Lars Anderson Called Up By Boston Red Sox

Looking for a spark, or a pinch hitter, or maybe hoping to exhale a breath of fresh air into a plateauing prospect's progression, the Boston Red Sox have called up Lars Anderson from Triple A Pawtucket.

Anderson, once a prized prospect in the Red Sox organization, hasn't lived up to lofty expectations in the minor leagues. The 24-year old was hitting .255 with one home run and eight RBI through 15 games with Pawtucket this season at the time of the call-up.

Naturally a first baseman, Anderson has worked on playing the outfield as well as the infield, which likely helped his case when the Red Sox determined they were looking for some help. But ultimately, it's Anderson's hitting which has been his biggest asset, and it's unclear whether that talent translates to the major league level -- in 40 at-bats with the Red Sox over the last two seasons, Anderson has just one extra-base hit.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Bobby Valentine: Daniel Bard To Skip Next Start, Be Available In Bullpen

Red Sox Vs. Yankees, Game 3: Weather Postpones Sunday's Series Finale

The Boston Red Sox will not collect a victory that will snap their current five-game losing streak, however, they got the next best thing on Sunday -- a rain out. The rainy forecast at Fenway Park has forced the finale of the three-game set against rival the New York Yankees to be postponed. A makeup date has yet to be announced.

Boston (4-12), which was suppose to toss reliever turned starter Daniel Bard against Yankee ace CC Sabathia, gets a much needed break as it will try to regroup from two of the worst regular season losses in recent memory.

On Friday, the Red Sox lost the 100th anniversary game at Fenway Park, and then on Saturday blew a nine-run advantage to lose to New York 15-9.

It is currently unknown what Boston's new pitching rotation will be, as it now will travel to Minnesota for a three-game set with the Twins.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees, Game 3: Game Time, TV Schedule, Pitching Match-Ups

If the weather permits, the Boston Red Sox will try to salvage what they can out of a three-game series with rival the New York Yankees on Sunday (8:05 p.m. ET on ESPN). The Red Sox (4-12) will try and do so with reliever turned starter, Daniel Bard, who will oppose Yankee ace CC Sabathia in the series finale.

So far, the series has been nothing but a debacle for the Red Sox, who lost the 100th anniversary game of Fenway Park on Friday, and then blew a nine-run lead on Saturday.

Of course, Boston's chance to right its ship may need to wait as the weather forecast is calling for showers all day.

If the game does happen, here's the basic viewing information:

Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Ma.

Game Time: 8;05 p.m. ET

TV Channel: ESPN

Radio: 880 CBS

Pitching Match-Up: CC Sabathia (NYY) vs. Daniel Bard (BOS)

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Enough Is Enough: Boston Red Sox Do Not Deserve Your Support

Had enough yet? The effort isn't there, the heart isn't there, and the wins certainly aren't there, either. So why should you be? Fans, it's time for you to speak up. It's time to dump the Red Sox. Enough is enough.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Final Score: Sox Fall 15-9 After Huge Yankees Comeback In Latest And Greatest Catastrophe

The Red Sox suffered the latest and greatest in what has been a series of catastrophes starting all the way back in September, with the bullpen taking a 9-0 lead in the fifth inning and turning into a 15-9 deficit at the end of nine innings, dropping the team to 4-10 on the season.

The Red Sox got off to a strong start against Freddy Garcia, scoring twice in the first and thrice in the second, chasing him after recording just five outs. With Clay Rapada and David Phelps allowing four more runs to come across, with Cody Ross knocking a two-run shot to dead center to make it 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the game seemed to be well in hand.

Felix Doubront, for his part, had been rolling nicely along through the first six innings, allowing just the one run while striking out seven batters and walking three. With his pitch count over 100, however, Bobby Valentine turned to the pen in the seventh, and that's when their fate was sealed.

While FOX was busy showing Phil Humber complete his perfect game in Seattle, Vicente Padilla was busy giving away a grand slam to Nick Swisher. After another double, Matt Albers entered the game and, after a fielding error allowed Alex Rodriguez to reach, surrendered a three-run shot to Mark Teixeira. Just like that, it was a one-run game.

Still, all the Sox needed was six outs. Instead, Alfredo Aceves and Justin Thomas proceeded to give up another seven runs, completely reversing the game from a sure Sox win to a sure Sox loss.

Rock bottom? At this point, it makes more sense to wait for tomorrow before assuming we've reached it just yet.

