The Red Sox were able to score 9 runs on the way to a win last night, however tonight the Sox bats were stopped dead in their tracks when they had to face Dempster. Jon Lester started off looking like it might be one of his best starts of the season, however he let himself get frustrated with the home plate umpire and walked off the mound in line for a loss.
Lester is starting to show signs that he is that “Lester of old” lately. He looked like that ace pitcher we need him to be during the first 5 inning of the game. Lester didn’t allow any of the Rangers to get beyond 2nd base until the 6th inning. In the 6th, Lester gave up a leadoff double to Murphy and then an RBI single to Kinsler to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Lester then believed he struck out Hamilton, however the home plate umpire disagreed. Hamilton ended up hitting an RBI single to have the Sox down 0-2. Lester left the mound barking at the home plate umpire. In the 7th, Lester found a little bit of struggle as well when he gave up a third run on a sac fly to Murphy. Sox 0-3. With 2 men on and 2 outs, Bobby V went with Mark Melancon. Melancon started his outing by giving up an RBI single to Kinsler to give the Rangers a 4 run lead.
The Red Sox offense could get little to nothing against Dempster. It was basically deja vu from when he faced him in Chicago. In fact the starting 9 were not able to do anything at all against him. In the 7th, Will Middlebrooks was brought in to pinch hit for Punto and he made it well worthwhile. Middlebrooks hit a 3 run HR to the Monster to get the Sox right back in this game. Sox 3-4. Unfortunately, that would be the only offense they would have. In the 8th, Melancon gave up an RBI single to Cruz. Sox 3-5. In the bottom of the 8th, Pedey struck out swinging however it would be more dramatic than that. Pedey seemed to clearly check his swing however the 3rd base umpire said he went around. Pedey basically went nutso. He was yelling and screaming and swearing. Pedroia didn’t get ejected in the bottom of the 8th, however he only last one play in the 9th before he was tossed. Pedey was replaced by Ciriaco as he was swearing his way off the field. Breslow and Tazawa took the mound in the 9th and gave up their 6th and final run. Breslow hit Gentry with a pitch and then Tazawa gave up an RBI single to Andrus.
The Sox are once again below 500. It seems like we’ll be doing this seesaw all season long.
Red Sox 3 Rangers 6 BOXSCORE
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