My first baseball game in ten days. Feels great. It was a great game, too. Jon Lester brought heat for more than seven shutout innings and got the win. He allowed eight hits on the night, struck out six, and walked nobody. I can’t get over this kid. It’s quality start after quality start with him. His ERA is 3.20. How about that? And we needed this win badly. We’re still 1.5 games out, but at least we’re not losing anymore.
The final score was 4-0, and who was responsible for the first two runs? None other than Jason Varitek. He hit a two-run home run off Jarrod Washburn in the fifth. I’m not kidding. It was his eighth of the season. Jed Lowrie was responsible for the other two runs, which scored in the eighth. He’s another kid I love. He’s fast, he’s great in the field, and he’s got beautiful offensive numbers. Finally, a shortstop who can do it all. Remember the last time we had one of those? I hope Lowrie will be up long enough to learn Lugo a thing or two. At this point, Lugo can take all the time he wants on the DL.
Pap got the save. 1.2 innings, no runs, hits, walks, or K’s. Best closer in the game. Sometimes doesn’t know when to keep quiet, showed off his 2007 World Series ring on the All-Star parade in New York City. Hey, that’s Pap for you. It’s why we love him so much. That, and his ERA is 2.34. Just sayin’.
With Aardsma on the DL, Masterson is back. I still think they’re making a mistake turning him into a reliever completely. Let him start in the minors and relieve in the Majors. Colon will be joining the bullpen soon, and David Ortiz is still burning it up in Portland. I hope he comes back soon, but it’ll be interesting to see whether JD Drew will slow his roll. I don’t think that’ll happen. If anything, it’ll relieve some of the pressure that’s been on him lately, especially with Pedroia and Youkilis finally finding their footing.
We’re more than halfway through the season and about to hit the final stretch come August. After the Angels, the Rays are the winningest team in the Majors right now. And that’s a standing they’re barely holding on to. The series with New York will be big. But in the meantime, Dice-K (10-1 on the season, baby!) at RA Dickey (2-4, 3.73 ERA) in the late start tonight. Let’s hope we get something going on this road trip.
