Hartford, Lawrence was the General Manager of the Glens Falls Civic Center, home of the Philadelphia Flyers AHL-affiliate, Adirondack Phantoms. He was the captain of the NCAA Frozen Four Champion Michigan State Spartans in 2007.

"There is a rich hockey history here in Hartford," said Lawrence. "Our primary goals are to revitalize hockey in the Hartford market, enhance the experience for the fans and bring a high-level of customer service to the venues in which we manage.

"In the short time we have been here, we can tell that Hartford is a very passionate community. We are creating an affordable family entertainment experience with the Wolf Pack."

The Wolf Pack staff will begin holding Town Hall Meetings for their Season Ticket Holders and potential season ticket holders. These meetings allow fans to provide feedback and suggestions for the upcoming season. Date and location will be announced later this week.

The team is also distributing season ticket renewal information this week.

A new website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com, is being launched. Fans interested in ordering tickets can call 1-855-762-6451.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

After being done in by the catwalk last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in the middle game of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10  p.m. If you live in the Red Sox television market you can catch the game on NESN. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. If you don't live in either market you're in luck as ESPN will have coverage of the game as well (outside of Red Sox and Rays markets). You can also catch the game online at WatchESPN (where available). And if you can't catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2013 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester looks to keep his undefeated record intact in his ninth start of 2013. In his previous eight starts, Lester is 5-0 with a 2.73 ERA. He picked up a no decision in his only start of 2013 against the Rays after allowing one run in seven innings back on April 13. Lester has made 23 career starts against the Rays and is 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA. Seven of those starts have come at the Trop where he is 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA.

David Price makes his ninth start of 2013 for Joe Maddon. In his previous eight starts, Price is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA. He took a no decision against Lester on 4/13 after allowing one run in six innings of work. He's made 16 career starts against the visiting nine and is 8-4 with a 2.99 ERA.

To see today's lineups, batter/pitcher matchups as well as the links from the local media, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.