ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There is a certain confidence that comes from feeling like the worst is behind you.

The Red Sox were feeling it in the eighth inning Tuesday. They had weathered an injury to their hot-hitting third baseman, survived a rough second inning from their starting pitcher and built a one-run lead against the scuffling Royals.

Daniel Bard was in command, cruising toward his third win and his longest outing as a starter. Boston had escaped a jam in the seventh, and after all of that, manager Bobby Valentine didn’t see the Red Sox losing their grip.

“Well,” Valentine said, “it happened.”

The game changed with one swing by Billy Butler, who deposited a 1-1 pitch from Matt Albers into the left-field fountains for a three-run homer and a 6-4 Kansas City victory. It was an abrupt turn of events, predicated by one pitch Albers wished he could take back.

“I didn’t stay back over the rubber quite enough, and the ball leaked over the plate,” said Albers, who hadn’t allowed a run in his previous seven appearances. “He’s a good hitter. I faced him a few times and got him to roll over on sinkers down and in, down and away. That’s what I was trying to do right there, and the ball just leaked over the plate.”

The trouble started when Bard dealt back-to-back walks to open the eighth inning. Boston led 4-3 at that point, with the Royals' runs coming in a balk-aided second inning. Bard breezed through the middle innings and, at fewer than 90 pitches, had designs on a complete game.

“After the second inning, when he kind of gave away three runs, he was in complete control of the game with all his pitches,” Valentine said. “I was very surprised to see him walk those hitters.”

Bard was surprised too.

“I kind of smelled the finish line and wanted to get that win for our team really bad,” said Bard, who was charged with five runs and took the loss. “I just tried to do a little too much with those pitches, maybe didn’t trust them to the middle of the zone as much as I had been.”

Bard had rebounded nicely after a three-run second inning that featured two balks from the Boston starter. Both occurred with Chris Getz at the plate, with one coming on a third-to-first move and the other coming when Bard stepped off the rubber and looked to second.

“The balks, that’s a fluke thing,” Bard said. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve balked in my life, ever. I don’t think I’ve done it in the big leagues.”

The Red Sox tied the game on Dustin Pedroia’s RBI single in the fourth, then took a 4-3 lead on a throwing error by Getz in the fifth.

They did so without their hottest hitter, rookie Will Middlebrooks, who left the game in the second inning with tightness in his left hamstring.

Middlebrooks doubled in his only plate appearance, raising his average to .435 and joining Enos Slaughter as the only players since 1900 to record extra-base hits in each of his first five major league games.

Middlebrooks said he hoped to be back in Boston’s lineup for Wednesday’s series finale.

“It’s not serious,” he said. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

Boston got a different kind of scare in the seventh, when the Royals put runners at second and third with one out. The Red Sox quickly killed the rally, though, as Adrian Gonzalez fielded a squeeze bunt and fired home to get Jeff Francoeur.

Gonzalez said he suspected the squeeze after watching third base coach Eddie Rodriguez run through a long series of signs with hitter Alcides Escobar.

“Whenever you’ve got a third base coach giving signs and really focusing on the hitter, you always say there might be something on,” Gonzalez said. “Usually in that situation, they’re telling the runner to see it through. They’re not really giving signs.”

At that point, it appeared Boston would escape with only minor scrapes.

Actually, the worst was still ahead.

“After that, you definitely feel like the game, the momentum is on our side,” Bard said. “We would have liked to finish it.”

BOSTON

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, LF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

SP -- John Lackey

TAMPA BAY

1. Johnny Damon, DH
2. Ben Zobrist, 2B
3. Casey Kotchman, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Matt Joyce, RF
6. B.J. Upton, CF
7. Sam Fuld, LF
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Reid Brignac, SS

SP -- James Shields

PHOENIX -- This week’s "State of the Nation" with Gordon Edes comes from the All-Star game in Arizona. Among the highlights and topics discussed:

-- The Red Sox enter the break red hot, but there is some concern about the health of the pitching staff as they come out of the break.

-- Talks to Tim Kurkjian about the Red Sox season so far. How they’ve rebounded from their 2-10 start and how concerned they should be about their pitching injuries?

-- What will happen with Josh Reddick/J.D. Drew when Carl Crawford returns?

-- Dustin Pedroia’s hot streak

-- Crawford’s expected return on July 18. He struggled in the first half of the season -- what the Sox can expect from him when he comes back?

