I was surprised to see John Lackey come out of the dugout at the start of the 9th inning. Not because his pitch count was high but because John Farrell usually goes to Koji in those situations. The crowd kicked it up a notch when he stepped out though, and were ridiculously loud those final 3 outs.
This was perhaps Lackey’s finest
moment in a Red Sox uniform. The Red Sox
clinched their first postseason berth since 2009 and their 21st
overall appearance in the postseason with a 3-1 victory over the Orioles.
Though the Sox have their eyes on
the bigger prize, the AL East crown and the best record in the league, it was
still significant to punch a ticket to October.
The Rays ended up losing to the Rangers so the magic number is down to
just 1 game. With any luck, the Sox
could clinch tonight with a win or Ray’s loss.
John Lackey was simply
brilliant. He had a no-hitter going for
6 and 1/3 innings but Adam Jones broke it up with a homer over the Green Monster. It was really his only mistake of the the
night. His final line was a complete
game, 1 run on 2 hits, just 2 walks while striking out 8. He needed only 113 pitches to get through the
entire game. It was his best outing as a
Red Sox and his first complete game since 2009.
With his performance, the Red Sox
avoided being swept at Fenway Park. They
haven’t been swept at Fenway at all this year and have only one more
series. The Sox elected not to celebrate
last night, instead waiting to clinch the AL East. I like that idea. That’s the main goal. Win the division then ultimately win the
World Series.
Good thing Lackey was brilliant because
the Sox didn’t have much offense. They
mustered only 3 runs on 7 hits while leaving 6 men on base and going 2 for 9
with runners in scoring position.
Stephen Drew had the big bat
going 2 for 3 with a run, 2 RBI, his 7th triple of the year and his
13th homer. Dustin Pedroia
went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Jackie Bradley Jr. went 2 for 3 with a run scored
and a double. Jarrod Saltalamacchia went
1 for 4 with a run scored and a double.
David Ortiz walked once as did
Daniel Nava. That was it for offense in
this tightly contested matchup.
The Toronto Blue Jays will come
into Fenway Park for the final home series of the season tonight. Jon Lester (14-8, 3.75) will take the hill
for the Red Sox and he’ll be opposed by Esmil Rogers (5-7, 4.47). Lester has been fantastic in his last 8
starts not allowing more than 3 earned runs and going at least 6 innings. In his last outing against the Jays he went 6
and 1/3 innings and gave up just 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3 and
walking 2. Rogers has been pretty good
as of late, shining in his last 3 starts as he’s allowed only 3 earned
runs. In his last start against the Sox,
he went 6 innings giving up 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 6 and walking 1.
Let’s go Sox, clinch the AL East
tonight and get those beards wet.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
John Lackey. Lackey has been great all year but hasn’t
gotten any run support. He wouldn’t need
a lot last night as the goes the complete game and gives up just 1 run on 2
hits. He was brilliant, the best I’ve
seen him in 3 years.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Mike Napoli. Napoli’s been hot all September but last
night he went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The last out of the game, Lackey
got Adam Jones, who homered earlier in the game, to fly out to right to end the
night and clinch a postseason berth for the Red Sox.
NEXT
Friday, September 20th,
at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.
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