Aaron Cook (L), Brandon McCarthy (R)

After being swept in Anaheim, the Boston Red Sox head north tonight to continue their nine-game road trip. They’ll look to break their losing skid in the first game of a three-game set with the Oakland A’s at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Athletics television market, you can catch the game on Comcast California. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Aaron Cook toes the rubber for the 13th time in 2012. In his previous 12 starts, Cook is 3-7 with a 4.76 ERA. He took the loss in his only start against the A’s this season after allowing three runs in six innings of work back on July 4th. Cook has made three career starts against the Athletics and is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA (5 ER/22 IP). Two of those starts have come in Oakland where he is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14 IP).

Brandon McCarthy makes his 17th start of 2012. In his previous 16 starts, McCarthy is 7-5 with a 3.12 ERA. He picked up the win in his only start of 2012 against the visiting nine after allowing one run in 6.2 innings. McCarthy has made eight appearances (five starts) against the Red Sox and is 2-3 with a 5.23 ERA.

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 today’s lineups:

Boston Red Sox62-70 Oakland Athletics73-57
1. Scott Podsednik LF 1. Coco Crisp CF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B 2. Stephen Drew SS
3. Jacoby Ellsbury CF 3. Josh Reddick RF
4. Cody Ross RF 4. Yoenis Cespedes LF
5. James Loney 1B 5. Brandon Moss 1B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia C 6. Jonny Gomes DH
7. Mike Aviles DH 7. Josh Donaldson 3B
8. Pedro Ciriaco 3B 8. George Kottaras C
9. Jose Iglesias SS 9. Cliff Pennington SS
Aaron Cook SP Brandon McCarthy SP

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

Boston Red Sox @ Oakland Athletics batter/pitcher matchups

NOTES:

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Ryan Kalish on Josh Reddick: ‘That’s the opportunity all of us want’ [clubhouse insider]

September a stark reminder of Sox’ continued slump [csn new england]

Red Sox notes: Hill sets short-term goals [csn new england]

Bobby V: No problems with Beckett [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox-Los Angeles Dodgers blockbuster trade anatomy [espn boston]

Josh Reddick is happy to be with Oakland Athletics rather than Boston Red Sox [espn boston]

Bobby V: David Ortiz ‘feels better’ [espn boston]

Theo comp Carpenter excelling for PawSox [espn boston]

PawSox coach thinks Bard will succeed [espn boston]

Last call for trades [extra bases]

Hill on the comeback trail with Sox [extra bases]

Dustin Pedroia’s a winner, but he’s not a leader just yet [tony massarotti – boston globe]

David Ortiz’s Injury, Alfredo Aceves’ Role, Daniel Bard’s Return Among Top 10 Red Sox Storylines Down Stretch (Photos) [nesn.com]

James Loney Fitting Right in With Red Sox Lineup After Hot Start to Boston Tenure [nesn.com]

Alfredo Aceves to Be Stretched Out Into Long Relief or Spot Starting After Losing Closer’s Role [nesn.com]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia Has ‘Played Like a Champion’ Despite Losing Playing Time to Ryan Lavarnway [nesn.com]

Felix Doubront ready to take aim at 200 innings next year [projo sox blog]

Since the Sox just dumped hundreds of millions in salaries . . . [projo sox blog]

With September set to begin, a look back at 12 months that changed the Red Sox forever [projo sox blog]

Hill ready to come back — and to stick around for a while [projo sox blog]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Athletics and Perspective [projo sox blog]

Cook looks to sink hot-hitting Athletics [redsox.com]

Making sense of Jacoby Ellsbury’s past, present and future with the Red Sox [alex speier – weei.com]

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photo credits: getty images, getty images