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Jon Lester managed to go 7 1/3 innings without his best stuff but, it turned out to be just a bit too much. Struggling with walks throughout, Lester gave a free pass to Joe Mauer to start the 8th. Mauer advanced on Michael Cuddyer’s ground out and scored on Jim Thome’s double breaking the 2-2 tie and giving
On a night where he walked five and struck out just four, Jon Lester showed that he can make due without killer stuff, pitching better than his final line would suggest (7.1 IP, 4 H, 4R, 4K 5BB). Regardless he takes the loss. Lester outlasted his counterpart Nick Blackburn, who pitched very well.
The Red Sox bats were almost entirely silent aside from Papi’s solo shot. Their only other run came in the seventh as the result of an error by Twins second baseman, Trevor Plouffe, on a Jacoby Ellsbury grounder. Ortiz had the best night at the plate with the homer, a walk and a single. Mike Aviles, subbing for Dustin Pedoria, had two hits, including a double, but the team could not string anything together against
Mauer walked and score on a Thome hit in the first inning to get
The loss keeps the Red Sox from completing the sweep and cuts their lead in the AL East back down to 1.5 games. After an off-day, the team lands in