NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THE DAY……BUT THANK YOU NEW YORK !!

RED SOX NOTEBOOK: YANKEES IN THE BRONX

GOING FOR 2:  With a win tonight the Red Sox would begin the season 2-0 for the 1st time since 1999 when Boston won its 1st 5 contests, with all of those coming on the road.

The Sox are looking to open the season with 2 straight wins against the Yankees for the 1st time since 1973 (won 1st 4 tilts of season vs. NYY, with 1st 3 at home).

The Red Sox have not started a season with 2 straight road wins against the Yankees since 1935 (won the 1^st 2)…They also did it in 1917 (1st 2) and 1912 (1st 3). With a victory, Boston would be the 1st visiting team to beat the Yankees in New York in the 1st 2 games of a season since the Brewers in 1979 (won 1st 2).

OPENING DAY WIN: The Red Sox topped the Yankees 8-2 on Monday to improve to 55-57-1 all-time on Opening Day (excluding 2nd game of twin bills in 1903, 1948 and 1982). Boston has now won 4 of its last 6 Opening Day contests and snapped a 2-game OD losing streak.

The Sox improved to 32-40-1 all-time in the 73 times they have started on the road…2013 marked the 3^rd straight year Boston opened the season away from home and it won it’s opener on the road for the 1^st time since 2008 against the A’s in Tokyo.

Sox batters combined for 13 hits and 8 walks in the win, both their most on Opening Day since 2002 (13 H, 13 BB in 12-11 loss to Toronto).

The Red Sox win on Monday snapped the teams 8-game losing streak that ended the 2012 season.

STARTING WITH THE YANKS: 2013 marks just the 3^rd time the Red Sox and Yankees have opened against each other over the last 21 seasons beginning in 1993, but the 3rd Sox/Yanks opener in the last 9 years (also 2005, 9-2 L in NY and 2010, 9-7 W in BOS).

The Red Sox have now taken 7 of their last 9 Opening Day contests vs. NYY since 1964 and are 12-16-1 in 29 season-opening games vs. the Yanks  overall.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KOJI: Koji Uehara is celebrating his 38th birthday today. Uehara, who tossed a perfect frame in his Sox debut on Monday, is riding a career-high, 15-game scoreless streak (12.2 IP) dating back to 9/1/12…He has yielded just 2 hits and 1 walk while recording 19 K’s in that time.

NEW SOX: There are 8 players on the Opening Day roster (32%) that entered the season having never before played a major league game for the Red Sox: Jackie Bradley Jr., Mike Carp, Ryan Dempster, Jonny Gomes, Joel Hanrahan, Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara, and Shane Victorino…6 of the 8 made their Sox debut Monday with the exception of Dempster (starting tomorrow night) and Carp.

FIRST TIMERS: 7 Red Sox (28%) were on an Opening Day roster for the 1st time in their careers: Jackie Bradley Jr., Pedro Ciriaco, Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, Clayton Mortensen, Daniel Nava, and Junichi Tazawa. The Sox had 3 players new to an OD roster last year.

OPEN RETURNS: In addition to Dustin Pedroia, the only other active Red Sox who had previous Opening Day starts for the club entering the season were Jacoby Ellsbury (5, 2008-12) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2, 2011-12), both of whom also started Monday.

THE KIDS: All 10 players on the Red Sox Opening Day starting lineup were 32 years old or younger, the 1st time that’s happened for the Sox since 2003. With Jackie Bradley Jr. (22 yrs. old, start in LF), Jose Iglesias (23, SS), and Will Middlebrooks (24, 3B), the Sox had 3 Opening Day starters age 24 or younger for just the 2nd time in the last 25 seasons beginning in 1984…It also happened in 2008 when Dustin Pedroia (2B), Brandon Moss (RF), and Jacoby Ellsbury (CF) were all in the Opening Day lineup at age 24.

With both Bradley Jr. and Iglesias in the lineup, the Sox started 2 players age 23 or younger on Opening Day for the 1st time since 1982 (Glenn Hoffman and Reid Nichols) and just the 2nd time since 1976.

