Jon Lester Falls Into Early Trouble, Red Sox Fall To Brewers, 4-2

After defeating the Milwaukee Brewers, 10-4 on Friday night, the Boston Red Sox couldn't keep their momentum going in the second game.  The Red Sox couldn't provide enough offense in this one, as they fell to the Brewers, 4-2 on Saturday night.  Because of the loss, the Red Sox's four game winning streak was snapped and their lead in the A.L. East became a bit smaller, thanks to a Yankee victory over the Cubs.  Here's how it happened.

Jon Lester took to the hill for the Red Sox, looking for victory number 10 in the season.  Thanks to some early game trouble however, tonight just wasn't his night.  Lester appeared to have leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks out when he popped out in foul territory in the first inning.  However, the usual sure handed Adrian Gonzalez couldn't make the play and was charged with an error.  Because of Gonzalez's mistake, Weeks was given another life.  Later in the at bat, Weeks took a 1-1 Lester pitch and drilled it over the monster for a leadoff solo homer, 1-0 Brew Crew.  

Lester could not keep his composure, because on the very next pitch, he allowed another solo home run off the bat of Corey Hart.  The Brewers had the early lead, 2-0.

The Brewers sent out a left hander of their own in Randy Wolf, who was looking for victory number five on the season.  After a quick one-two-three first inning, Wolf ran into some trouble in the second inning.  Wolf allowed the first two Red Sox in the inning to reach in Kevin Youkilis and David Oritz.  After retiring the next two hitters, Wolf allowed an RBI single to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia that scored Youkilis, putting the Red Sox on the board.  With Ortiz now at third, Mike Cameron came through with an RBI single of his own that scored Papi.  The game was now tied, 2-2.

After a nice and easy second inning, Lester ran into the same type of trouble in the third inning.  Former Red Sox catcher George Kottaras took his former battery mate deep to right field for a solo home run to put the Brewers back on top, 3-2.  After retiring the next two batters, Lester surrendered a couple of walks to put two on with two down.  Milwaukee third baseman Casey McGehee connected on an RBI single that brought in Prince Fielder from second.  The score now 4-2, the way it would be for the rest of the game.

Saturday night was certainly not one of Jon Lester's best games this season, as he once again had trouble with the long-ball.  He ended up pitching until the eighth inning, giving up three earned runs (the Gonzo error) on seven hits while walking only one Brewer and striking out three.  While he didn't come out with the win, Lester certainly could have had some additional offensive support.

For the exception of the second inning, Red Sox hitters couldn't quite come through against the veteran Wolf.  In his seven innings of work, Wolf allowed the two earned runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out eight Red Sox hitters.  The offense certainly had the hits going, just not hits with runners on base.  

The Sox will try to take the rubber game in the series on Father's Day tomorrow, as they will send out the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield  to face Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo at 1:35 p.m.