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JOHN FARRELL
& DAVID ORTIZ |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
From worst to first ... The Red Sox
clinch the American League East Title
September 20, 2013 ...
In a storybook season, the Red Sox reached Destination No. 1 in storybook fashion during tonight's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. Jon Lester continued his rebound season with his 13th start of at least seven
innings while allowing two runs or fewer. The offense used its ultra-patient approach to knock out the starting pitcher before the fifth inning for the 39th time, tied for most in the Majors in 2013. And John Farrell pulled the right strings in the bullpen again, as he became the seventh
manager in Red Sox history to lead the team to the playoffs in his first year at the helm. From fifth place to first place, the Red Sox became the second AL team since 1994 to win a division title after occupying the cellar the previous year.
Pitching coach Juan Nieves had to team up with Farrell to convince Lester that he shouldn't go back to the mound for the eighth. Lester had already thrown 123 pitches. The infield came in and a ground ball was needed. The big lefty obliged, inducing a
groundout to third baseman Will Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks has been in rare form himself lately, having started the season with high expectations after a strong rookie showing in 2012,
but forced back to the Minors due to poor play and an unforgiving personality. After finding balance and regaining confidence, Middlebrooks, who later made a diving stop, returned with a renewed purpose, and his defensive play has been at the forefront. As he
fielded the ground ball running to his right, he stepped on third base for the force and threw home for the eventual double play. Lester then struck out J.P. Arencibia to end the inning.
At 109 pitches through six, Lester demanded to be sent back to the mound to start the seventh. One, two, three the Jays went. Lester struck out Jose Reyes to an eruption of noise and a
standing ovation. It marked his ninth straight quality start. He has a 1.80 ERA in that span.
Dustin Pedroia hit a leadoff double that led to him scoring the Red Sox's first run on a wild pitch. In the third it was Daniel Nava who roped his 29th double, this one off the
Green Monster, to start the inning. He scored when Mike Carp, who has an OPS more than 300 points higher than the one he posted with the Mariners last year, drew a bases-loaded walk.
Back on the attack in the seventh, the Red Sox strung together four straight hits to start the inning. Carp cashed in two on a two-out single and Boston took a 5-1 lead. With the intensity increasing at Fenway Park and not an empty seat to be found,
Koji Uehara was called upon for a five-out save. Uehara finished the eighth by striking out Arencibia on three pitches. Then he worked a scoreless ninth yet again. He high-fived
and celebrated. For once, the entire team joined him.
Jon Lester picked up his 100th win, joining Smoky Joe Wood, Mel Parnell, Bob Stanley, and Roger Clemens as the only pitchers to win their first 100 games with the Sox.
General manager Ben Cherington sat quietly in the dugout, his hands folded and a "WE OWN THE EAST" T-shirt pulled over his professional attire. Soon after the celebration, the grounds crew was back watering the field. The cans and corks had been disposed of.
The sticky tarp was taken down off the lockers and piled on the floor, almost reaching the 101-year-old ceiling. There's baseball to be played.
Ryan Dempster will not be part of the postseason rotation for the Red Sox. But the 36-year-old righthander could have a significant role coming out of the bullpen. Dempster was dropped from the rotation on Friday and will pitch in relief for the remainder of the
regular season and beyond. Jacoby Ellsbury, who hasn't played since Sept. 5 because of a fractured bone in his right foot, has started baseball workouts. Ellsbury hit balls off a tee and did some throwing before the game. Gary DiSarcina, the manager of
Triple A Pawtucket, has temporarily joined the coaching staff. |