JBJ ON OPENING DAY: Making his major league debut with a start in left field on Monday, Jackie Bradley Jr. finished with 3 walks, 2 runs, and an RBI in 5 plate appearances..Since RBI became an official stat in 1920, Bradley Jr was the 1st player with at least 3 walks, an RBI, and a run scored in his big league

OPENING DAY IN THE BRONX….

MISSING PAPI: With David Ortiz beginning the season on the DL (right Achilles tendinopathy), it snaps a stretch of 9 straight seasons in which he was the Red Sox Opening Day starter at designated hitter beginning in 2004.

The last Red Sox player other than Ortiz to start at DH on Opening Day was Jeremy Giambi in 2003 (0-for-4).

LASER SHOW ON OPENING DAY: Dustin Pedroia’s 6 career Opening Day starts for the Red Sox are the most for Boston on the active roster…He is tied with Hobe Ferris and Marty Barrett for the 2nd-most Opening Day starts at 2nd base in club history after Bobby Doerr (13).

Pedroia has hit safely in all 6 Red Sox openers since 2007 (.409, 9-for-22), the longest Opening Day hit streak by a Red Sox since Mo Vaughn hit safely in 7 straight season-opening contests from 1992-98.

OPEN RETURNS: In addition to David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia,the only other current Red Sox with Opening Day starts for the club are Jacoby Ellsbury with (5, 2008-12) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia with 2 (2011-12).

NEW SOX: There are 8 players on the Opening Day roster (32%) that have never before played a major league game for the Red Sox: Jackie Bradley Jr., Mike Carp, Ryan Dempster, Jonny Gomes, Joel Hanrahan, Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara, and Shane Victorino.

FIRST TIMERS: 7 Red Sox (28%) are on an Opening Day roster for the 1st time in their careers: Jackie Bradley Jr., Pedro Ciriaco, Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, Clayton Mortensen, Daniel Nava, and Junichi Tazawa.

The Sox had 3 players new to an OD roster last year.

THE KIDS: With starts today from Jackie Bradley Jr. (22), Jose Iglesias (23), and Will Middlebrooks (24), the Red Sox will have 3 Opening Day starters age 24 or younger for just the 2nd time in the last 25 seasons beginning in 1984…It also happened in 2008 when Dustin Pedroia (2B), Brandon Moss (RF), and Jacoby Ellsbury (CF) were all in the Opening Day lineup at age 24.

With both Bradley and Iglesias in the lineup, the Sox will start 2 players age 23 or younger on Opening Day for the 1st time since 1982 (Glenn Hoffman and Reid Nichols) and just the 2nd time since 1976.

JBJ ON OPENING DAY: Jackie Bradley Jr. will be the 1st player to make his ML debut for the Sox with a start on Opening Day since Shea Hillenbrand in 2001 (3B) and 1st outfielder to do it for Boston since Brady Anderson in 1988 (CF).

Bradley will be the 1st Red Sox player to debut on Opening Day against the Yankees since Tony Conigliaro in 1964 (CF), also at Yankee Stadium… Prior to Conigliaro, the previous Red Sox outfielder to debut against the Yankees on Opening Day was Ted Williams in New York in 1939.

ROTATION REDUX: Following Jon Lester in the rotation is Clay Buchholz (Wed.), Ryan Dempster (Thur.), Felix Doubront (Fri. at TOR) and John Lackey (Sat. at TOR).

FARRELL AND HIS STAFF: John Farrell is in his 1st season as Red Sox manager, the 46th skipper in club history…He was acquired from Toronto on 10/21/12 and agreed to a 3-year contract through 2015…Farrell guided the Jays in 2011-12 (154-170) after serving as Boston’s pitching coach from 2007-10.

The Sox’ coaches are all new to Boston’s big league staff, with Torey Lovullo as Bench Coach, Greg Colbrunn as Hitting Coach, Juan Nieves as Pitching Coach, Brian Butterfield as 3rd Base Coach, Arnie Beyeler as 1st Base Coach, Victor Rodriguez as Assistant Hitting Coach, and Dana LeVangie as Bullpen Coach.

SPRING RECAP: The Sox finished 17-17-1 (.500) in Grapefruit League action this spring…Sox hurlers led all major  league teams with a 3.94 ERA (135 ER/308.2 IP).

