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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - May 20, 2013 ... It was a night covered in frustration for the Red Sox. Jon Lester kept getting two outs, only to give up a big hit after that. The offense kept knocking on the door, and the one big hit that would have changed the game never came. It added up to a 6-4 loss to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in the opener of a three-game series. Just like that, Boston's five-game winning streak came to an end. The Red Sox had two strong bids to tie the game in the late innings, and they both fell just short. Jarrod Saltalamacchia ripped one to deep left with two outs in the seventh, but Dayan Viciedo flagged it down in front of the wall. In the ninth, the scenario repeated itself. With one out and Mike Napoli on first, Will Middlebrooks hammered one to center. This one landed in the glove of Alejandro De Aza, right in front of the wall. In losing his first game of the season, Lester (6-1, 3.15 ERA) gave up seven hits and six runs (five earned) over six innings. He walked three and struck out two. Lester retired the first two batters he faced and suddenly ran into big trouble in that bottom of the first. Alex Rios started the rally with a single and Paul Konerko followed with a walk. Up stepped Adam Dunn, who drilled a three-run homer to right to make it a 3-0 game. Things worsened for Lester and Boston in the second. Again, the trouble all started with two outs. Tyler Greene jump-started things this time for Chicago with a double to right. De Aza then lined one down the third-base line that was fair by inches, going into left for an RBI double that made it 4-0. Alexei Ramirez opened the cushion to five runs with an RBI single to right. Things worsened for Lester and Boston in the second. Again, the trouble all started with two outs. Tyler Greene jump-started things this time for Chicago with a double to right. De Aza then lined one down the third-base line that was fair by inches, going into left for an RBI double that made it 4-0. Alexei Ramirez opened the cushion to five runs with an RBI single to right. Lester settled down for a couple of scoreless innings, but the White Sox again got to him in the fifth. The inning started with Middlebrooks making an error on a grounder by Ramirez, who then stole second and Rios drew a walk. Not even a double-play ball off the bat of Konerko could get Lester out of the rally unscathed. Viciedo's single up the middle made it a 6-2 game, as the White Sox again got a key two-out hit. The Red Sox refused to make it easy for Chicago. David Ortiz and Napoli led off the seventh with walks. Middlebrooks pummeled a two-run double off the wall in left and Boston was within two, but that would be as close as it would come. In 10 career starts against the White Sox, Lester is 4-5 with a 5.43 ERA. Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness. He is day-to-day. The Red Sox did get a big swing from Saltalamacchia in the third, as the catcher unloaded for a two-run homer to left-center to make it a 5-2 game. Jose Iglesias, who has played only shortstop in his career, worked out at third base before Triple A Pawtucket played Indianapolis. He is expected to play third later this week and will get work at second base, too. Assistant general manager Mike Hazen said the Red Sox do not intend to make Iglesias into a utility player long term. The idea is to prepare him for that role in case the need arises this season. Pedro Ciriaco has not played well for the Red Sox, committing six errors in 103 innings and hitting .184. Utility infielder Brock Holt, who was acquired from the Pirates in the Joel Hanrahan trade, spent much of spring training with the major league team. But he has struggled at the plate for Pawtucket this season, hitting .198 through Sunday. The Red Sox activated closer Andrew Bailey off the disabled list. Righthander Jose De La Torre was optioned to Pawtucket. |
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