Kevin Youkilis Injury: Red Sox First Baseman Leaves Game With Quad Contusion

According to Buster Olney from ESPN, Kevin Youkilis has been removed from Saturday's game against the Yankees with a quad contusion.

They just announced that Youkilis left the game with a left quad contusion.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 21, 2012

Youk was 0-1 with a run scored before being removed. The 33 year old is having a rough start to the 2012 season. He was batting .195 coming in to Saturday's contest, with one home run and five runs batted in. He's swinging and missing at 8.9 percent of pitches seen, which is the highest percentage of his career. Not surprisingly, he's striking out at the highest rate ever. There is a silver lining, however. His low BABIP of .259 – nearly 70 points below his career average – suggests he's experienced a little bad luck.

The Red Sox lead the Yankees by a score of 9-0 in the sixth inning.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Marlon Byrd Officially Traded To The Boston Red Sox

Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago has confirmed that Marlon Byrd is indeed headed to the Boston Red Sox in a trade.

Marlon Byrd confirms he has been traded to Boston. Deal will beannounced after Bostongame.

— Bruce Levine (@ESPNBruceLevine) April 21, 2012

Compensation is still unknown at this point, but there was speculation earlier that former Red Sox prospect and relief pitcher, Michael Bowden would be headed to the Cubs in exchange for Bryd.

Bowden is a marginal player and Bryd is a struggling veteran who is owed six-plus million dollars. The Cubs would likely pay the majority of Bryd's contract.

Despite his age and struggles, Bryd is a good flier for the Sox. He's two years removed from an All-Star season and his extremely low BABIP this season suggest he's been the victim of bad luck and will improve.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 2

The Red Sox are out to stop their losing streak at four games Saturday afternoon against Freddy Garcia and the Yankees.

Garcia had something of a bipolar relationship with the Sox last year, getting knocked around twice in the early going and shutting them down twice in the late going. Now, with both the Sox and the junkballer off to slow starts, Boston will hope that its his form that decides the outcome, because right now Boston is looking a lot like they did when Garcia was able to shut them down.

Meanwhile, the Sox will turn to Felix Doubront in hopes that he remains their good luck charm. The Red Sox have so far won both of the games he's started despite some mediocre results on the mound.

We'll keep you up-to-date as the action progresses in Fenway Park.

Yankees 15, Red Sox 9, Final -- The End

Yankees 15, Red Sox 9, Mid 9th -- Junichi Tazawa has recorded outs, and for that we can be thankful. Tazawa for closer!

Yankees 15, Red Sox 9, End 8th -- Now we just go through the motions, as a game that was over in the sixth is now over in the 8th, just in the other team's favor.

Yankees 15, Red Sox 9, Mid 8th -- With a second straight 7-run inning, it's fair to say that the wheels have fallen off. The Red Sox' bullpen has been left a smoldering ruin--perhaps not much worse than it started out as--with neither Franklin Morales nor Alfredo Aceves able to provide the scoreless outs the Sox needed.

This is a fundamentally broken team.

Yankees 8, Red Sox 9, End 7th -- It's clear now that whatever switch was stuck on for the Red Sox earlier was violently yanked back into its standard position somewhere between 9-1 and 9-8. Earlier in this game, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia leading off the inning with a double, the Sox team that was rolling through Yankees pitchers would never have left him standing there. Even if it was just a pair of productive outs, that run would come in to score.

Now, however, we have the Jekyll Sox, and the result is a groundout to the left side, a pop up into foul territory, and a strike out to end the inning. If we can be saved, it's likely going to be Franklin Morales and Alfredo Aceves to do it.

Yankees 8, Red Sox 9, Top 7th -- While everyone was watching Phil Humber, Vicente Padilla struck out Andruw Jones, loaded the bases, and then gave up a grand slam to Nick Swisher. After surrendering another double, Padilla was lifted for Albers, who promptly allowed a two-run shot to Mark Teixeira. Franklin Morales managed to keep the game at one run, but this...

This is just unbelievable.

Yankees 1, Red Sox 9, End 6th -- David Phelps gets through a scoreless inning despite a couple of singles, taking advantage of a double play as the nation turns its eyes to Phil Humber in Seattle.

Yankees 1, Red Sox 9, Mid 6th -- Felix Doubront records his first out of the year in the sixth inning or later, but also loses the shutout. After striking out both Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez to start the frame, Doubront gave Mark Teixeira a 2-1 fastball to hit, and had it taken up and over everything in left before getting Curtis Granderson to pop out to finish the inning.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 9, End 5th -- The Red Sox are back to scoring, with Cody Ross taking David Phelps very deep to center field after Jarrod Saltalamacchia's leadoff double. What Ross seems to lack in consistency, he makes up for in swagger. Plus, the on base percentage can only improve when bat flips are earning plunkings.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 7, Mid 5th -- Felix Doubront will have a chance to record his first out in the sixth inning today, as he manages to strand a pair of baserunners with a groundout from Nick Swisher. Featured in the inning was both Doubront's third walk and sixth strikeout.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 7, End 4th -- The Yankees have their first scoreless inning, despite a walk from David Ortiz with two outs. More importantly, Kevin Youkilis has been pulled from the game after taking a pitch to the knee/thigh in his last at bat. Youkilis ran the bases, but has been replaced by Nate Spears now. Hopefully Youkilis isn't injured just as he's starting to hit his stride, but if so, his replacement is ready-made. Will Middlebrooks hit his seventh homer in Triple-A today.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 7, Mid 4th -- Felix Doubront just seems to be getting stronger as the game goes on, recording his first 1-2-3 inning in impressive fashion, facing off against the best the New York lineup has to offer in Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Curtis Granderson, and finishing off the last two by way of the K. It did take him 16 pitches, but it wouldn't be a Doubront inning if he didn't work for it.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 7, End 3rd -- The feast or famine Red Sox offense is in feast mode today, putting together another couple of runs off of Clay Rapada and David Phelps.

After David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Jarrod Saltlamacchia loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batsman (if you need to be told which of the three was hit, you haven't been paying attention for the last five years), Darnell McDonald managed to lift a fly ball to center field deep enough for Ortiz to score from third. Now facing a two-out situation, Mike Aviles made good by finding a hole between first and second for an RBI single that scored Youkilis from second.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 5, Mid 3rd -- Felix Doubront has his pitch count under control after starting the third off with two outs on three pitches to Eduardo Nunez and Derek Jeter. Nick Swisher would reach base on a ground ball single through the left side of the infield, but Robinson Cano could not get all of a 1-1 curveball, lifting a long but uneventful fly ball to center field to end the inning.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 5, End 2nd -- Something is different about the Red Sox today. It's...hard to put my finger on it.

Oh, right, they're playing well so far. That's it.

The lead has grown from two runs to five, and Freddy Garcia has exited the game after recording just five outs.

The inning got off to a slow start with Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounding out weakly to first, and after getting ahead 0-2 to Cody Ross, Garcia may have felt optimistic about settling down for a nice, long outing. But then the traditional lefty-mashers got to work on the junkballing righty.

Working the count to 2-2, Cody Ross managed to get around on a fastball for a base hit to left. Darnell McDonald jumped on the second pitch he saw--a hanging slider--and knocked a ball off the Monster that could have left a normal park. With two men in scoring position, Mike Aviles dropped a line drive in front of Curtis Granderson to move McDonald to third and score Ross, giving the Sox a 3-0 lead.

Ryan Sweeney would only manage a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 as Nick Swisher made a difficult running grab. With Dustin Pedroia at bat, Aviles managed to steal second base, and Pedroia made Garcia pay for it, knocking another line drive to right for the RBI and ushering Freddy Garcia unceremoniously from the game.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 2, Mid 2nd -- Felix Doubront's pitch count difficulties continue in his third start, with the Yankees working some long at bats against him, but it's not entirely his fault. Doubront could have had a 1-2-3 inning were it not for what seems to have been a pretty terrible call on a 3-2 pitch to Andruw Jones that left him with a walk rather than his second strikeout of the game. He quickly made up for that by striking out Russell Martin, but it cost him another seven pitches.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 2, End 1st -- So far so good, with Freddy Gonzalez' slow stuff having the desired effect on the Boston lineup. After Mike Aviles managed to pull a pitch about six inches outside for a fly out, Ryan Sweeney protected the plate on a low 3-2 pitch and golfed it into left field to keep his hot streak going and give the Sox a runner in scoring position.

Dustin Pedroia couldn't bring the run across, popping up behind the plate for the second out, but Adrian Gonzalez was rather more successful. While the big swing he took on a 1-2 slider seemed to promise his third home run of the year, Gonzalez would have to settle for an RBI ground-rule double into the stands in right. Any disappointment was quickly erased, however, as David Ortiz beat the shift, rifling a hard ground ball down the left field line to bring Gonzalez home as well.