RED SOX BROADCAST SCHEDULE SET

RED SOX ANNOUNCE 2013 SPRING TRAINING BROADCAST SCHEDULE

FORT MYERS, FL – The Boston Red Sox today announced their 2013 Spring Training broadcast schedule.

Of the Red Sox’ 38 exhibition games this spring, 14 will be televised by NESN, 11 of them from the club’s Spring Training facility, JetBlue Park at Fenway South. The Red Sox Radio Network will carry 15 games on the team’s flagship station WEEI, between its FM (93.7) and AM (850) frequencies. The Red Sox’ Grapefruit League opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, February 23, which is also the team’s home opener, will be carried by both NESN and WEEI (93.7).  In addition, a pair of Red Sox games will be broadcast to a national audience by ESPN (March 20 at the New York Yankees) and ESPN2 (March 25 at the Baltimore Orioles).

2013 BOSTON RED SOX SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

(All Times Eastern and Subject to Change)

DATE                                                     OPPONENT                          SITE                                       TIME/BROADCAST

Thursday, February 21                        Northeastern                         JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Thursday, February 21                        Boston College                       JetBlue Park                          TBD

Friday, February 22                                Off Day

Saturday, February 23                         Tampa Bay Rays                  JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m./TV/Radio

Sunday, February 24                               St. Louis Cardinals                  Jupiter                                     1:05 p.m.

Monday, February 25                             Toronto Blue Jays (SS)           Dunedin                                  1:05 p.m.

Monday, February 25                             Tampa Bay Rays (SS)             Port Charlotte                          1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, February 26                          St. Louis Cardinals               JetBlue Park                         1:35 p.m.

Wednesday, February 27                        Baltimore Orioles  (SS)           Sarasota                                   7:05 p.m./TV

Thursday, February 28                            Pittsburgh Pirates                    Bradenton                                1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 1                                    Pittsburgh Pirates                 JetBlue Park                         7:05 p.m./TV/Radio#

Saturday, March 2                                   Minnesota Twins                    Hammond Stadium 1:05 p.m./Radio

Sunday, March 3                                  New York Yankees               JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m./TV/Radio

Monday, March 4                                 Tampa Bay Rays                  JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5                                 Puerto Rico                            JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6                            Pittsburgh Pirates                 JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Thursday, March 7                                  Minnesota Twins (SS)            Hammond Stadium 1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 8                                    Minnesota Twins                  JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m./TV/Radio#

Saturday, March 9                                Baltimore Orioles                  JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m./TV/Radio

Sunday, March 10                                   Tampa Bay Rays                     Port Charlotte                          1:05 p.m./TV/Radio #

Monday, March 11                 Miami Marlins                        Jupiter                                     1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12                               Toronto Blue Jays JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13                            Off Day

Thursday, March 14                                Minnesota Twins                    Hammond Stadium 1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 15                                    Baltimore Orioles (SS)            Sarasota                                   1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 15                                  Minnesota Twins                  JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m./TV/Radio

Saturday, March 16                 Tampa Bay Rays                     Port Charlotte                          1:05 p.m./Radio

Sunday, March 17                                                Tampa Bay Rays                  JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m./TV/Radio

Monday, March 18                 Pittsburgh Pirates                    Bradenton                                1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19                               Baltimore Orioles                  JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20                            New York Yankees                                Tampa                                     1:05 p.m./ESPN2

Thursday, March 21                             Philadelphia Phillies              JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m./TV#/Radio

Friday, March 22                                    Toronto Blue Jays                   Dunedin                                  1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 23                              Pittsburgh Pirates                 JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m./TV/Radio

Sunday, March 24                                   Philadelphia Phillies                Clearwater                               1:05 p.m./TV/Radio

Monday, March 25                 Baltimore Orioles                    Sarasota                                   1:05 p.m./ESPN

Tuesday, March 26                 Off Day

Wednesday, March 27                          Miami Marlins                       JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m.

