If there was one game that should have been a blowout this series, it was this one. Jon Lester taking on a spot starting Bruce Chen is just not really a competition. But through the first 4 innings, it looked like it might be.
Then Jon Lester started looking like Jon Lester, and the Red Sox lineup realized it was facing the Royals bullpen.
It was not the best start for Jon Lester, who allowed 1 run on 4 walks and 4 hits, but after some early wildness, he settled down and looked very much like the team's ace, recording 5 strikeouts and 10 groundouts in 7 innings. Bruce Chen, on the other hand, did not come back down to Earth after 4 strong innings of 1-run ball, striking out 5.
Instead, he left the game, bringing in Brad Thompson, who the Red Sox were more than happy to see. Bill Hall and Mike Cameron greeted him with a single and a double. Then, after Hall scored on a groundout by Marco Scutaro (who went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles), David Ortiz took a 1-1 fastball to straightaway center and out of the deepest part of the park for his 10th homer in May.
The Sox tacked on 4 more runs in the game, including a solo shot in the 8th by Jason Varitek. Manny Delcarmen and Joe Nelson mopped up the last 6 outs to give the Sox the 8-1 win.
Had to be hoping for more than 2 wins against KC, but good to get those after we bombed the first couple. The Athletics come into Fenway for a 3-game set starting Tuesday. Enjoy your day off!