Evening Red Sox Delight – 8/12

John Lackey (L), Blake Beavan (R)

After taking two-of-three in Minnesota, the Boston Red Sox head to the Pacific Northwest for the weekend. There they’ll take on the Seattle Mariners in the first of a three-game set at Safeco Field starting tonight.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Mariners broadcast area, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports. 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, winner of five of his last six starts, goes for another in his 20th start of 2011. In his previous 19 starts, Lackey is 10-8 with a 6.14 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Twins in 2011 and is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13 IP). He’s made 29 careers starts and is 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA. 15 of Lackey’s career starts against the Mariners have come in Seattle where he is 8-5 with a 2.78 ERA.

In his first six career starts, Mariners rookie Blake Beavan has given his team six quality starts as he is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA. His only career start against the Red Sox came on July 23rd at Fenway Park when he took the loss after allowing three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

72-44		50-66
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Ichiro Suzuki	RF
2. Jed Lowrie	SS	2. Franklin Gutierrez	CF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Dustin Ackley	2B
4. Dustin Pedroia	2B	4. Mike Carp	DH
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Justin Smoak	1B
6. Carl Crawford	LF	6. Adam Kennedy	3B
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. Miguel Olivo	C
8. Josh Reddick	RF	8. Luis Rodriguez	SS
9. Mike Aviles	3B	9. Trayvon Robinson	LF
John Lackey	SP	Blake Beavan	SP

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

Boston Red Sox @ Seattle Mariners batter/pitcher matchups

Kevin Youkilis was in the original lineup at third base but was scratched with a stiff back. He’s been replaced by Lowrie. Marco Scutaro was also in the original lineup but he was also scratched with a stiff back. He was replaced by Aviles.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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Kevin Youkilis update, Marco Scutaro scratched [Clubhouse Insider]

Youkilis out with sore back [CSN New England]

Red Sox early notes: Drew takes BP [CSN New England]

Pregame notes: Bedard on familiar turf [ESPN Boston]

Q&A with Pete Abraham [Extra Bases]

Time change in Texas on Aug. 24 [Extra Bases]

Red Sox fans will party in Seattle tomorrow [Extra Bases]

Red Sox set rotation for Rays series [Extra Bases]

Another lineup change: Scutaro scratched [Extra Bases]

Red Sox minor league notes: Ryan Kalish continues path back [Full Count]