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JON LESTER |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Jon Lester tosses a complete game
one-hitter against the Blue Jays
May 10, 2013 ...
Jon Lester was as good as he's ever been, if not better, during a one-hit shutout over the Blue Jays, as the Red Sox snapped their three-game losing streak with a 5-0 win. Lester carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, gave up a two-out
line-drive double to Maicer Izturis, and retired the next 10 batters.
He finished his 10th career complete game and third career shutout -- his previous two shutouts came in 2008 -- with five strikeouts and no walks. His cutter sharp, right-handed batters rolled grounders to the left side of the infield for 11 of his 27 outs.
Considering the Blue Jays' offense thrives off the long ball -- they entered Friday third in the Majors with 45 homers, while 25th in the Majors with a .238 batting average -- Lester's ability to keep the ball on the ground was of the utmost importance in a close
game.
Lester worked quickly, striking out a season-low five while working through an inning in seven pitches or fewer twice and finished with a season-high 118 pitches. The efficiency was surely appreciated by the bullpen, which has been getting more than enough work to
pay the bills of late while it waits word on the fate of closer Joel Hanrahan, who could be forced to undergo season-ending surgery.
On the other side, the process in the Red Sox's hitting approach -- patient early in counts, swinging rarely but always aggressive with two strikes -- was working well. But the outcome wasn't there for much of the game. They had a baserunner every inning, but
rarely cashed in. Before Dustin Pedroia lined a one-run single in the seventh, the Red Sox had gone 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners on base.
They continuously got the best of 39-year-old starter Ramon Ortiz, drawing five walks while collecting four hits in his five innings, but could muster just one run off an error by Izturis at short that allowed Daniel Nava to score. In the seventh, they finally
scored four runs off five hits.
Shane Victorino reached base four times and made the Blue Jays pay with his baserunning, which saved an out by beating out a throw to second base in the fifth. He also advanced a base twice on a passed ball and a wild pickoff attempt.
Lester improved to 5-0 with a 2.73 ERA. His one-hit gem is one of three to be pitched in the Majors this season.
Joel Hanrahan's first season pitching for the Red Sox is about to be over. Dr. James Andrews examined the righthander and found tearing in the flexor muscle tendon. Hanrahan returned to Fenway Park during a 5-0 victory against the Blue Jays. He is
expected to meet with team officials this weekend and determine his next move. Surgery, several major league sources said, is likely. Andrew Bailey, who is on the disabled list with a strained biceps, has thrown the last two days and shown improvement. |