Yankees 0, Red Sox 0, Mid 1st -- Felix Doubront is through the first without damage, but not without trouble. Surrendering a leadoff hit to Derek Jeter after getting ahead 1-2, Doubront would quickly induce a double play ball to short. A walk to Robinson Cano prolonged the inning, with Doubront not doing a very good job of getting close to the zone, but Alex Rodriguez grounded out much like Nick Swisher had before him to end the inning.

Marlon Byrd Trade: Michael Bowden Could Be Player Heading To Cubs, According To Report

Ken Rosenthal, FoxSports.com senior baseball writer, has an update on the Red Sox potential acquisition of Cubs outfielder, Marlon Byrd.

Source: Byrd deal remains probable. Timing issues remain. #Cubs likely to pay most of Byrd's remaining $6.5M. Bowden in play from #RedSox.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 21, 2012

Michael Bowden is the player Rosenthal is referring to. He was ranked somewhere in the 10-12 range of the Red Sox top prospects in 2010. The 25 year old has pitched three innings for the Sox this season. He struck out three batters wile allowing one run.

He's pitched a total of 59.1 innings in the bigs and owns a 5.61 career ERA. His fastball sits in the lower 90s and is fairly below average at inducing swinging strikes.

Byrd still has some value, especially if the Cubs are willing to pay the bulk of his contract.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Jason Repko Injury: Red Sox Outfielder Has Slightly Separated Shoulder

According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, Jason Repko suffered a slightly separated shoulder in the Red Sox game against the Yankees on Friday.

Repko "slight" shoulder separation sustained when crashing into wall after catching Martin's linerin 4th on Friday.

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) April 21, 2012

Repko is a 31 year old outfielder who was recently called up from triple A. In 11 plate appearances this season, he's batting .091 and swinging and missing at nearly 16 percent of the pitches he's seen.

Before being called up, Repko was ripping the cover off the ball in the minors. In 14 plate appearances he was hitting a scorching .538 with one home run and two runs batted in. His isolated power was .308 and had an OPS of 1.418. The small sample size and sky-high BABIP indicated that he was fortunate to put up those numbers.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Lineups: Sox Turn To Lucky Charm To Stop Slide

The Red Sox will turn to their lucky charm in Felix Doubront to stop their losing streak Saturday as they take on the New York Yankees in Fenway Park. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. EST, with FOX handling the broadcast duties.

The Sox are winners of just four games in thirteen, but two of them come in Felix Doubront's two starts. While the lefty hasn't exactly been unhittable in his outings so far, he's done enough to keep the Sox alive, and been supported by the offense in turn.

The Yankees will respond with the man who is perhaps Boston's best opportunity to wake up: Freddy Garcia. If they can't score against him how can they possibly score against Sabathia?

Boston Red Sox (4-9)

1. Mike Aviles, SS
2. Ryan Sweeney, CF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Cody Ross, CF
9. Darnell McDonald, LF

Boston Red Sox Trade For OF Marlon Byrd

The Red Sox are on the verge of acquiring Cubs outfielder, Marlon Byrd.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Final Score: Fenway's Centennial Celebration Ends In 6-2 Defeat

The Red Sox have fallen to the Yankees 6-2 on Fenway's 100th birthday.

It's a sour end to what should have been a sweet day, with Clay Buchholz providing the lemon. Living up in the zone, Buchholz saw a run score in the first on an error, and then completely fell apart. Home runs to Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez in the second, another for Chavez in the fourth, one for Alex Rodriguez in the fifth, and another for Russell Martin in the sixth.

Ivan Nova found himself in a much more comfortable. After giving up a homer to David Ortiz to start the second, he managed to avoid any real damage for another four innings, only having a second run come across when Nick Swisher lost a fly ball in the sun.

While the Sox were able to put some men on base, the ninth spot in the lineup was once again completely bereft of production, with Jason Repko, Nick Spears, and Nick Punto stranding three men between them. Jarrod Saltalamacchia contributed another three left on base including a rally-killing double play.

The Sox fall to 4-9, and find themselves 3.5 games back of the Yankees just 13 games into the season.

*****

Some Small Relief: The Sox did get three scoreless innings from the combination of Junichi Tazawa (5 outs), Scott Atchison (4 outs) and Justin Thomas (1 out). Tazawa looked good making his first appearance of the year, and the Sox are certainly in need of help in the bullpen, so any good sign is welcome.