Thursday, March 28                             Minnesota Twins                  JetBlue Park                          7:05 p.m./TV/Radio

Friday, March 29                                    Minnesota Twins                    Hammond Stadium 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 30                              Minnesota Twins                  JetBlue Park                          1:35 p.m./TV#/Radio

(SS)- Split Squad                   Home Games at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Lee County, Florida

TV- Game Telecast on NESN, TV#-Game Telecast on NESNplus, ESPN- Game Telecast on ESPN, ESPN2-Game Telecast on ESPN2

Radio- Game Broadcast on WEEI 93.7 FM, Radio#- Game Broadcast on WEEI 850 AM

BSD Steve: ARod, Braun, Among Others Named in HGH/PED Scandal: How Will it Effect the MLB?

According to Foxsports:

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun said the person who ran the Florida clinic being investigated by Major League Baseball was used only as a consultant on his drug suspension appeal last year.

”I have nothing to hide,” Braun said in a statement released by his representatives on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the day, Yahoo Sports reported the 2011 NL MVP’s name showed up three times in records of the Biogenesis of America LLC clinic. Yahoo said no specific performance-enhancing drugs were listed next to his name.

The Miami New Times recently released clinic documents that purportedly linked Alex Rodriguez, Gio Gonzalez, Melky Cabrera and other players to purchases of banned drugs from the now-closed anti-aging center.

Rodriguez and Cabrera were on the list with Braun that also included New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Baltimore Orioles infielder Danny Valencia.

Braun said his name was in the Biogenesis records because of an issue over payment to Anthony Bosch, who ran the clinic near Miami.

”There was a dispute over compensation for Bosch’s work, which is why my lawyer and I are listed under `moneys owed’ and not on any other list,” Braun said.

”I have nothing to hide and have never had any other relationship with Bosch,” he said. ”I will fully cooperate with any inquiry into this matter.”

On Tuesday, MLB officials asked the Miami New Times for the records the alternative newspaper obtained for its story.

Asked specifically about Braun’s name in the documents before the five-time All-Star released his statement, MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said: ”Aware of report and are in the midst of an active investigation in South Florida.”

Braun tested positive during the 2011 postseason for elevated testosterone levels. He maintained his innocence and his 50-game suspension was overturned during spring training last year when arbitrator Shyam Das ruled in favor of Braun due to chain of custody issues involving the sample.

With that, Braun became the first major leaguer to have a drug suspension overturned.

”During the course of preparing for my successful appeal last year, my attorneys, who were previously familiar with Tony Bosch, used him as a consultant. More specifically, he answered questions about T/E ratio and possibilities of tampering with samples,” Braun said.

The T/E ratio is a comparison of the levels of testosterone to epitestosterone.

Braun led the NL in homers (41), runs (108) and slugging percentage (.595) last season while batting .319 with 112 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He finished second to San Francisco catcher Buster Posey in MVP balloting.”

Cervelli, who spent nearly all of last season in Triple-A, posted a statement on Twitter later Tuesday night.

”Following my foot injury in March 2011, I consulted with a number of experts, including BioGenesis Clinic, for (cont),” Cervelli posted, ”(cont)legal ways to aid my rehab and recovery. I purchased supplements that I am certain were not prohibited by Major League Baseball.”

An email sent to Valencia’s agent was not returned.”

After about a week after Alex Rodriguez, Gio Gonzalez, Melky Cabrera, and other names were rumored to be connected with Biogenesis, a company known for distributing PEDs, Ryan Braun’s name has now been thrown into the mix. Since he has come into the league, Braun has been one of the MLB’s best all-around players, leading the NL in homeruns in 2012 and winning the NL MVP in 2011. ARod, Braun, Gonzalez, and Cabrera are all notable MLB players and it seems like this situation is only going to get worse before it gets better. With the mass amounts of PED scandals rearing its ugly head within the last 2-5 years, it is clear that the MLB must change its culture in order to stay clean. Due to this era in baseball history, I believe it will for the MLB to change many facets of the game; let’s take a look at how we may be seeing America’s Pastime  adapting within the next couple of years.

1)     LESS LONG-TERM CONTRACTS

Just a couple of years removed from seeing such stars as Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Alex Rodriguez, and Carl Crawford sign monster, long-term contracts, we have seen many of them crash and burn. After these current PED scandals surrounding Braun and ARod, how do their respective teams deal with their contracts if they are found guilty? The Yankees currently owe Rodriguez $114 million over 5 years, while the Brewers owe Braun $145.5 million through 2020. These once-celebrated lockups have now put teams in a situation that nobody wants to be in; nobody wants a troublesome player taking up space on their roster and money off of their payroll, especially fading stars like ARod. This new wave of contract regret will ultimately lead to less long-term contracts, and we may also see…..

