GAME 45 – 5/20/2013 – in Chicago vs. the White Sox

RESULT – LOSS 6-4

Jon Lester and the Red Sox had a very frustrating night in Chicago.  The White Sox ended the Red Sox winning streak at 5 with clutch two-out hitting.

Lester got the first 2 outs in the bottom of the first then let up a single, a walk and a 3-run homer to Adam Dunn to put them in the hole 3-0.  In the bottom of the second, he got the first 2 batters to groundout to start the inning but then the White Sox doubled three straight times to plate 2 more and stake them to a 5-0 lead.  In the bottom of the 5^th, an error by Will Middlebrooks and walk to Alex Rios was erased with a double play by Paul Konerko.  Lester again had two outs then walked Adam Dunn and then let up a single to Viciedo to plate the 6^th run for the White Sox.

All runs were scored when Jon Lester had 2 outs in the inning.  He just couldn’t get that final out and put them away and credit the White Sox for getting big clutch 2-out hits.

It looked like to me that Lester’s command was a bit off.  He was leaving pitches up in the zone and Chicago hitters weren’t missing them.  His final line was 6 innings, 7 this 6 runs (only 5 earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts.  Four of the 7 hits went for extra bases and the White Sox continually hit him hard.  The loss was Lester’s first on the year and his ERA rose to 3.15.  His season so far has been outstanding and he said it best after the game. “It was bound to (end) sometime, it is what it is.” – Lester

Jon Lester hasn’t faired all too well against the White Sox in his career.  He’s had 10 career starts against Chicago and is 4-5 with a gaudy 5.43 ERA.

The Red Sox hitters tried to tie up the game and had two innings that looked like they might do it but both bids fell just a bit short.

In the 7^th, Jarrod Saltalmacchia, who homered in the 3^rd) ripped a shot to deep left with 2 outs that looked like it had enough to get out of the ballpark.  Dayan Viciedo was able to flag it down right in front of the wall to end the inning.

Then in the 9^th, with one out and Mike Napoli on 1^st, Will Middlebrooks hit a shot to center that also looked like it could go.  Alejandro De Aza was able to catch up to it right in front of the wall again for the 2^nd out of the inning.  The wind seemed to be blowing in a bit and cutting down the high fly balls to left and center field.

Middlebrooks did have a big 2-run double in the 7^th to cut the lead to 6-4.  It was his only hit on the night.  Saltalamacchia went 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 RBI.  Pedroia, Napoli and Victorino each had a hit in the game as well as the Sox only had 6 hits.  Shane Victorino left the game in the 6^th inning with hamstring tightness and is day-to-day.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 0-4 and is now batting .241 with an on-base percentage of .303.  He’s simply not getting on base enough for a lead-off hitter.  I know he’s got a ton of speed but it may be time to go with Victorino at the lead-off spot and give Ellsbury some time to figure stuff out in a different spot in the order.

Middlebrooks made his 7^th error of the year in the bottom of the 5^th and it led to an unearned run for Jon Lester.  Will’s fielding percentage this year is a terrible .936 and though he worked on his fielding all Spring Training, the results just aren’t there.  He made 9 errors last year in 72 games and already has 7 in 43 this year.  His career fielding percentage is .944.  This is not something all that new to Will and the Red Sox.  He posted a career .939 fielding percentage in the Minors over the course of 5 seasons.  The Sox seem content on letting him figure it out but if he doesn’t pick it up soon, he’ll be DH’ing when Ortiz hangs up the cleats.

The bullpen pitched 2 solid innings of relief giving up only 1 hit and walking 1 in 2 innings of work.  Clayton Mortensen pitched a perfect 7^th inning which was a relief as he’s been struggling as of late.

They’ll lace it up again tonight as the Red Sox will send Felix Doubront to the mound (3-1, 6.03 ERA) against lefty Jose Quintana (2-1, 3.97 ERA).  Quintana is coming off a start in which he was roughed up by the Angels for 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 and 2/3 innings. Doubront has struggled of late giving up 12 earned runs on 23 hits in 2 games before his last outing on 5/16.  He looked a little better that game going 5 innings and giving up only 2 runs but he walked 6 in the outing.  The Sox will look for Doubront to be a bit more consistent and get them back on track. 

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Salty went 2 for 3 with a homerun and 2 RBI in the losing effort.  He also had a homer fall just short that may have tied up the game in the 7^th.  Salty has hit the ball pretty good of late hitting at .370 in his last 10 games.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Jon Lester.  Lester just didn’t have that great of command last night.  He left a lot of balls up in the zone and couldn’t get the final out of innings.  It’s frustrating to get give up runs with 2 outs in an inning.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Bottom of the 5^th.  The Red Sox had battled back to make it a 5-2 game and Lester had 2 outs and Ramirez on 3^rd.  Lester walked Adam Dunn then gave up a single to centerfield to Dayan Viciedo to put the White Sox up 6-2.

NEXT

Tonight, May 21st in Chicago vs. the White Sox.