Sox offense ignites in win
Final Score: Boston 9 Tampa Bay 2
Jon Lester played the role of “stopper” to get the Sox back on track Wednesday night versus the Rays. After an abysmal 5-3 loss in the series opener the Sox brought their A-game as Lester improved to 6-0 pitching seven innings while striking out five as the Sox offense surged forward to put nine runs on the board.
Bright Spots:
- Before the game had started the Sox were hitting a collective .189 with runners in scoring position for the month of May causing many to doubt that they could compete in the long run. Eager to prove the doubters wrong, the Sox went 5-11 with runners in scoring position in their nine-run route.
- Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks have both been struggling offensively to start the season, but while some fans may have given up on them they certainly are not ready to throw in the towel. Drew hit a grand slam to blow the game open in the third inning and Middlebrooks hit a solo shot to right field in the eight inning.
- With his fifth strikeout Lester cemented his place in Red Sox history with 1,110. Only Roger Clemens (2,590), Tim Wakefield (2,046), Pedro Martinez (1,683), and Cy Young (1,341) have more.
Downers
- Both Shane Victorino and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were without hits in the game, the only two starters to come up empty.
Starting Pitching Rewind
Lester continues to remind us why he was named ace of the staff. Lester threw seven strong innings while striking out five and walking none. Although he surrendered eight hits and two runs, he was able to stay in command of the game, handing the Sox an easy win. Lester improved to 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA on the season, there is no way he can’t end the season with a career year if he keeps pitching the way he has.
Quote of the Game:
“We had the same lineup that won all those games,” Drew said. “It’s a matter of baseball being a funny game sometimes. When things don’t go your way you keep grinding. It’s a long season and it’s still May.”
Looking Ahead:
The Sox will finish off the series Thursday night at 7:00pm; Felix Doubront will square off against the Rays as the Sox hope to leave Tampa with a series win. Doubront has been struggling this season, boasting a 6.40 ERA over 32.1 innings, having been dropped out of the rotation to the bullpen. He will make his return on Thursday and all of Red Sox Nation waits with a bit of anxiety as to what he will bring to the mound.