2)     NEW PED CLAUSES IN CONTRACTS

I mean, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea for a team, does it? With all of these PED scandals emerging, teams are going to look to protect themselves in long-term contracts. The only way long-term, lucrative contracts will survive in baseball is through PED clauses. I am not exactly sure how teams would word it, but I am sure something like after 1 or 2 positive tests or suspicions, an opt-out clause is activated in the players’ contract. Not only will it leave the players less likely to use any PEDs, but it will also leave their respective team feeling protected and confident in their investment.

3)     INSTITUTE PLAYERS CONSULTANTS

It has always been said that in the PED industry that the players and their suppliers are always one step ahead of the testing. The only people who could truly know what is going on in the clubhouse are the players themselves. Now, I do think player consultants could be extremely useful – but you would need to find someone who is 100% clean and devoted to keeping the game itself clean. It would have to be a secretive process so there is nothing being hidden by the players. No names would be given, just practices and how players are getting around the testing. If done correctly and carefully, I believe player consultants could help the game out greatly.

The MLB has done a decent job at adapting to the times with their steroid testing and new HGH testing, but it has not stopped players from finding ways around a positive test. If the players cannot take care of themselves, the MLB needs to at least look after the owners and teams themselves and create contract clauses. This will not only help out the team, but I believe it will also give the players a reason to stay clean. Stay tuned this week for more sports news from your favorite sports site!

- Steve Falzone

LAST YANKEE GAME FOR 2012 TONIGHT ?

YANKEES TRAIL 3-0 IN THE SERIES VS DETROIT

 

 

RED SOX ANNOUNCE 2013 SCHEDULE

RED SOX, YANKEES TO OPEN 2013 SEASON APRIL 1 IN THE BRONX;

FENWAY PARK OPENER SET FOR APRIL 8 VS. BALTIMORE

Regular season schedule features Fenway appearances by

Phillies, Rockies, Padres, and Diamondbacks;

Houston Astros move to the American League and visit April 25-28

BOSTON, MA—The Red Sox are scheduled to begin their 2013 season on the road against the New York Yankees on Monday, April 1.  The club’s home opener is slated for Monday, April 8 against the Baltimore Orioles.  In conjunction with Major League Baseball, the Red Sox today announced their 2013 regular season schedule.

The club will open the season on the road for the third straight year.  They last opened in the Bronx in 2005.  The Red Sox have opened the regular season against the Yankees 28 times, more than they have opened against any other opponent (the Athletics rank second at 21).  The Red Sox last opened their season against New York in 2010 at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox are scheduled to play 76 games versus their American League East rivals, 19 each with Baltimore, New York, Tampa Bay, and Toronto.

Interleague play will bring the Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks to Fenway Park.  The Houston Astros will move to the American League and visit Fenway Park April 25-28.

In 2013, each team will play 20 Interleague games, including Red Sox road trips to Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Colorado.

Boston plays four straight games against the Phillies in two cities May 27-30, the first two at Fenway Park and the second pair at Citizens Bank Park,  The team will also host Interleague series against Colorado (June 25-26), San Diego (July 2-4), and Arizona (August 2-4).  The Red Sox will start an Interleague road trip August 19 with a three-game series against the Giants before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers August 23-25.  The club will also visit Coors Field in the final trip of the regular season, playing a two-game set September 24-25.

The Red Sox will host a season-high 10-game homestand April 19-28, taking on the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Astros.  The Astros will host the Red Sox August 5-7 at Minute Maid Park.

The Red Sox play more games at Yankee Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards (10 each) than they do in any other road venue.  Following the first match-up in New York, the Red Sox visit Yankee Stadium May 31-June 2, and September 5-8.  They host New York three times: July 19-21, August 16-18, and September 13-15.

