Game 87: Lester dominates Royals

by Randy Booth on Jul 11, 2009 1:25 AM EDT in Game Stories

Final - 7.10.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Boston Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	1	3	1

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On any other night, the Red Sox probably wouldn't have won this game.

With just three hits, the Sox beat the Royals, 1-0, behind an 8 inning performance by Jon Lester. Lester earned the win after allowing just four hits, no runs, two walks and striking out eight. It is Lester's eighth win of the season. His ERA now sits at a nifty 3.87.

Jonathan Papelbon earned his 23rd save by working a perfect 9th (one strikeout).

There wasn't much offense, but there was just enough. Dustin Pedroia doubled-in Aaron Bates in the 8th for the game's only run. Pedroia, Mark Kotsay (Bates ran for Kotsay in the 8th) and Jacoby Ellsbury (who was ejected after throwing his helmet) had the only hits for Boston.

It's hard to say this was a "good" win. It's a good win from the pitching standpoint, that's for sure. But offensively, this just isn't going to cut it. If this wasn't the Royals, odds are the Sox would have lost this game. One thing is for sure: once this All-Star break is all said and done, I hope the Sox offense is back in gear.

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LAAAAAAAAAA came through! Angels beat the Yanks 10-6.
Sox back in first all alone. Too bad Cano didn’t make the last out…

"You know," Girardi said, shrugging his shoulders, "it didn't work."

( Joe Girardi on pitching to Manny Ramirez with first base open)

by MassGal on Jul 11, 2009 1:49 AM EDT reply actions

That was a fun game

Joba solidified his HOF credentials and Jeter pulled a “Castillo.”

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 11, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Having a tough time with the LA Angels is NOT

as indicative of quality or lack thereof as having a hard time with Oakland or Kansas City!

Now I know you all are mostly optimists around here and statistical wizards, but please do tell me (and maybe some of the lesser informed souls around here) when it is time to worry about this Sox team not making the playoff this year???

by NG on Jul 11, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

When we do not have a 4 game lead in the wildcard with our 2 biggest threats playing a series against one another.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 11, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, and with a side of...

“When we are not 1st place in the entire AL”

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 11, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do I get the feeling...

…that the Sox could be up 3-0 in the World Series and there would still be people around here worrying that they won’t make the playoffs?

by RSNexile on Jul 11, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

That's kinda the feeling I had in '04.

We’re a post-abuse fanbase. The Sox, after all, were not simply perpetual failures. They had a panache for the dramatic. Bucky Fucking Dent, Bill Buckner, Aaron Fucking Boone.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 11, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

NG

Your cookie-cutter approach when criticizing the Sox gets tiresome. Terry Francona isn’t an amalgam of Don Zimmer, John McNamara, Butch Hobson, Kevin Kennedy, Jimy Williams, and Grady Little etc. (insert bad Red Sox manager here). By now I’d think that most knowledgeable Red Sox fans would see that Theo Epstein knows what he’s doing. He has made a few mistakes, but his overall track record (like Francona’s) shows that he is one of the best in the game. It’s not Epstein’s fault that Haywood Sullivan screwed up and let Fisk walk, or that Lou Gorman rated Tim Naehring or Scott Cooper would be better than Jeff Bagwell.

What you call optimism is often realism. You seem to think that everyone who doesn’t rant and rave that the sky is falling is an optimist. That’s not true. You have been spouting the same tired negative clichés since mid-2007. Since that time, the Sox have won one WS and came within a game of another.

Every team wins games they shouldn’t and loses others they should win. Did you see the MFY blow a 4-1 lead to an undermanned Angels team (no Hunter or Vladdy)? If the Sox fail to make the playoffs this year it will be because of injuries or because the MFY and Rays played well over their heads. Right now, the odds favor the Sox making the post-season. Can the Sox improve? Sure. But this is a well-constructed team, run by people who know what they’re doing.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 11, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

I would add that since the ownership took over in 2002. The emphasis on pitching and the quality of the farm system pitching has improve considerably… I also give the Sox much credit in how they treat their pitching staff, especially for training and physical therapy.

Any ball team is going to have weaknesses, they are going to have slumps, but I think a good ball team gets the most out of average talent.(cough, Nick Green cough) The Cardinals do this and LaRussa seems to get the maximum out his players whether in Oakland or St. Louis.

Right now, my biggest concern is not wearing out the bullpen, they are showing cracks here and there of being a bit overused..

However, the Sox are winning, they are getting key hits like Pedroia’s double last night, and Papi is hitting again, things could be much, much worse. The Sox could be playing in a Warehouse in St. Petersburg, or in a hefty bag in Minneapolis. They could have huge holes in their bullpen, or have to put their closer on waivers, (as Toronto did a couple days ago)

by superferret on Jul 11, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jul 12, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know, I still say it’s a good win. Bannister is a very good pitcher who can shutout just about any team in the league on a good night like tonight.

It’s very nice to feel confident about Lester’s starts these days.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 11, 2009 3:20 AM EDT reply actions

Any pitcher can shutout any team on a good night.

Did you just say Bannister is a good pitcher? A very good pitcher?…………I’ll let someone else bash you.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Jul 11, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Bannister sucks.

agreed. Hell, Jonathan Sanchez threw a perfect game last night with the exception of Uribe’s error.

by Liffick on Jul 11, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Last year he wasn’t so great but I’ve never thought of him as a bad pitcher. He doesn’t blow people away but he is pretty efficient and tough to score on. I think that Grienke, Meche and Bannister form a very solid 1-2-3 for KC.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 11, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions