When John Lackey took the mound for the Boston Red Sox yesterday, no one was quite sure what they were going to get. Coming off the disabled list after an elbow issue, his pitch count was to be capped out somewhere in the low 90’s.
In his previous starts, he hasn’t been exactly the $82.5 million pitcher the Red Sox envisioned when he was signed. We know his off field issues have bothered him and it’s affected his performance. So if he could give the Red Sox a chance to win on Sunday, it could be considered a positive sign.
Although he struggled with his command, he did just that in 5 2/3 innings as the bats backed him up in a 6-3 win over the A’s that gave the Red Sox the weekend sweep and gave them some momentum before heading out a nine-game road trip through the AL East.
Lackey only allowed three hits but his lack of command contributed to three hit batters and two walks. While he did look rusty at times, the good news was the velocity on his fastball was there which shows the elbow issues are a thing of the past. Hopefully, he’ll be able to take the positives from this start and carry them over during his bullpen work before he takes the mound again later this week.
It helps when the offense gets him some run support as it does make things easier for the pitcher. Of course trying to get runs against a pitcher in Brett Anderson who has completely dominated you in his short career is no small task either.
But Anderson had his troubles on Sunday afternoon as the Red Sox roughed him up for five runs on nine hits and two walks in five innings of work.
Carl Crawford helped out Lackey with a three-run blast in the second inning. The home run for Crawford was his fifth of the season but more importantly, his first at Fenway Park. Adrian Gonzalez also got into the home run act on Sunday with his 12th home run of the season and fourth over the Green Monster. Ironically enough, Gonzo has hit six home runs at the Fens and six home runs on the road plus his 50 RBIs on the season leads all of MLB.
David Ortiz also continues to defy his critics who said he was done by adding another three hits. Those three hits have his average up to a robust .325. You could definitely say the signing of Gonzalez has had a positive effect on Big Papi as he is using the opposite field more than ever in his career something Gonzo does with ease.
Also, Jarrod Saltalamacchia continues to improve at the plate as he had three hits yesterday which raised his average to .240 on the season. .240 might not sound all that good but given where he was just a short while ago, it’s actually quite good. And with his batterymate Jason Varitek also swinging a better bat, the issues of the pair at the plate seem to be a thing of the past.
All in all, a good weekend for the local nine. They picked up a game on the New York Yankees and trail by one game heading to New York for a three-game set.
The Red Sox are off again today so we’ll be back in just a short while with the pitching matchups for the series that begins with the Yankees tomorrow night. But until then, enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Lackey return good stuff [Boston Globe]
Happy to get extra crucial at-bats [Boston Globe]
Crawford comes out swinging [Boston Globe]
Buchholz start is pushed back [Boston Globe]
Effort by John Lackey earns ‘A’ [Boston Herald]
Loving Adrian Gonzalez’ swing of beauty [Boston Herald]
Forecast for Dice-K looks cloudy [Boston Herald]
Adrian Gonzalez vs. Manny Ramirez [Boston Herald]
Off-day musings: The Ortiz conundrum, Lowrie’s splits, Salty settles in [Clubhouse Insider]
Red Sox sweep A’s with 6-3 win [CSNNE.com]
Crawford irked when hit by Anderson pitch [CSNNE.com]
Ortiz continues to prove he’s nowhere near done [CSNNE.com]
Lackey starts anew with solid return [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Crawford finally hits first Fenway homer [CSNNE.com]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 6, A’s 3 [ESPN Boston]
Ortiz continues to torch lefties [ESPN Boston]
Crawford keeps power on high [ESPN Boston]
John Lackey shows encouraging signs for Boston Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
Video: State of the Nation with Gordon Edes [ESPN Boston]
Sox have 4 picks on first day of MLB draft [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez lead Red Sox to sweep of Athletics [Full Count]
Who are the experts predicting the Sox will select? [Full Count]
A look at who the Red Sox might be targeting in the Major League Baseball draft [Full Count]
The strange story of Darnell McDonald and the challenges of drafting two-sport stars [Full Count]
Video: Carl Crawford Says He’s Been More Focused Against Left-Handers Lately [NESN.com]
Video: John Lackey Felt Good, Pleased With First Start Since Coming Off Disabled List [NESN.com]
John Lackey’s Performance in 6-3 Win An Encouraging Sign for Red Sox [NESN.com]
Red Sox to Produce ‘It Gets Better’ Video to Speak Out Against Anti-Gay Bullying [NESN.com]
Daisuke Matsuzaka ‘Very Shocked’ That He Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery [NESN.com]
Daisuke Matsuzaka May Never Play in Majors Again After Tommy John Surgery [NESN.com]
Red Sox Still Seeking Identity With Crucial Road Trip on Horizon [NESN.com]
Video: Heidi Watney Gets Fitted for Golf Clubs at Titleist Test Facility [NESN.com]
Jason Aldean Invites Jon Lester, Members of the Red Sox on Stage During Concert in Mansfield (Photo) [NESN.com]
Atchison on his way back to Pawtucket [Projo Sox Blog]
Crawford skeptical that Anderson HBP was accidental [Projo Sox Blog]
Red Sox could look for starters in college bullpens [Projo Sox Blog]
Return of Lackey helps Boston complete sweep [Providence Journal]
Boston’s lefty hitters are getting it right [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Dice-K hoping surgery doesn’t end his days in Boston [Providence Journal]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle websites.
Photo credit: Getty Images
