It took a little longer than expected to break through, but the Red Sox took down the Orioles tonight 11-5. Boston had to play a little small ball against David Hernandez to muster three runs in six innings, but feasted on the bullpen. The Sox strung together hits by Pedroia, Youk, Ortiz, Drew, Lowell to put up three runs in the 7th and take a 6-3 lead. After an inning-ending double play ball went through Ty Wigginton's legs for an error in the 8th, Boston proceeded to put up five more runs, including a three run homer by JD Drew and a solo homer by Brian Anderson. As mentioned, it took longer than expected, but when you're facing the worst pitching staff in the AL, you know you're gonna put up your fair share of runs sooner or later. Delcarmen did his best to make it interesting in the 9th, but there was no doubt on who deserved this game, even when it was close early.
The one guy who was not who we know he is was Jon Lester. He never seemed comfortable on the mound, constantly adjusting his plant hole and landing hole on the mound and calling Martinez out to the mound for a number of conferences. He found himself in more three-ball counts than any game in recent memory but still managed to keep the game close for six innings and let the offense finish the job. Lester ended with a line of 6 innings, 10 hits, 3 runs, and 4 strike outs. Don't read too much into this. The playoff spot is essentially clinched, with now a 7 game lead on Texas, and the goal now is to get the team prepped and in line for the start of the series with the Angels. Lester brings it in big games and he'll be fine when the chips are on the table.
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