BOSTON -- There were no bench-clearing brawls tonight between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles as a reaction to Friday’s melee, but the home crowd at Fenway Park witnessed a much-needed solid pitching performance by Sox starter John Lackey.

The veteran right-hander, who has been inconsistent for the majority of the season, worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed only three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts to help the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory. He tossed 106 pitches, 69 for strikes. Lackey also drilled two Orioles' batters and on the second one, he was given a warning, along with both benches.

His fastball had good life. He was locating, and his breaking pitches kept the Orioles off balance all night.

Lackey received a standing ovation when he exited the field with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.

With the win he snaps a three-game losing skid and improves to 6-8, while dropping his ERA to 6.84. It was no doubt his best outing of the season, and with the All-Star break coming up, it was a good way for him to end the first half.

ELLSBURY’S EN FUEGO: And it doesn’t appear he’s about to cool down anytime soon. Boston’s leadoff hitter went 3-for-4, including a single, double and triple. Ellsbury, a first-time All-Star this season, is batting .314 with 11 homers, 48 RBI and 28 stolen bases. On this current homestand, he’s 12-for-26 with 5 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases.

YOOOUK: Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was added to the American League All-Star roster on Friday, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored on Saturday.

PEDEY PILING ON: Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia went 1-for-3, but his double in the bottom of the seventh inning extended his current hitting streak to 11 games.

UP NEXT: The Red Sox send rookie right-hander Kyle Weiland to the mound for his major-league debut on Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. He will face the Orioles’ Mitch Atkins (0-0, 1.50 ERA).

Weiland, 24, the former University of Notre Dame standout, is in his fourth professional season in the Red Sox organization after he was selected in the third round of the 2008 draft.

He’s 8-6 with a 3.00 ERA this season at Triple-A Pawtucket. In his last 10 starts for the PawSox he’s 6-2 with a 2.33 ERA and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 14 of his 17 starts.

“He’s throwing the ball really well,” Francona said Friday. “He’s missing a lot of bats. He’s come up with a cutter, along with his breaking ball and fastball, he’s having a lot of success.”
Weiland has recorded 99 strikeouts in 93 innings this season, while walking only 37.

“He throws hard. He’s got a live arm and always has,” Francona said. “We’re excited about this.”

BOSTON -- Less than 24 hours after being removed from Friday’s game with a hyperextended left knee, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett participated in his normal day-after routine Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

The right-hander is also scheduled to throw a side session on Sunday and then he’ll be re-evaluated before a decision is made whether or not he’ll pitch in the All-Star game Tuesday in Phoenix.

“Obviously, not just for his start with us going forward, but the All-Star ramifications and we don’t want to hold up the league,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “He’ll go out tomorrow and throw a side and if he’s OK, he’s OK. If he needs to hold off, then we’ll do that also. We certainly respect the All-Star stuff, but we also have an obligation to our team. He understands that and he’ll be honest about it.”

BALTIMORE

1. J.J. Hardy, SS
2. Nick Markakis, RF
3. Adam Jones, CF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Matt Wieters, C
6. Derrek Lee, 1B
7. Mark Reynolds, 3B
8. Felix Pie, LF
9. Robert Andino, 2B

SP. Zach Britton (RHP)

BOSTON

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Darnell McDonald, RF
9. Yamaico Navarro, LF

SP. Josh Beckett (RHP)

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox never disappoint on Independence Day.

During a pregame ceremony, celebrating the Fourth of July, a giant American flag was draped over the Green Monster and there was a flyover of four F-15Cs following the national anthem.

While these have become traditions at Fenway, there was an added surprise for one local family.

US Navy Petty Officer Bridget Lydon, of Squantum, Mass., was reunited with her family on the field before the game. Since 2009, Lydon has been stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan, where she is currently the training Petty Officer for G-1 Division. This was the first time in six months that she has seen her mother and brother and the first time in more than nine months that she has been back to Boston. The reunion was arranged with the help of the US Navy.

Lydon walked out from under the giant flag in left field and her family sprinted out to her for the emotional reunion. She then threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

BOSTON – Injured Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford (left hamstring strain) will meet with team physician Dr. Thomas Gill later Monday and if everything goes well, the left fielder is expected to begin baserunning drills during the club’s current homestand.

“He had a really good day today,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “And it’s not an easy day to have a really good day because we got off the plane [Sunday night] at 11 and with a quick turnaround. He increased the intensity a little bit and changed direction.”

