masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNEW YORK – The Orioles aren’t the only team adjusting its rotation this weekend.

According to a tweet from @GordonEdes, the Red Sox have scratched Josh Beckett from Saturday’s start against the Orioles because of a stiff lat muscle.

Aaron Cook, just brought up from the minors, will start in Beckett’s place.

Beckett is 7-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 18 career starts against the Orioles. Cook has never faced the Orioles, though they saw him at least once in spring training.

Wilson Betemit is…NEW YORK – The Orioles aren’t the only team adjusting its rotation this weekend.

According to a tweet from @GordonEdes, the Red Sox have scratched Josh Beckett from Saturday’s start against the Orioles because of a stiff lat muscle.

Aaron Cook, just brought up from the minors, will start in Beckett’s place.

Beckett is 7-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 18 career starts against the Orioles. Cook has never faced the Orioles, though they saw him at least once in spring training.

Wilson Betemit is 3-for-7 with a home run and two RBIs against Cook. Ronny Paulino is 2-for-3. Nick Johnson is 1-for-3 with a home run. Mark Reynolds has three doubles, a home run and four RBIs in 19 at-bats.

So here are the revised matchups for the three-game series:

Friday: Wei-Yin Chen (2-0, 2.22 ERA) vs. Jon Lester (1-2, 4.65 ERA)
Saturday: Jason Hammel (3-1, 1.97 ERA) vs. Aaron Cook (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday: Tommy Hunter (2-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz (3-1, 8.69 ERA)

As for tonight’s game, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning against Yankees starter Ivan Nova, but Chris Davis struck out.

J.J. Hardy singled with one out and Nick Markakis doubled to left. Adam Jones flied to shallow right, with second baseman Robinson Cano making the catch with his back to the infield.

Hardy held at third base on the play. With Cano’s momentum carrying him further into the outfield, I thought Hardy might tag up and try to score.

Matt Wieters walked to keep the rally alive before Davis fanned.

Jake Arrieta gave up a two-out single to Alex Rodriguez and struck out two in the bottom of the first.

Update: Matt Wieters hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie.

Nick Johnson doubled again tonight, his second two-bagger in two at-bats over the last two games. Now he’s on fire.

Arrieta through three innings: 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts. 43 pitches, 27 strikes.

Also, the Red Sox placed Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list with a lower-back strain, so he’ll also miss the Orioles series.