Let's Make it Two in a Row: Twins-Sox Gamer VI

Well, some good news in Soxland, finally.  The Sox won a one-run game.  David Ortiz took batting practice and, according to the Globe, may be getting ready for minor league rehab.  Oh, and Jon Lester is starting. 

Count me among the many who (foolishly) called for Lester to be sent down to find an out pitch, to head to Pawtucket to hone his skills against minor league talent.  Turns out that Boston was the right place for him to learn, working with John Farrell, Terry Francona, and Jason Varitek, along with his fellow pitchers on the roster.  Lester has emerged, and we couldn't be happier to have been utterly wrong.  Tonight he faces off against Nick Blackburn, another Twin pitcher who, like the new Lester (5 walks in his last 41.2 IP), walks almost nobody.  Last night the Sox waited one out against another fine control pitcher in Scott Baker, hopefully they won't force their pitcher(s) to throw another shutout this evening.  Comment here throughout tonight's action.

Red Sox

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Manny Ramirez, DH
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Brandon Moss, LF
8. Julio Lugo, SS
9. Kevin Cash, C
-- Jon Lester, SP

Twins

1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Craig Monroe, DH
6. Delmon Young, OF
7. Brendan Harris, 2B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
--Nick Blackburn, SP

Comments

[dw (sf)]

Lester has become a stud. I can't believe that people weren't saying he was snubbed for the all star game. But, I guess his early season struggles, and the love of win/loss and ERA wins out over realizing what a good pitcher he has become over the last few months. I think he's made the most starts in the majors this year as well.

[Lar]

Not to hijack this, but anyone want FanFest tickets for Friday? I'll go for 25$ for a pair.. something came up and I can't make it. Grumbles.

[Lar]

Lester definitely was the unsung hero thus far, much like Rasner was for the Yanks before he realized he's Rasner..

[rootbeerfloat]

Selfishly, I'm happy to have Lester relaxing and resting up for the second half.

[Atheose]

Damn, unusual error by Lowell.

[rootbeerfloat]

But wiped away by caught stealing.

[Atheose]

Caught stealing! Yeah Cash!

[Atheose]

Err, yeah Lester! And then a walk to even things out.

[Atheose]

Morneau walks, not a bad idea. 19 fastballs and 1 cutter so far.

[Atheose]

And Lester gets out of the inning! 22 pitches, only 10 for strikes, but there's no damage. Hopefully he'll settle down in the 2nd.

Cause let's face it--that walk to Morneau was half intentional.

[Devine]

"love of win/loss and ERA wins out"

What's wrong with Lester's ERA? Snubbed!! Snubbed, I tell you!!!

[Atheose]

Jacoby with the lead-off single! We needed that.

[Brad]

I say walk Morneau every single time his foot goes into the box

[Atheose]

How about Daisuke's ERA/win total? Snubbed!

[Atheose]

Drew is god-like. Doubles in Jacoby, 1-0 Sox.

[Atheose]

Well the Sox' strategy is "swing" tonight. Two hits and a run, and yet he still only uses 12 pitches this inning.

But hey, as long as we're scoring runs I don't care if we're not patient.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Young apparently trapped that one. Can't get a break.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

10 pitches, three outs. no complaints here.

[Atheose]

10-pitch inning for Lester.

[SF]

Gotta put the kid to bed then cook dinner, but should be able to join the fun in a bit.

[Atheose]

9 pitch inning for Blackburn. Keep it going Lester.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

The baby is asleep, the 6-year-old is helping with dinner and the wife's flight is delayed. My dinner is on the grill and I'm here.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

And a SIX-pitch inning.

[Atheose]

Lester: 7 pitch inning. Wow.

[stuck working]

This game's currently on pace to be just about two hours long.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Blackburn matches with a 6-pitch inning.
I like this pace. 40 minutes to play three innings.

