After finishing up interleague play with a sweep of the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox return home to the friendly confines of Fenway Park to start a seven-game homestand before the All-Star Break. They’ll kick it off with a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and you can watch the game on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet. If you don’t live in either market, you may be in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game as well. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
John Lackey steps to the hill for the 13th time this season this afternoon. In his previous 12 starts, Lackey is 5-7 with a 6.81 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Jays this season and is 1-1 with a 9.24 ERA (13 ER/12.2 IP). This marks the first time he’s faced them at home this season. Lackey has made 17 career starts against the Jays and is 5-6 with a 5.12 ERA. In two career starts against the Jays at the Fens, Lackey is 1-1 with a 10.45 ERA (12 ER/10.1 IP).
Brandon Morrow makes his 14th start of 2011 for old friend John Farrell. In his previous 13 starts, Morrow is 4-4 with a 4.56 ERA. He took the loss in his only start of 2011 against the Red Sox after allowing nine runs in 4.1 innings of work. In 12 career appearances (four starts) against the Red Sox, Morrow is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. Three of those appearances (two starts) have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with an 11.42 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.
Here are this afternoon’s lineups:
 41-44 |
 49-34 |
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| 1. Rajai Davis | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Eric Thames | LF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Jose Bautista | 3B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Adam Lind | 1B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Edwin Encarnacion | DH | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Aaron Hill | 2B | 6. Josh Reddick | LF |
| 7. Travis Snider | RF | 7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 8. Jose Molina | C | 8. J. D. Drew | RF |
| 9. John McDonald | SS | 9. Marco Scutaro | SS |
| Brandon Morrow | SP | John Lackey | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Notes: The Red Sox game against the Yankees on August 7th will be televised on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and begin at 8:05 p.m.
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Injury updates on Carl Crawford and Clay Buchholz [Clubhouse Insider]
Crawford, Buchholz to meet with doc today [ESPN Boston]
A few injury updates [Extra Bases]
Red Sox sign Dominican center fielder [Extra Bases]
The winners and losers in another round of Interleague madness [Full Count]
Josh Reddick Making Carl Crawford’s Absence a Virtual Non-Issue for Red Sox [NESN.com]
Video: Josh Beckett Feeds on Camaraderie Among Red Sox Starting Pitchers [NESN.com]
Video: Blue Jays Slugger Jose Bautista Appreciates Fans’ Efforts to Vote Him All-Star Starter [NESN.com]
Lackey, Sox look to extend win streak at home [RedSox.com]
Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo
