Dominant Jon Lester Overshadowed by Ricky Romero
By John Green
Heading into the final game of a miserable road trip to open the season, the Red Sox had reason to be encouraged. The Sox would be sending their ace Jon Lester to the mound to take on Ricky Romero, who the Red Sox had hit hard in the past–they wouldn’t get the same results this time.
The two southpaws battled to the finish and were both dominant in doing so. Jon Lester’s line looked like this–8 IP, 3H, 3ER, 2BB, 6K
This start was just what the Red Sox needed but opposing pitcher Ricky Romero was a little bit better. His final line–8.1 IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 5K
The Red Sox got the scoring started in the top of the third when Cody Ross and Mike Aviles led the inning off with consecutive singles, Kelly Shoppach tried to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt but couldn’t get it up the line and J.P. Arencibia went to third for a force out. Jacoby Ellsbury singled into left field in the next at bat to give the Sox a 1-0 lead–something that hadn’t happened yet this season by the way.
The accomplishment was short lived though. Eric Thames led off the bottom of the bottom half of the third with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before speedster Rajai Davis smacked a triple that tied the game at 1 a piece. The next batter Yunel Escobar got one deep enough to score Davis with a sac fly and give the Jays a 2-1 lead.
Rajai Davis scored the Jays’ third run in the bottom of the eighth as well when he walked to open the inning, stole second and then Yunel Escobar again drove him in, this time with a single.
The Red Sox would again threaten in the ninth when Ellsbury and Pedroia led off the inning with walks and moved to second and third on a fly out by Adrian Gonzalez but after Romero got the first out, Sergio Santos came on and got Kevin Youkilis to strikeout and David Ortiz grounded out to shortstop to end the game and give him his first save in three tries.
The Sox have the day off Thursday and open their home schedule on Friday at Fenway Park with a 1-5 record but hey, it could be worse right? They could be 0-6 heading into the home opener
For all the latest news and analysis from BoSox Injection, follow us on twitter, Facebook, or with our RSS Feed