[Atheose]

This game's gunna be over by 9:00!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Nope. We're jinxing it.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

NYY 2, TB 0, bot 3

[stuck working]

As Lester gives up two runs and looks like the Lester of old, how about some reactions to the Harden trade? I'm not one to second guess Billy Beane, but it sure seems like the A's could have gotten more back.

[sf rod]

geez. i switch over to the yanks game and come back to find the sox down 2. teaches me for rooting for the empire.

[SF]

Gah, what happened?!

[SF]

Bats still dead, eh?

[Atheose]

Well shit.

[SF]

Ten in a row for the Sox make an out. Nice!

Back to the kitchen to finish making dinner.

[rootbeerfloat]

Rod - You're rooting for the yanks??

rbf- would you not root for the O's against the d-rays? well the yanks are closer to the O's than they are to us. you gotta root for the yanks during this series.

[rootbeerfloat]

but...I....just....can't

[Paul SF]

I've decided that since I physically canno root for either the Yanks (most-hated team) or the Rays (second-most hated), I'm just going to have to hope the Sox keep winning. They benefit no matter who wins in the Bronx.

Should also note this Twins series is a battle between first and second in the Wild Card race.

Lester not having one of his best starts tonight, unfortunately. Still, if the Sox are only going to score one run, it's hard to fault him.

[stuck working]

My rule is: no strategic rooting until September. Until then (and maybe even then), rooting for the Yankees is crazy.

[SF]

A good inning from Lester. The Sox seem intent on forcing their starter to throw a shutout. Score one every night and the Sox will not win many games. They have to break out of this soon, right? Or are pitchers just reaping the benefit of a six-man offense, basically?

[SF]

Pedro extends the hitting streak to 16, singles through the hole to left.

[SF]

Drew with the right idea going the other way, but just doesn't get great wood on the ball, two down.

[SF]

Manny continues to be powerless. Last night he had a couple of solid singles, but he's not driving anything.

[Paul SF]

Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Justin Masterson have been tagged with 12 losses in which they've thrown quality starts. Looks like Lester's joining that unfortunate parade...

[SF]

Hell of a play by Pedroia after the leadoff double, saved a run for sure but now there's a guy at third with only one out.

[SF]

Bah, flare to left scores another run.

This lead looks insurmountable the way the bats are going.

Tough luck for Lester, forced to basically be perfect again. He hasn't been great, but he's had zero breathing room.

[Paul SF]

Well, not anymore... 4 ER means no QS.

[sf rod]

i'm getting the feeling lester and cash aren't the best battery mates. the sox would be better served giving tek a break on a beckett or dice-k start.

is rondell white the firstbase coach for the twins?

[SF]

Paul:

Do you get a QS if you throw nine innings and only give up four runs? If the rule is 6/3, that's a 4.50 ERA. A 9/4 effort is a 4.00 ERA. But is the latter NOT a QS while the former is? I think that is the case, and therefore this statistic is limited.

[SF]

Lowell out softly to short. Man, this is like watching little leaguers. I got pilloried for being so negative last night, but this team's offense doesn't deserve much optimism, right?

[Atheose]

Youk triples!

[SF]

BABIP bad luck, WTF. Moss slices one about 6" foul down the left field line.

[SF]

And now he's down 0-2 with Youk at third.

[SF]

Moss gets his job done, sac fly to left scoring Youk. Now we need LFRS to get on and clear the pitcher for the eighth.

[SF]

LFRS could have taken a soft one on the bicep there but fails to lean in. Weak!!

[Atheose]

Lugo shows bunt but pulls back, then fouls one off. Full count.

Lugo's OPS (not OBP) for July is .368. Wow.

[SF]

LFRS singles! Nicely done!

[Atheose]

Reverse jynx gets Lugo on in all its glory.

Casey pinch-hitting for Cash now.

[sf rod]

had coco, tek, or lugo on saturday been able to do what moss just did, we probably would have had another win in that series.

cash lifted for casey. tek, find your gear.

[SF]

and the call to the bullpen, Gardenhire coming out. Probably a good move - Blackburn getting hit more this inning.

