Eight Run Third More Than Enough Help For Lester As Sox End Skid

Jon Lester can now cross off the word “stopper” on his “Ace Form Regaining List”. Lester would pitch seven strong in last nights 9-2 win vs The Rays at the Trop. He gave up two runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking none. This was his second straight start without allowing a free pass. It was also encouraging to not see him not have a “hangover start” given he was one hit shy of a perfecto in his last outing. His five strikeouts were enough to move him up to fifth on the Red Sox all of all time strikeout leaders.

May 15, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) walks back to the dugout after he pitched the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The offense finally came alive in the third inning. David Price would only record one out before the route began. After giving up an RBI single to David Ortiz, Price would exit with an arm injury. Jamey Wright would come in to relieve Price, but ironically provided very little relief at all. He would allow both inherited runners to score. The third inning route would be capped off by a grand slam by Stephen Drew.

The score would remain 8-2 until the eighth inning, when Will Middlebrooks pretended Kyle Farnsworth was RA Dickey and took him deep for a solo home run. Koji Uehara and Jose De La Torre would pitch a scoreless eighth and ninth to secure the victory.

Felix Doubront opposes Alex Cobb tonight in the rubber match.