Now that’s what I’m talking about!!!! Last night on the left coast, Jon Lesterproved why he is the Ace of the Sox. He pitched 6 innings of 4 hit shutout ball, knocking the Angels out of first place and handing Dan Haren his first loss of the year.
Lester threw 111 pitches, allowing two walks and striking out 8, lowering his ERA to 2.59. Lester struck out the first 4 Angel hitters of the game. His 8 strikeouts bring his season to a team leading 30 K’s, 2 better than Josh Beckett‘s 28. The tandem of Lester and Beckett have 58 strikeouts in 59.1 total innings. We are finally seeing what we all expected at the beginning of spring training.
No one is harder on Lester than Lester himself. He was disappointed that he wasn’t able to go deep into the game. I don’t think too many are complaining today about his performance last night.
Expect match-ups like last nights to be the norm for the lefty power pitcher, there will be no free pass or easy victories coming anytime soon. He will be facing every teams ace and he will always have the target on his back. Going into last night, Dan Harenwas 4-0 and has won his last six starts going back to last season. Haren pitched well, but this night belonged to Lester. Lester is going to have to grind out every last win he gets this season. That’s what Cy Young Award winners and Hall of Famers do. This is how careers and legacy’s are defined. This is Lester’s destiny, we all saw this coming last year.
The win was the Red Sox 6th in 7 games and they have won three out of four on the recent road trip. Once again Bobby Jenksfailed to pitch a clean 8th inning, allowing 2 hits and a earned run. Don’t be surprised if you see Jenks sitting on this weeks “HOT Seat.” Jonathan Papelbon came away with another save, throwing 11 out of 12 pitches for strikes. He struck out Howard Kendrick to end the game with three straight strikes, the last being a 95 mph fastball past Kendrick.
Now it is hold your breath time as Daisuke Matsuzakatakes the hill tonight. I wonder which Daisuke we will see, the dominate one from his last appearance or the same ole high pitch, plate nibbler that drives us crazy?
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