A decent performance by Jon Lester. He got off to a rocky start but between the second and third innings figured out a way to get himself back on track. He ended up throwing one hundred and twelve pitches over just six innings. He allowed one run (a home run) on four hits. And he's getting the number of walks he allows down-just three today. It's always a good thing when you can strike out more batters than you walked and Lester accomplished that today with five strike outs.
Manny Del continues to struggle. He pitched the beginning of the seventh inning and got the first batter he faced to ground out. On a one-two count, the next batter hit a single to center. Then on a three-two count, the next batter hit a triple just out of the diving reach of Coco and a run scored. Okajima came in to finish the inning and allowed Manny Del's runner to score on a single by the first batter he saw. But then he settled himself down and got the next to batters to strike out to bring an end to the inning.
Okajima came back out for the top of the eighth inning. He got two quick ground outs before Eric Hinske dropped a bunt along the third base foul line. The ball came to a rest right on the chalk and in a lighter moment, Mike Lowell reached down and nudged it foul. Papelbon came out to finish the inning and got the last batter to ground out. He also pitched the ninth inning. During which he threw thirteen pitches-eleven of them for strikes-and got three ground outs.
By the end of the fifth inning the Red Sox had a four to nothing lead. At the end of the sixth it was four to one and halfway through the seventh it was four to three. By the end of the seventh they'd gotten a run back to lead five to three. And by the end of the eighth they led seven to three.
In the first inning, they had one hit and one run. Ellsbury got a single, Pedroia drew a walk, and then they double-stole to move themselves over to second and third. Youkilis hit a sacrifice fly and Ellsbury scored.
The third inning was a lucky one from them. They had two runs on three hits. Pedroia singled, Youkilis doubled and then on a wild pitch Pedroia scored and Youkilis moved over to third. Manny then doubled and Youkilis scored. (There was also a passed ball that moved Manny to third but nothing came of that.)
In the fourth inning, they had one run on one hit. Coco started it off by singling, then stealing second, and taking third on the throwing error by the catcher. Lugo walked and Ellsbury popped out. Pedroia grounded out and Coco scored. Youkilis flied out to end the inning.
Youkilis was the lead off batter of the seventh inning, in which they scored one run on two hits. He started it off with a home run to center field. (Varitek hit a double and took third on a passed ball but for naught.)
In the eighth inning, they had two runs on two hits. With one out, Lugo hit a double off the base of the wall. Ellsbury walked and then the two of them double-stole second and third. Youkilis then doubled down the left field line and the two of them came around to score.
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