4.2.08 Sox v. A’s

Sox win 5-0 to go to 3-1.

What can I say, John Lester was masterful and Big Papi did his thing with a 2-run shot in the 7th off Alan Embree. Embree tried to throw a puny 84 mph fastball by the Man, and Big Papi told him to “Get that cheese outta here!”

Later on Varitek took Huston Street deep for his first homer of the season – this one the umps could not get wrong. Huston Street has looked very mediocre so far; Billy Beane must be lamenting the drop in Street’s trade value due to these first two outings.

Lester was so unlike his first start. In this one he went 6 2/3 with 3 hits, 3 walks and 3 Ks on 94 pitches. At the start of the game he got ahead of batters (he threw a first pitch strike to five of the first seven guys he faced) and pitched with a great deal of confidence. He looked like a different pitcher to me. It was nice to see. I still don’t think he is out of the woods yet, but this was a more promising outing.

No game for the Sox on the 3rd. Next up is a trip to Toronto.

Wakefield takes on Shaun Marcum.

Game 5 Interesting Stat:

Justin Masterson starts the opener for AA Portland.

• Masterson went 10-0, 2.18, 24 runs, 19 earned in 78.1 IP from June 7 – August 5 (between AA Portland and A Lancaster) but finished winless in his last six starts with Portland: 0-3, 7.03, 32 IP, 39 H, 26 R, 25 ER, 13 BB, 27 SO)
• In Portland’s Opener last year, Ellsbury had four hits and tied a Sea Dog franchise record with 3 doubles.

Bartolo Colon starts the opener for AAA Pawtucket.

• In 2005, Schilling started the opener for the Pawsox and lost to Zach Duke 7-4.