[SF]

Cash up. Does Tito dare PH Tek? Whither Casey? Or is it Cash getting another AB?

[IronHorse (yf)]

4 runs in 9 is not a QS. A QS is 6 OR MORE IP allowing 3 or less hits.

[SF]

Wrong on all counts: Jeff Bailey, who is quickly down 0-2. I'd rather have Casey up there.

[Atheose]

Just kidding, Bailey in for Casey. Ugh.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Is Reyes El Guapo's twin?

[Atheose]

Casey was hitting .350 against lefties. Why is Bailey in there?

And he K's looking.

[SF]

So Tito sends up Bailey, who goes down on three straight pitches. Way to send up a seasoned vet in a pinch, Francona.

Tito hasn't had a great tactical year thus far - that was a head-scratcher to me.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Well THAT was a quality at-bat.

[SF]

Yeah, IH, it's a silly statistical loophole. A complete game four-run effort is just better than 3ER in the minimum six. Stupid.

[Atheose]

Lester back out there, at 102 pitches.

[Atheose]

Mauer slaps a ball through the gap. Lester still out there.

[SF]

So Tito actually announced Casey, then pulled him when the lefty came in. Nice work by the manager to drain his bench and end up with a rookie staring at three strikes basically.

Bad job by our manager.

[SF]

And now Lester back out. Not sure I like this either.

[SF]

Another single. Watch Tito amble to the mound now.

[IronHorse (yf)]

"allowing 3 or less hits"

Ummm...I met 3 or more RUNS, obviously.

[Atheose]

Morneau barely hits one through the gap. Lester's inability to get those lefties out is not good.

ANd now a righty at bat... and Lester stays in?

[SF]

Nope, Tito leaving Lester out there to work out of it. That's some serious confidence in the bullpen.

Theo, are you watching?

[TJ]

Has Francona gone stupid?

[Atheose]

Lester gets ahead of the righty but he's battling now. Lester shouldn't have come in against him.

[Atheose]

I assumed Tito was leaving Lester in to get the two lefties out. Shocked to see him still in.

He eventually K's Monroe though, and he's out now. Aardsma in.

[SF]

K. Now Tito comes out, Lester up near 120 pitches.

[SF]

Aardsma has a live arm. And a wild one.

[Atheose]

And another ground ball through the gap. That's three of those this inning. Frustrating.

[IronHorse (yf)]

What inning are you in?

[SF]

And there's single, likely the final nail. Another run charged to Lester. Why the hell did Tito push him so far? What was the point?

Painful team to watch, from Tito on down.

[SF]

Good DP turned by the Sox, but not until after that big fifth run.

This is the inning for the Sox, I would think. Last chance, to an extent, with the top of the order.

[SF]

Ooh, Ells gets a break on a check swing, looked like he went. 1-1 the count. Come on, Jacoby.

[Atheose]

Well the crowd is getting behind the team at least. Loud cheer going for Ellsbury.

[Atheose]

FAIR BALL! Ellsbury doubles. Two hits for him tonight, we've needed that from him.

[SF]

Double leading off, a flare to left. A little BABIP luck finally!

Gardenhire yanks Reyes.

[sf rod]

tito basically forced gardenhire not to manage tonite. it's like a nite off for ronny.

[Atheose]

I smell a Drew homerun coming up.

[Atheose]

Pedroia slaps one over the infield. Two on, no outs for Drew.

[SF]

OK, bingo. Pedro with a single to right, 1/3 nobody down and the tying run in the form of JD at the dish.

[sf rod]

dustin is a miniature version of vlady.

[IronHorse (yf)]

"dustin is a miniature version of vlady"

Whooooaaaaa there. I don't want to hijack the biggest drama point of your gamer by picking up on that comment, but we need to discuss it later!

[Atheose]

Well Drew advanced the runner and got an RBI. Productive at-bat.

COme on Manny!

[sf rod]

wow.

[SF]

MANNY!