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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - June 21, 2013 ... Thanks to a relentless offense that leads the Majors in runs scored, Jon Lester's latest subpar performance felt more like a concern than a crisis for the Red Sox in their 10-6 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Boston bats got a monster game from Shane Victorino, who went 4-for-5 and tied a career high with five RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew and the ridiculously-hot Jose Iglesias added multihit games as the Sox washed away the sour taste of a walk-off defeat on Thursday. With all that run support at his back, Lester got the win, running his record to 7-4. It wasn't easy, however. The lefty gave up nine hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out three. This was the sixth time in Lester's last seven starts he's surrendered four earned runs or more. Even more concerning is the fact Lester has given up five runs or more in his last three games, not pitching six innings in any of those starts. At 45-31, the Red Sox lead the Orioles by two games in the American League East. Coming off a tough loss, this win felt particularly important, especially when you consider the Tigers are throwing Max Scherzer (10-0) and Justin Verlander in the final two games of the series. The Red Sox got out to a quick lead in the first, as Victorino started his prolific night by belting a solo homer to right. Detroit starter Doug Fister never did get into a rhythm in this one. Ellsbury and Victorino struck back-to-back, one-out singles in the third. Pedroia got a run home on a fielder's-choice grounder to give Boston a 2-1 lead. The Boston bats stayed on Fister. In fact, they delivered him a knockout punch in the fourth. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Drew and Iglesias had consecutive one-out singles. Ellsbury (two-run double) and Victorino (two-run single) gave the Sox what seemed to be a comfortable edge at 6-1. In this one, however, Detroit simply couldn't stop Boston often enough. Iglesias went to the opposite field in right for a triple in the sixth. Victorino came through yet again with an RBI single to left, making it a two-run game. After Leyland issued an intentional walk to Ellsbury in the eighth, Victorino hit a roller to short that drove home a run. Jhonny Peralta's throw home was not in time to get Saltalamacchia. A wild pitch by Al Alburquerque stretched Boston's edge to 9-5. For Boston, all that run support wound up being fortuitous. Lester needed all of it. Lester finished the inning and got two outs in the sixth before manager John Farrell pulled him after 102 pitches. Lester has struggled mightily in his last seven starts: He has a 7.30 earned run average and has allowed 56 hits and 21 walks over 40 2/3 innings. Nine of those hits have been home runs. Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow, and Andrew Miller allowed one run on two hits over the final 3 1/3 innings. The season is not yet half over and the Red Sox have their third closer. It's righthander Koji Uehara, who was selected to replace Andrew Bailey. The 38-year-old Uehara has pitched well in a setup role, allowing 19 hits over 30 innings and striking out 42. He was Baltimore's closer for part of the 2010 season and saved 13 games. He also closed for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan in 2007. David Ross was diagnosed with his second concussion of the season and has been shut down indefinitely. He will return to his home in Florida to recover. Ryan Lavarnway will back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Righthander Clayton Mortensen has started a rehab assignment with Triple A Pawtucket. He was placed on the disabled list June 11 with what the team said was a groin strain. |
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