FINAL SCORE: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jon Lester (6.1IP, 8H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K)
When Jon Lester pitches well, the Red Sox win. That's a fact of life.
Lester pitched well tonight and the Sox did win, 5-1, sweeping the Jays right out of Fenway Park. The Red Sox now sit just a half game back from the Jays, who are still in first place.
The Sox put up three in the first inning thanks to a David Ortiz groundout and a two-run home run by Jason Bay. The Sox added two more later with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia RBI singles.
Ramon Ramirez pitched 1.2 of scoreless relief and Jonathan Papelbon finished the game with a one-hit, one-strikeout 9th.
No matter which way you slice it, this was a big win for the Red Sox. They swept the first place Jays and Lester showed glimpses of his old self. The offense is still clicking and the bullpen has been solid like it has been all season long.
Tomorrow it's a new series and the start of interleague play. The Mets are in town, featuring their ace Johan Santana. Daisuke Matsuzaka returns from the DL to face him Friday night.