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TROPICANA FIELD |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Red Sox pitching gives up
four homers to the Rays
June 11, 2013 ...
Jon
Lester had his worst outing of the season, and the Red Sox suffered an 8-3 loss to the Rays. Lester (6-3, 4.12 ERA) lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. He tied a career high with seven walks while striking out three and throwing 98 pitches.
Without question, Lester has been trending in the wrong direction of late. In his first nine starts, he went 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA. But in his last five outings, he is 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA. Opponents are hitting .314 against him in that span. The one thing Red
Sox Nation can take heart in is that nothing is physically wrong with Lester.
The only thing that eased manager John Farrell's mind was the work of Jose De La Torre out of the bullpen. Called up from Triple-A Pawtucket earlier in the day, De La Torre gave the Red Sox 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run. He was able to finish
out the game after Lester departed. It was clear right from the outset that Lester wasn't sharp. Desmond Jennings opened the bottom of the first with an infield single, and Sean Rodriguez followed with a walk. Evan Longoria and Yunel Escobar drew one-out
walks to load the bases, then Lester walked James Loney to force in a run. Lester walked four in that frame. Jennings gave the Rays the lead in the second when he belted a two-out solo shot to center.
Back came the Red Sox in the third. Jose Iglesias got it started with a single and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Victorino pushed the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Following an intentional walk to David Ortiz, Mike Napoli looped in a
two-run single to give Boston the lead back, at 3-2.
The Rays would come right back. With two on and two out, Ryan Roberts came up with an RBI single up the middle. Jose Molina followed with an RBI single, and Tampa Bay was back in front, at 4-3. Longoria continued to make things tough on Lester, belting a
solo homer to the opposite field in right in the fourth.
Lester's undoing came in the fifth, when he issued one-out walks to Roberts and Molina, the Nos. 7 and 8 hitters. He did pick off Roberts between second and third, but Matt Joyce, batting ninth, cranked a two-run homer, ending Lester's night. Clay Buchholz
has twice had starts pushed back this season because of minor injuries and now Lester is struggling. A Red Sox rotation that once looked strong is showing signs of wear at the top with 60 percent of the season still to play.
Iglesias was 2 for 4 and raised his batting average to .449. His 14-game hit streak is the longest for an American League rookie this season. Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 10 straight games. He is 21 of his last 47 and stole his AL-leading 27th base in
the first inning. To make room for Jose De La Torre on the roster, the Red Sox placed Clayton Mortensen on the disabled list with what they said was a right groin strain. |
