I want to dedicate this column to one of my buds who, back in the day was always kind to me, even though I was a pimply faced snot nosed punk! She was always nice to me and made me feel important, I would not be where I am today without her help. So this goes out to one of my biggest supporters, as well as the best listener and smile around, Suzy Q!
Game 124 Recap-
New Red Sox LF Jason Bay had 2 home runs and 4 RBI, while LH Jon Lester(12-4) was strong over 7, helping the Boston Red Sox defeat the Baltimore Orioles,6-3 at Camden Yards in Maryland. Red Sox C Jason Varitek and Orioles Dh Aubrey Huff also homered. Lester was great over 7, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs with 4 Ks and 5 walks.
RH Jeremy Guthrie(10-9,3.15) continued his snake bitten season, allowing only the two home runs to score over his 7 innings, while allowing 5 hits & 5 walks with 4 Ks. Rookie RH Rocky Cherry allowed 2 runs( 1 earned) on Bay’s 2nd homer in the 8th. Jim Johnson(2-4,19 holds,2.37) had a rare tough night, allowing a rbi double from DH David Ortiz & Bay scored Big Papi on a fielders choice ground out.
Offensively, the Os did not have a good night vs Lester, yet pulled within one in the 8th when they scored 2 inherited runs vs Red Sox stud closer Jonathan Papelbon. However, Papelbon was back to normal in the 9th, retiring the side in order to earn his #33 save. Lester, however, was huge(9-1 since May 25th and he talked about his season postgame.”I don’t think my mind-set has changed any since April,” Lester said. “More consistent, pound the zone. If you can show guys you’re ahead in the zone, they’re going to swing at pitches early in the count that aren’t necessarily good pitches to hit. I was able to do that tonight.”
Star of the Game-
Bay & Lester- LF Adjusting nicely to the league change and the pressure cooker of Boston. hitting .348 with 3 homers and 16 rbi in 16 games. Lester? Lets hear his new OF talk about him,”I don’t think my mind-set has changed any since April,” Lester said. “More consistent, pound the zone. If you can show guys you’re ahead in the zone, they’re going to swing at pitches early in the count that aren’t necessarily good pitches to hit. I was able to do that tonight.”
Orioles Notes-
Team is around 3000 fans short of 50 million at Camden Yards…5 of Guthrie’s 9 losses have been quality starts… 3b Melvin Mora’s hit steak stopped at 6 but he has a 15 gam streak of collecting at least 1 hit, an rbi or run…Huff had 2 hits to pace the club
Next Game-
Tuesday, 7:05
Orioles RH Daniel Cabrera(8-7,4.78) vs Red Sox RH Daisuke Matsuzaka(14-2,2.74)