Another Fun Substitution: Not long ago we had Nick Punto pinch-hitting for Jason Repko. Today the Sox took a step further down the ladder, sending Nick Spears to the plate in place of Repko. Not to worry, though, as Punto made his appearance coming off the bench for Spears in the ninth. Ugly.

A Bad Day: What should have been a day to remember for Red Sox fans instead turned into one to forget. Another loss to the Yankees, another loss to begin the season, another reminder of September...Are we 4-9 in the season, or 15-24 since September 1?

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates

The celebrations are over with, and now all that's left is nine innings of Red Sox - Yankees in ugly throwback uniforms that lack numbers, and blank white hats which you can buy for $35 dollars.

Seriously, that's what they're charging.

We'll keep you up to date as these age-old enemies start the newest chapter in their rivalry.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, Final -- And the Red Sox lose on Fenway Park's 100th birthday.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, Mid 9th -- Junichi Tazawa seems to only ever pitch against the Yankees, but he's doing a pretty good job of it right now at leat. Another scoreless inning keeps the Sox' deficit at four.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, End 8th -- The Sox waste a one-out single from Adrian Gonzalez, and they are now just three outs away from 4-9. Those three outs are property of none other than Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Cody Ross, and Nate Spears.

Exciting!

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, Mid 8th -- Justin Thomas and Junichi Tazawa manage to escape a 1st-and-3rd, zero outs situation with a strikeout, a baserunning gaffe on a ball that got away from Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and a groundout. The game is still technically within reach, but salvaging a win on this special day seems unlikely, to say the least.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, End 7th -- April 20 marks the day that Nate Spears pinch hits for Jason Repko in a major league game for the Red Sox against the Yankees.

This is not a highlight.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, Mid 7th -- In what scientists are calling a remarkable breakthrough, Scott Atchison has proven on Friday, April 20 that it is possible to pitch an inning against the Yankees without surrendering a home run.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, End 6th -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia may be working his way right out of a Red Sox uniform at this rate. After David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis reached on a hit and a hit by pitch, Saltalamacchia grounded into an inning-ending double play, robbing the Sox of a desperately needed rally opportunity. Getting himself out with some regularity was not enough, it seems.

Yankees 6, Red Sox 2, Mid 6th -- The Yankees have hit five home runs off of Clay Buchholz in six innings. That they were all solo shots is a small mercy. Russell Martin was the most recent recipient of Buchholz' meatball generosity, hammering a 1-0 fastball for a no doubter to left field.

Yankees 5, Red Sox 2, End 5th -- The Sox grab a freebie run courtesy of Nick Swisher. After Cody Ross took Nova to the wall in center for a double, Mike Aviles put a ball in the air to right field. Typically that's an out, but with the sun shining bright and directly in the eyes of Swisher, he was completely unable to find the glove, gifting the Sox a run.

Unfortunately, they missed out on a second as Ryan Sweeney hit a line drive directly at Raul Ibanez in left, and Dustin Pedroia flew out to end the inning.

Yankees 5, Red Sox 1, Mid 5th -- You have one guess to figure out how the Yankees scored in the fifth.

If you guessed "another home run," then congratulations, you're capable of recognizing basic patterns. This seems to be something that has eluded Mr. Buchholz, however, as he leaves another ball up and over the plate--in fact, this one was perfectly middle-middle, almost beautiful in its terribleness--and Alex Rodriguez did what decent hitters do with that sort of pitch.

Yankees 4, Red Sox 1, End 4th -- 1-2-3 go the Sox in the fourth. Ortiz and Youkilis ground out, and after just missing extra bases with a foul ball, Salty swings through strike three and sees his average drop to .074. Remember, he's being played for his offense. His offense!

Yankees 4, Red Sox 1, Mid 4th -- The Red Sox are going to set a record for home runs allowed at this pace. It's another game with at least three homers for a Red Sox opponent, as Clay Buchholz left a fastball belt-high over the outside half of the plate to Eric Chavez, who launched a home run to dead center and put the Sox back down by three.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 1, End 3rd -- Another wasted RISP for the Red Sox after Ryan Sweeney rifles a double with one out off the Monster. With Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez coming up, once again the Sox seemed to have a good chance of adding to their tally, but the former hit a routine fly to center and the latter struck out watching a fastball on the outside part of the plate, leaving Sweeney stranded at second.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 1, Mid 3rd -- Clay Buchholz allows another pair of baserunners as Robinson Cano gets lucky enough to have his grounder bounce off of Buchholz and away from Mike Aviles, who was slowed down enough by the change in direction for Cano to reach easily. A one-out walk to Nick Swisher put Cano into scoring position, but Raul Ibanez grounded to first, where Adrian Gonzalez started a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 1, End 2nd -- The Sox have one back on a tape-reviewed home run for David Ortiz. His long fly ball initially was called a double after bouncing off the short shelf on the top of the monster, but the umpires went inside to take another look and made the right call.

