You’re probably coming down from your high right now of watching the Red Sox make history last night and also from their 3 game sweep of the Evil Empire, which means you may have missed the good news. The return of Jon Lester to Fenway Park.
No, Lester isn’t rejoining the Sox just yet. But he was in Boston to meet with Terry Francona and John Farrell to address the plan of action for him. He also threw a side session in the bullpen before the game last night. The signs are encouraging and they probably point to him making two more starts in Pawtucket before the Red Sox decide where he will pitch. He will have to come off the DL soon though because he is allowed only 3o days on a rehabilitation assignment. The good thing is that he has options left, so he will probably be activated from the DL and then sent to Pawtucket.
“It’s a little weird right now, just because I’m leaving [Monday],” said Lester. “Short-lived visit, but it’s definitely nice, and we get to see the Yankees play. It will be a good night.”
“Sometimes this offseason, I didn’t think I’d be back pitching, but I just kept pushing myself and trying to get back, and get back to doing what I love to do,” said Lester. “Any time you’re dealing with something like that, it’s a tough thing to come back from, let alone come back and play baseball. I was just fortunate enough to beat it early and to get back to doing this and having fun.”
Physically, Lester feels great.
“I feel strong, feel healthy,” said Lester. “The other night, I didn’t have any problems with my legs giving way later in the game. I feel good, really. I feel about as normal as I can be.”
Daisuke Matsuzaka has pitched well in all four his starts. Obviously, his first start was the best one of them all. Yet his record stands at 2-2. While he was happy that the team won, he isn’t happy with his performances so far.
Q. What is on your mind after your second win of the season?
A. It resulted in a win, and that is good for the team and myself, but … [I did not pitch well.] After my last start at Toronto, the team was winning, and I could feel how much the fans in Boston wanted this, I didn’t want to be the one to stop the winning streak. In all of my four starts so far, my command of pitches was not there. Other starts, I was able to adjust in the game, but this particular start, I couldn’t.
Q. How do you feel after facing the Yankees and their hitters?
A. The Yankees have some great hitters, as you all know, and they will hit your mistakes. They don’t make too many hitting mistakes. So I had less margin of error. I was focusing on getting each batter out. To face that caliber of hitters, as a pitcher, is a great challenge that I look forward to. It is a great motivation. I enjoyed it very much. Next time, though, I hope to get results to go with my enjoyment.
Q. Was it special that you won against the Yankees?
A. Sure, it was special that my first win at Fenway was against the Yankees. But I wished that my pitching performance was better. They are in the same division, I am sure I will face them more.
Q. It was the first sweep of Yankees at Fenway in 17 years, did you know that?
A. I didn’t know while I was pitching. I was told after the game.
Q. What was your thought in the eighth inning, when the bases loaded?
A. I had faith in my teammates, [I thought that standing ovation in the 8th was for Hideki Okajima] and for [Dustin] Pedroia [for his diving catch]. It was a great play and I was simply happy and grateful.
Q. You hit A-Rod and Jeter with a pitch, could you talk about that?
A. Those guys are great hitters. Especially A-Rod has been red hot lately, I knew I had to pitch them inside. Obviously, I didn’t mean to hit them.
Q. What about the four home runs in a row that the Red Sox hit?
A. As I was watching them in the bench, especially when the third, and then fourth home run happened, I had a hard time keeping my cool. I couldn’t have imagined something like that could happen in the game that I was pitching.
Q. Did you ask the manager to pitch the eighth inning?
A. He asked me if I could go, and I said “of course I can.” I really wanted to get [A-Rod] out, but couldn’t. I couldn’t live up to my manager’s expectations, who let me go out there. I was disappointed that I let my team down.
Q. There were a lot of cut fastballs.
A. I too noticed that he [Jason Varitek] was calling more cutters than usual. He probably liked what he saw. I had a good feel of it and more velocity than usual.
Like myself, even Hideki “Darkman” Okajima was surprised that he was pitching for the third game in a row. Read more of this after the jump.
Q. How did you feel coming into the game after Daisuke Matsuzaka?
A. I wanted very badly to help Daisuke win. I got the first batter [Jason Giambi] out, but then I allowed a hit [to Robinson Cano] and gave four-balls [to Posada]. I tried my best, maybe I was trying too hard. I was behind in the count a lot, and I especially regret the four balls that I issued. I was not happy about that. Perhaps I let my emotion show too much.
Q. You pitched in each of the last three games. How did you feel? Were you prepared and did you know you may go three games in a row?
A. Sure, I was a little bit tired, but if the team wants me out there, I can go. I was hoping I would get to pitch in a winning situation if I was to pitch today and I did. I didn’t know I was pitching three games in row and I wasn’t told that I was going to pitch again today. I was told to warm up after we got on top, I couldn’t deliver, but Donnelly-san was able to bail Daisuke and I out.
Q. It looked like you were throwing more curveballs than your previous relief appearances.
A. Yes, I was throwing more curves, and I threw only one changeup. I was just following [catcher Jason Varitek’s] lead. The ball was slipping a little bit and I couldn’t get a good command of the ball,
Q. What did you think about the four home runs in a row [that the Red Sox hit in the third inning]?
A. It was exciting, wasn’t it? I have never experienced anything like it in Japan. I’ve seen three in a row but never a four in the row. That was amazing.
