Just when you think it's in the bag with the Red Sox, you always have to remember that it's usually just beginning. After yielding a 1-out homer to Josh Hamilton in the ninth inning and allowing the next batter to reach base, Boston found themselves facing the all-too-familiar threat of blowing a lead at the end of the game.
In the eight innings prior to the ninth, Jon Lester dealt a brilliant game on the hill. Lester fired 8 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking no one. The win brings Lester to 13-7 on the year with an impressive 2.80 ERA. He got support from RBI singles by Bill Hall and JD Drew as well as a run scoring on a dropped fly ball in center field. He exited the game with a 3-0 lead, never taking the mound in the ninth.
Instead, it was Scott Atchison. With Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon both unavailable tonight after pitching back-to-back days, Atchison was Francona's choice. He gave up the homer to Hamilton and allowed Vladimir Guerrero to reach base. Felix Doubront came in to relieve Atchison, but it wasn't Doubront who killed the Rangers' momentum. Guerrero -- for some reason -- tried to steal second base before Doubront finished off his first and only batter. Victor Martinez gunned out Guerrero, Doubront struck out Mitch Moreland two pitches later, and the Sox squeaked out with the win.
Boston avoided going down another game behind Tampa and New York, who both won their games today. The Sox remain 6 back of the Yanks and 4 back of the Rays. After a day off tomorrow, Boston heads back to Fenway to host the Angels on Tuesday.
you gotta love how everyone on the radio was "stunned" that Lester didn't come back out for the 9th, I know the bullpen has been unreliable but he had thrown 109 pitches after 8 going into the meat of the order, you don't wanna overthrow someone in the 100 degree heat
ReplyDelete