Kevin Youkilis followed up with a double that seemed sure to give the Red Sox at least another come the end of the inning, but the 7-8-9 hitters were uncooperative. Jarrod Saltalamacchia did manage to move Kevin Youkilis to third, but Cod Ross swung at some bad pitches for the all-important strikeout, and Jason Repko...well, he was Jason Repko.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 0, Mid 2nd -- Well, no error this time, except perhaps by Clay Buchholz, who left bad pitches to Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez up in the zone and paid for it with a pair of homers, the first into the Monster seats, and the second into the bullpen.

This is just a brutal run. For the Sox, for Buchholz, and for all of us watching.

The Yankees even managed to put runners on the corners before finally making the third out. Buchholz is already up over 40 pitches, too, so it's going to be a long night for the bullpen as well.

Yankees 1, Red Sox 0, End 1st -- It's hard to describe just how aggravating it is to see Robinson Cano make the play Dustin Pedroia didn't to lead off the inning with an out. Ryan Sweeney struck out looking on three pitches in his debut at the 2-spot, though the third strike seemed outside. Dustin Pedroia gave the Sox a baserunner with a line drive single, but Adrian Gonzalez' fly ball died just shy of the Monster for an out.

Yankees 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 1st -- An inauspicious first play leads to an inauspicious start for the Red Sox, who already trail 1-0 after the top of the first.

While Clay Buchholz seemed to have Derek Jeter dead to rights when the shortstop popped a 1-2 fastball high into the air, Dustin Pedroia was unable to make the play venturing well into the outfield. The error would cost the Red Sox, as Alex Rodriguez flared a hit to left-center to score Jeter from second with one out.

Bad luck for Clay Buchholz, but he's out of the inning without any further trouble, and seems to have his curveball under control.

Daisuke Matsuzaka Injury Update: Rehab Assignment Will Begin Monday In Salem

The Boston Red Sox announced Friday that Daisuke Matsuzaka plans to start a rehab assignment with Single-A Salem on Monday.

Rehab assignments cannot last longer than 30 days for pitchers, so it's fair to project that the Red Sox believe Matsuzaka can return to the majors before the end of May.

Matsuzaka underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2011 to repair ligaments in his right elbow, and has not pitched in the majors since May 16, 2011.

Manager Bobby Valentine said Matsuzaka will be on a five-day schedule and is cleared for a 75-pitch burden, but won't be allowed to pitch more than 30 pitches in any single inning.

"Dice-K has been feeling pretty good. He's ready to start dealing with competition rather than rehabilitation," Red Sox manager Bobby V alentine said. "We'll monitor his pitches. He won't have any 30-pitch innings. He says he feels good."

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page or our blog Over The Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees Lineups: Ryan Sweeney Bats Second In New-Look Lineup

The Red Sox and Yankees will renew their rivalry Friday afternoon as Red Sox Nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. First pitch is at 3:15 p.m. EST, with broadcasts by NESN, MLB Network, and WEEI.

Bobby Valentine has mixed things up again in an attempt to wake up a flagging Red Sox lineup. On an impressive hot streak to start the year, Ryan Sweeney will bat second against Ivan Nova, pushing the rest of the lineup down a spot while Mike Aviles continues to leadoff. Sweeney has always had some decent success against righties, but so far this year has been absolutely killing it against all comers. Hopefully he'll add a spark to the top of the order which the likes of Pedroia, Gonzalez, and Ortiz can build upon.

The Yankees will feature a fairly typical group, with Alex Rodriguez taking the DH spot as Eric Chavez mans third base.

Boston Red Sox (4-8)

1. Mike Aviles, SS
2. Ryan Sweeney, RF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Cody Ross, LF
9. Jason Repko, CF

Red Sox Vs. Yankees: Sox Celebrate Fenway's Centennial With Series Against Rivals

The Red Sox and Yankees are set to renew their rivalry with a three-game series in Fenway Park. Clay Buchholz will take the mound Friday against Ivan Nova, looking to improve on a couple of difficult starts.