The Red Sox 2013 schedule is attached.  Game times for the 2013 season, as well as the 2013 Spring Training schedule, will be finalized and announced at a later date.  All dates included in the attached schedule are subject to change.

RED SOX 2013 SCHEDULE BY OPPONENTS BREAKDOWN

Team                                      Home              Road

Baltimore Orioles                    9                      10

Chicago White Sox                 3                      3

Cleveland Indians                   4                      3

Detroit Tigers                          3                      4

Houston Astros                       4                      3

Kansas City Royals                 3                      4

Los Angeles Angels                3                      3

Minnesota Twins                     4                      3

New York Yankees                9                      10

Oakland Athletics                   3                      3

Seattle Mariners                      3                      4

Tampa Bay Rays                     10                    9

Texas Rangers                         3                      3

Toronto Blue Jays                   10                    9

Interleague Games     

Arizona Diamondbacks          3                      0

Colorado Rockies                   2                      2

Los Angeles Dodgers             0                      3

Philadelphia Phillies                2                      2

San Diego Padres                    3                      0

San Francisco Giants              0                      3

RED SOX – YANKEES GAME II TONIGHT

WALK-OFF WINNER: Last night Boston snapped a 4-game losing streak with a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Yankees, Boston’s 3rd walk-off win of 2012 and 1st since 7/19 vs. CWS…Jacoby Ellsbury’s 9th-inning RBI single, his 3rd career walk-off hit, was the difference…His previous walk-offs came in back-to-back games last season, 8/2 and 8/3 vs. CLE.

BIRTHDAY PARTY: Jacoby Ellsbury had a season-high 4 hits last night on his 29th birthday, including the 9th-inning, walk-off single…Since 1918, the only other Red Sox with 4 hits on his birthday was Carl Yastrzemski on 8/22 in 1961 and 1976…Since 1920 (when RBI became official) the only other Red Sox with a walk-off RBI on his birthday is Hal Wagner on 7/2/44 vs. STL (GM 2) with an 11th inning single (Elias).

• In the last 70 years, only 3 other Red Sox have had 4 hits and a game-ending RBI in a 9-inning game: Carlton Fisk (7/28/75), Jeff Frye (6/14/99) and Shea Hillenbrand (4/15/03) (Elias)…Ellsbury became the 1st Major Leaguer since at least 1950 to tally 4 hits, including a walk-off hit, on his birthday.

YANKEE NEMESIS: Pedro Ciriaco is 17-for-35 (.486) with 7 RBI, 11 runs and 4 stolen bases in 9 career games vs. the Yankees, all this year with Boston…Of his 13 multi-hit games this season, 5 have come against New York, including 4 games with at least 3 hits and a pair of 4-hit efforts.

HIT PARADE: Dustin Pedroia has homered in 2 straight games and in 3 of his last 4 contests…He has hit safely in all but 3 of 34 tilts since 8/5, batting a Major League-best .375 AVG (51-for-136) to raise his overall AVG from .262 to .293, his best mark since 5/28…During that span he leads the Majors with 14 doubles and also ranks among the top 5 AL batters in hits (2nd), total bases (2nd, 85), XBH (T-3rd, 21), OBP (1st, .430), SLG (5th, .625), OPS (4th 1.055) and runs (T-5th, 25).

• Pedroia knocked his 15th homer of the season last night…Along with his 15 stolen bases, this marks his 4th career 15 HR/15 SB season, passing Jackie Jensen and Reggie Smith for the most in club history.

SOX-YANKEES TONIGHT AT FENWAY PARK

Lester on the mound tonight

LEFTY LEDGER: Tonight’s starter Jon Lester enters the game with 1,039 career strikeouts, 4 shy of tying Bruce Hurst (1,043) for the most ever by a left-handed pitcher in franchise history…Lester is in 8th place overall on the club’s all-time list, trailing Hurst for 7th.

• Lester is averaging 9.54 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched against the Yankees in his career (124 K/117.0 IP)…According to Elias, it is the 2nd-highest all-time strikeouts-per-9.0-inning average among Major Leaguers at least 75.0 career IP against the Yankees, trailing only Pedro Martinez (10.84).

