Beckett, Red Sox to meet Rays in 2009 season opener today

The Boston Red Sox will open their 2009 season at 2:05 p.m. today with a matchup against the reigning American League champion Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Recovered from an oblique injury that hampered him during last year's postseason, Josh Beckett will take the hill for Boston, which last lost its home opener in 2004. James Shields, who posted a 3.56 ERA in 215 innings last season, will start for Tampa Bay. The game will feature a rematch of last year's American League Championship Series, which the Rays won in seven games.