Its time to play Taps as Jon Lester's undefeated streak came to an end tonight against the Chicago White Sox. This also wasn't a random stinker, the White Sox have historically owned him at Comiskey Park (I refuse to call ballyards by corporate names) where he's now 4-5 with a 5.43 ERA.
It started off bad right from the beginning. White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod was supposedly pitching to keep his job and he sure pitched like it in the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino both grounded out to second before Dustin Pedroia flied out to right to end the inning. The crap hit the fan early for Lester although he began the bottom of the first by getting Alejandro De Aza to pop up to short to begin. Alexei Ramirez whiffed but a single by Alex Rios and a walk to Paul Konerko brought "Mr. All or Nothing" Adam Dunn to the plate. The man who either hits it out or doesn't hit it at all did the former, smashing a 3 run blast (11th of the year) to give the Chisox a quick lead. Dayan Viciedo grounded out to short to end the inning but the ChiSox had a 3-0 lead.
The Red Sox went quietly in the top of the 2nd as both David Ortiz and Mike Napoli grounded out to short. Daniel Nava flied out to center to end the inning. Once again Lester crapped his pants in the bottom of the second although Jeff Keppinger was retired on a ground out back to the mound. Tyler Flowers grounded out to short but Tyler Greene, Alejandro De Aza and Alexei Ramirez hit back to back to back doubles to put the Red Sox in a huge hole 2 innings into the game. Rios flied out to center to end the inning but it was now 5-0 Chicago
The Sox then put their rally caps on in the top of the third. Will Middlebrooks flied out to right but Stephen "PU" Drew worked a walk and Jarrod Saltalamacchia crushed a 2 run home run (5th of the year) to get the Sox on the board. Ellsbury grounded out to second and Victorino popped up to short to end the inning but it was now 5-2.
Now if Lester could settle down, the Sox could actually make a game of it. In the bottom of the third, Lester struck out Konerko to begin. Dunn flied out to right but Viciedo singled. This time, Lester got Jeff Keppinger to ground out to prevent any damage.
Dustin Pedroia started the top of the 4th with a single but David Ortiz hit into a double play to end that idea. Napoli whiffed to end the inning. Lester worked a clean 4th by getting Flowers to ground out to short to start. Greene grounded out to third and De Aza was thrown out at first by Lester on a bunt attempt to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Nava lined out to right, Middlebrooks whiffed and Drew flied out to left to end the inning. The bottom of the 5th was another comedy of errors. Middlebrooks played hot potato with a ground ball hit by Ramirez, his 7th error of the season to start. More lousy defense came about when Ramirez stole second when Lester didn't even bother to keep him on first. Rios walked but Lester got Konerko to bang into a double play. What should have been the inning ender still left the Chisox a chance. Dunn worked a walk and Viciedo singled home Ramirez to give Chicago another run Keppinger popped up to first but the ChiSox now led 6-2. Purely bawful.
The Sox tried to rally one more time in the 6th when Saltlamacchia singled. Unfortunately the slumping Ellsbury banged into a double play to ruin that. Victorino woke up for a minute to single off Axelrod but Pedroia flied out to end the inning. A struggling 5th starter held the Red Sox to one home run in 6 innings, that's just bawful offense. In the bottom of the sixth, Jonny Gomes took over in left field and Daniel Nava went to right after Victorino was hauled off on a gurney due to hamstring tightness. Lester came back for one final inning just to maintain some respectability. Flowers popped up to second, Greene flied out to center and De Aza grounded out to second to end the inning. 6 runs allowed by Lester in 6 innings, not his best work.
Matt Thornton took over for Axelrod in the top of the 7th and the Sox rallied. Ortiz and Mike Napoli drew back to back walks but Nava flied out. Then Middlebrooks atoned for his error by doubling to left which brought home both baserunners to make it 6-4. How big was that 6th run now? Now with the tying run at the plate, PU Drew did what he did best, look at strike 3. Saltalmacchia then flied out to end the rally but 2 run game is still manageable with some good relief pitching.
Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen replaced Lester for the bottom of the 7th and pitched a perfect inning to keep the Sox within reach. Ramirez and Rios grounded out to short before Konerko grounded out to third to end the inning.
The unhittable Jessie Crain came on in the 8th and Ellsbury grounded out to second but Gomes drew a walk. Once again the tying run came to the plate but neither Pedroia nor Ortiz could hit a ball out of the infield. Pedroia erased Gomes on a force at second and Ortiz popped to short to end the inning. Craig Breslow replaced Vigo and Dunn flied out to center to begin the bottom of the eighth. Viciedo walked and Casper Wells pinch ran for him. Keppinger doubled Wells to third but Breslow got a big out when Flowers popped up to third. Greene lined out to first to end the inning.
Chisox closer Addison Reed replaced Crain and gave up a leadoff single to Mike Napoli. For the 3rd inning in a row, the tying run came to the plate. Then Nava struck out and Middlebrooks popped up bringing up PU Drew. Could Drew extend the game........*drumroll*......no. Grounded out to first to end the game which gave Chicago a 6-4 win.
Tonight's Jackass of the Night is Jon Lester. He gave up 6 runs (5 earned) off 7 hits and 3 walks.....all of which came with 2 outs.
THE GOOD:
Shane Victorino was 1 for 3.
Jonny Gomes walked as a pinch hitter.
Mike Napoli was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 2 for 3 with a run scored and 2 rbi's.
Clayton Mortensen pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
THE BAD:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 0 for 4.
Daniel Nava was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
THE UGLY:
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4.
David Ortiz was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Will Middlebrooks was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Stephen Drew was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
As bad as Lester pitched, the Sox STILL had a chance to tie the game or take the lead throughout but couldn't get the clutch hit. Lester was due for a loss and Chicago is the one team he's had the most trouble with, but the lack of clutch hitting is appalling. The loss drops the Sox to 27-18, 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees who rallied in the 9th and 10th innings to beat the incompetent Baltimore Orioles. It was a tough loss but there were some positives. The bullpen pitched their 6th consecutive scoreless game and the Sox managed to at least attempt a comeback. Last year when they were down 5-0 the game as well ended 10-0, at least this year they have balls. In other news. backup catcher David Ross is medically cleared which means Ryan Lavarnway will be headed back to Pawtucket when Ross is ready following rehab.
With Bailey back as the closer, The Orient Express and Breslow can concentrate on the 7th and 8th innings while Andrew Miller, Vigo and Mr. Wilson can handle the 6th and 7th when others need a rest. The 7 I just mentioned have given up a combined 30 runs all year. 30 runs in 45 games is pretty good considering there's 7 of them and have to work 3 and sometimes 4 innings a game depending on who's pitching. It may be all downhill from here but good pitching has kept the Red Sox within striking distance in the AL East. Tomorrow Felix Doubront hopes to pitch a solid outing to keep the Sox in contention opposite Jose Quintana.
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