CIRIACO AND THE YANKEES: Pedro Ciriaco is 15-for-32 (.469) with 7 RBI, 9 runs and 4 stolen bases in 8 career games vs. the Yankees, all this year with Boston…He has tallied at least 3 hits and 1 stolen base in 4 different tilts against New York in 2012, becoming the 1st Major Leaguer to accomplish that feat vs. NYY in a single season since CWS’ Carl Reynolds did it in 5 games in 1930…Ciriaco is the 1st Red Sox to reach those totals in 4 games against any club in a season in the live ball era (since 1920).

A BIRTHDAY AND SEPTEMBER SUCCESS: Jacoby Ellsbury is celebrating his 29th birthday today…Ellsbury has hit .327 (146-for-446) in 109 career September games, the best AVG in any month of his career and the top mark among American Leaguers with at least 450 PA in September since 2007…It is the best September AVG by a Red Sox with at least 300 PA in the month since Wade Boggs hit .349 in September over 11 seasons from 1982-92.

HIT PARADE: Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in all but 3 of 33 games since 8/5, batting an AL-best .364 (48-for-132) in that time to raise his overall AVG from .262 to .289…In that time he leads the Majors with 14 doubles and also ranks among the top 5 AL batters in hits (2nd), extra-base hits (T-3rd, 20), OBP (4th, .421) and OPS (4th 1.019).

SOX LOOK TO TAKE SERIES TONIGHT

SOX IN GOTHAM TONIGHT

SUCCESS IN NEW YORK: The Red Sox tonight conclude a season-long 11-day, 10-game road trip with the last of 3 contests in New York…At 17-15, the Red Sox are the only visiting AL team with a winning record at the new Yankee Stadium (since 2009).

• Boston is 13-5 in its last 18 contests at Yankee Stadium dating back to 8/9/10…It marks the 1st time Boston has won at least 13 times in any stretch of 18 games in the Bronx since 6/20/67-7/15/69 (also 13-5)…A win tonight would give Boston 14 wins during a span of 19 decisions at the Yankees for the 1st time since 6/20/1912-6/24/1914 (14-5).

FOUR SQUARED: Yesterday Pedro Ciriaco matched a career-high with 4 hits, also in the 2nd game of a doubleheader on 7/7 vs. NYY…Ciriaco became the 1st Red Sox with multiple 4-hit games against the Yankees since Wade Boggs did it 3 times against the Bombers in 1989…He is the 1st Major Leaguer with a pair of 4-hit games vs. the Yankees in a season since Chone Figgins in 2008 and is the 1st player on any team to do that while batting 8th or 9th in the lineup since Boston’s Doug Griffin did it twice from the 8th spot in 1973.

• Ciriaco is 15-for-29 (.517) with 7 RBI, 9 runs and 4 stolen bases in 7 career games vs. the Yankees, all this year with Boston…According to Elias, only 2 other players have recorded at least 15 hits in their first 30 AB against the Yankees during the expansion era (since 1961): Glenn Hubbard (15 H, 1988) and Howard Kendrick (15 H, 2006-2007).

DUSTIN’S TRAIL: Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in each of his last 13 games, the longest active hitting streak in the Majors…He is batting .404 (21-for-52) with 7 doubles, a triple, a homer, 8 RBI, 11 runs and 5 walks during the 13-game stretch…With a hit tonight he would match his season-long 14-game run from 4/29-5/13…A hit tonight would also make him the 1st Red Sox to hit safely in each game of a road trip of at least 10 games since he did it in 2008.

300 G/300 K: Tonight’s start will be his 300th regular season appearance for Josh Beckett, his 297th start…Beckett has fanned at least 1 batter in all 299 previous games (since 9/4/2001), the longest active streak in the Majors and the 2nd longest to begin a career since 1900 after Dwight Gooden (1st 349 games, 4/7/84-9/3/97)…He also has at least 1 strikeout in all 14 playoff games.

• The 6th Annual Beckett Bowl takes place tomorrow night at Lucky Strike Lanes in Boston…Josh Beckett and an all-star lineup of athletes and celebrities will join forces to raise funds for children in need…Since 2007, Beckett Bowl has raised more than $1 million for the Josh Beckett Foundation and the event’s primary beneficiary, Boston Children’s Hospital…More info at beckettbowl.com.

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