Boston Red Sox News

After a first inning that was beyond shaky, Felix Doubront picked himself up, leading the Red Sox to an 8-4 victory over the Astros at Fenway Park.

After exiting his first start in more than a year on April 6 due to a right biceps strain, John Lackey will take the ball opposite Bud Norris as the Red Sox look to end their homestand with a sweep of the Astros.

More than 100 kids were at Boston Common on Saturday morning taking advantage of a free clinic offered by the MLB Players Association that allows children to learn fundamentals from former Major Leaguers, get a free lunch, a few autographs and hours of unrestricted energy release.

Red Sox right-hander John Lackey hopes the latest comeback is for keeps.

When Jacoby Ellsbury stole the 200th base of his career on Friday night, he became the only living Red Sox player to steal that many bases for the club.

Franklin Morales was slowed in Spring Training by a back injury. Once he finally was able to make an appearance for Class A Greenville to start his rehab assignment, Morales suffered a left pectoral strain that now has him in the middle of a five-day shutdown period.

The most important aspects of pitching successfully, Daniel Bard says, is being able to attack hitters while staying in line with home plate.

Catch all the action in Major League Baseball on Sunday with a free preview of MLB.TV.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

The "BOSTON" home jersey that David Ortiz wore while making his now-famous speech to open the first homestand after the Boston Marathon bombings went for $37,400 after 62 bid attempts, and an overall amount of $310,741 was raised in the Boston BStrong auction with all net proceeds going to One Fund Boston.

Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino was out of the lineup Friday night against the Astros, marking the fourth game he's missed due to lower back spasms. Victorino exited two other games early because of the ailment.

The Red Sox certainly hoped David Ortiz would be a force in his return from the disabled list, but nobody could have expected him to hit .500 (12-for-24) in his first six regular-season games since last August.

The Red Sox have had better starts than the 15-7 record they took into Friday night's game against the Astros. Still, the opening to the season is history-making.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Catcher David Ross' two solo homers, not to mention solo shots by Will Middlebrooks and David Ortiz, helped fuel the Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over the Astros on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Felix Doubront (2-0, 4.32) will take the mound at Fenway Park on Saturday, when the Red Sox play host to Brad Peacock and the Astros in the third game of a four-game set.

Daniel Bard entered Thursday's 7-2 win against the Astros with a five-run lead in the ninth inning. There was little pressure in the game, but the right-hander said he was still feeling the adrenaline.

Clay Buchholz hurled 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball as the Red Sox cruised to a 7-2 win over the Astros, making Buchholz the first five-game winner in the Majors.

Ryan Dempster looks to secure his first victory in a Red Sox uniform while the Astros' Erik Bedard will try to pitch deep into the game when the two clubs square off at Fenway Park on Friday.

Ryan Lavarnway didn't make his first appearance at Fenway Park until the final two months of the 2011 and '12 seasons in his first two stints in the Majors, but with the need for an extra bat off the bench, the Red Sox recalled him on Thursday.