A few things....

OAKLAND, Calif. - Some of the pregame buzz surrounded the ESPN Sunday Conversation excerpt that Jon Lester's father, John, has lymphoma. Jon will see his father tonight when the Sox travel to Seattle after the game and after Lester pitches.

Sox manager Terry Francona said he's known about Lester's father for a while and said the pitcher gave him a "heads-up" about what he had revealed to ESPN. Francona said Lester has been good about keeping him informed about things and said Lester has handled the news with his usual poise.

Francona indicated the Mike Sweeney backswing that caught Jason Varitek in the head in the fourth inning last night "stunned" Varitek for a few swings, but he recovered. Sweeney wound up popping out to Beckett on that play. Francona said Varitek was fine and able to play today.

Manny Ramirez was back in the lineup. Francona said he had prepared Ramirez to pinch hit in the eighth last night if Alex Cora's spot in the lineup came up and if lefty reliever Alan Embree came on to pitch. But it didn't happen.