| 26 August 2009
I saw this stat on the Yahoo! game recap of last night's 6-3 win and it kinda blew my mind:
Lester gave up just three runs on four hits in 6 2-3 innings [last night]. He has allowed more than three earned runs just once in his last 16 starts; in nine of those starts, he has allowed one earned run or none.
That's insanely good, but Lester was stuck with his 4th no decision this month and needed some late-game magic from Jason Bay and the offense.
Bay had looked foolish in his first two at-bats this game, watching nasty breaking balls from Garcia dip inside for called 3rd strikes twice. But with the score locked at 3-3 in the 8th and the Sox having just left the based loaded in the 7th... Bay smashed his 28th ding dong of the season into left center and gave the Sox the lead.
That gives Bay 8 homers in August to go along with a .292 BA, 16 runs and 15 RBI.. his best month since May when he hit 10 homers with 30 RBI and 19 runs. The crazy part is... he had 106 at-bats in May and he's only had 65 this month.
But JayBay wasn't the only guy with a dramatic moment last night. After going 1 for 10 in the last two games against New York, Jacoby Ellsbury has bounced back with 5 hits, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored and his 55th stolen base. Last night's swipe made The Amazing Ellsbury the Red Sox record holder for most stolen bases in one season, passing Tony Harper at 54.
And Victor Martinez contiued to spark the offense. Earning a well-deserved rest, V-Mart started last nght's game on the bench, but Francona put his loyalty towards Varitek aside and pinch-hit Martinez for Gonzo in the 7th, knowing he would catch the rest of the game and Wakefield tonight.
V-Mart responded with an RBI single that scored Green and tied the game, further proving that he needs to be in the lineup at leats 5 days a week for the rest of the season
Bottom Line: It was a team effort last night and I have to credit Tito for making some tough moves along the way. Wins like this are crucial down the stretch because the prove to the team and the fans that the we're never out of a game.
And yes... you can have one of those JayBay t-shirts.
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