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JON LESTER |
THE RAYS and A ONE WAY
TICKET TO "MANNY-WOOD" ...
Jon Lester stifles the Rays in a showdown
September 8,
2008 ...
But, no matter how calm Jon Lester is, there is one undeniable fact.
He can dominate. Though it wasn't quite his no-hitter or his
nine-inning shutout in Yankee Stadium, it was a stellar performance
in a game the Sox needed to have. Because there's not much better
than keeping a down team down. And coming into this series in Fenway
Park, that's exactly where the Rays seemed to be, a theme that
continued with their 3-0 loss to Lester.
The Rays had
lost all six games in Boston this season, and that they had come into Fenway
Park carting a three-game losing streak, they still hold the top spot in the
division. That hold is now in jeopardy.
With the Sox
taking the first game of the series, Tampa Bay's lead in the American League
East is down to a half-game and a single game in the loss column. For that, the
Sox can thank Lester, who outdueled Edwin Jackson with 119 scintillating pitches
that left the Rays shut out and hurting.
He looked
strong, as he has all year. He looked ready. And the Rays didn't look to have
much of a chance. Over 7 2/3 innings, Lester allowed just six hits, two of which
came in the eighth and led to his departure, and three walks. (And one of those
hits, off the bat of Jason Bartlett, easily could have been ruled an error on
Dustin Pedroia.) He struck out nine and watched just two runners get as far as
third base, as he improved his record at Fenway Park to 9-1 with a 2.66 ERA.
It didn't
hurt that the Sox came out swinging. By the time Lester took the mound in the
second inning, the Sox had scored three runs. Mark Kotsay took a walk to open
for Boston, then David Ortiz rocketed a double off the Wall, scoring Kotsay.
Kevin Youkilis singled up the middle, bringing Ortiz around to score, but the
first baseman was cut down trying to move to second on the throw. That left the
bases empty for Jason Bay, who answered with his sixth home run for Boston,
hitting the ball off the light tower by the flagpole in center field.
Even luck
was with Lester. When Ben Zobrist smashed a ball with two outs in the eighth
inning, it hit maybe 6 inches from the top of the Wall, winding up a single.
That was followed by a double to right by Carlos Pena that bounced into the
stands, keeping the runner at third. That was it for Lester, who received an
extended standing ovation as he walked off the field, tipping his cap to the
raucous crowd of 37,662.
Working
Baldelli mostly on the inside of the plate, Papelbon rifled a 97-mile-per-hour
fastball past a whipsaw swing and into the grasp of Varitek. Cue the strikeout,
and it was nearly over for the Rays. For one night, at least. |
