Not wanting to be outdone by Josh Beckett, Jon Lester hurled 6 1-run innings while striking out five and inducing three double plays to win 8-1. Lester fell behind 1-0 when Jarrod Saltalamacchia made a mental error and threw to second with runners on the corners to allow a steal of home. However, Saltalmacchia atoned for his sin with an RBI single to score Jed Lowrie, who is batting .452. Jacoby Ellsbury, batting next, took advantage of J.D. Drew at second base to take two high balls before getting the pitch he wanted. Ells crushed the ball deep down the right-field line and it easily cleared the wall for a three-run homer. In the sixth, Salty came through again with a two-run single down the right-field line to put them up 6-1, and Jed Lowrie knocked in two more with a fielding error in the eighth. Lester cruised, and a succession of relievers- namely Dan Bard, Felix Doubront, Bobby Jenks, and Dan Wheeler- allowed only one hit to shut down the Jays in the late innings. The only dark spot: Dustin Pedroia went hitless to fall to .315 on the season. I think that it is great that the Sox are waking up offensively. This can only bring good things.The series concludes tomorrow with a traditional 11:00 AM Patriot's Day start during the Boston Marathon. Lefty Ricky Romero will oppose Red Sock Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is 0-2 with an ERA over 12. I hope that the offense can stay alive, and that Dice-K can pull his game together.
Trivia
The bottom two players in the lineup, Saltalamacchia and Ellsbury, combined for three hits and 6 RBI.
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