Crawford suffered the injury and was placed on the disabled list on June 18. There’s a chance he could return soon.

“He has to do some more baseball activities, but he has to go full speed on the bases for his own peace of mind,” explained Francona.

“This kid is in great shape. He’ll conquer this easily. We just don’t want to get in his way,” added Francona.

Francona also said that pitcher Clay Buchholz (lower back strain) would not return to the rotation during this homestand.

After the game, Buchholz and Francona said the right-hander will see a back specialist in North Carolina sometime this week.

BOSTON -- Here is today's Red Sox lineup:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Josh Reddick, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. J.D. Drew, RF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS
RHP -- John Lackey

BOSTON -- During a Red Sox rain delay at Fenway Park, I just thought about what happened a week ago tonight. I totally forgot I shot this from the press box. Enjoy!

BOSTON -- My skates are off and my spikes are back on for the remainder of the Red Sox season. I’m back at Fenway Park today and here are some morning updates from manager Terry Francona:

-- Red Sox starter Josh Beckett is still dealing with the flu bug and remains questionable for his next scheduled start on Saturday at Pittsburgh.

“He’s really sick,” Francona said. “Doctors are trying to figure it out. I have not seen him this morning. He wasn’t good yesterday and we’re going to have to play this one by ear. There are some pitchers, because of the off day, that we’re actually OK.”

If Beckett begins to feel better in the coming days, Francona is not inclined to throw the veteran right-hander out there immediately.

“We’ll see how he responds [Thursday],” Francona said. “He just has a good old-fashioned case of the flu.”

In case Beckett can’t pitch on Saturday, lefty Andrew Miller is set to throw a shorter side session on Thursday in case he’s needed to start in place of Beckett.

-- Right-handed reliever Bobby Jenks will throw a side session on Thursday and will increase his workload more than the 20-pitch session he tossed on Tuesday. Francona said Jenks has made “really rapid steps” in the last three or four days. If he responds well after Thursday’s extended session, the team and the medical staff will make a decision where Jenks goes from there.

-- Injured Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie is in Los Angeles and will have his left shoulder examined today by Dr. Lewis Yocum. Francona said there could be an update on Lowrie’s condition following this afternoon’s game.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie, whose left shoulder has been bothering him for nearly three weeks, may be headed for the disabled list after leaving Thursday's game in the first inning.

Lowrie said he felt like his shoulder came out of the socket while striking out with the bases loaded against Rays left-hander David Price.

"It's sore,'' Lowrie said. "It felt like it slipped out. It wasn't out, but it felt like it came out and went back in.''

Asked if he thought he might have to shut it down, Lowire said: "I don't know. I've never dealt with this before.''

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Lowrie would be re-evaluated by doctors back in Boston on Friday.

Tim Britton of the Providence Journal, who was at Thursday night's Pawtucket game, said infielder Drew Sutton came out of the game in the seventh inning, which suggests he may be on his way back to Boston. Marco Scutaro replaced Lowrie in the bottom of the first and played shortstop, singling in three at-bats.

Lowrie has been bothered by what the team has called a bruised left shoulder since colliding with outfielder Carl Crawford in Detroit on May 27.

The Sox administered an MRI last week in New York, and both manager and player reported it came back clean, though Lowrie said the shoulder still ached.

Thursday's strikeout extended Lowrie's hitless string to 0 for 15, and he is 1 for 17 on the trip.

Lowrie had three days off (two games) before returning to the lineup Wednesday night and going hitless in three trips. In the 10 games since the collision, Lowrie is batting .163 (7 for 43), his overall average dropping from .306 to .270.

"It certainly wasn't this sore,'' Lowrie said. "I don't know what's going on yet, either. I just know what I feel.''

ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes and Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com look at Thursday night's series finale between the Red Sox and Yankees. The game features a great matchup on the mound between Josh Beckett and CC Sabathia.

Gordon Edes joined Baseball Tonight Wednesday night to discuss Dustin Pedroia's knee injury and what the Red Sox could do if Pedroia is out for a significant amount of time.

The Baseball Tonight crew -- Karl Ravech and Bobby Valentine -- previews Game 2 of the Red Sox-Yankees series tonight (ESPN & ESPN3).

Ravech and Valentine look at the pitching matchup -- Tim Wakefield vs. A.J. Burnett -- for tonight’s game, starting with what impact the hot and humid weather might be on Wakefield's knuckler. Valentine looks at Burnett, who has been good for the Yankees this season and needs to step up tonight.