After cruising through the first four innings last night, the Minnesota Twins got to Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester for five runs on their way to a 5-2 victory.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Lester this year and he hasn’t been able to string consistent outings together. The one big blow last night came off a good inside fastball to Justin Morneau that he crushed for a home run. There doesn’t appear to be anything physically wrong with Lester.
The big news of the night though was where would David Ortiz bat in the Red Sox lineup. He ended up in the 6th spot and ended up going 1-for-3 with a double, walk and a strikeout. While he said before the game he wouldn’t talk to the media unless he hit a home run, he did offer this up.
“Look, let me make something clear so you guys don’t ask me the whole time about me hitting sixth,” said Ortiz. “I started hitting third here a little bit after I got here. If you’re hitting third, you must be swinging the bat good. The manager moved me to sixth because we got guys swinging the bat good, right? Now, I’ve got to work my way up, right? That’s about it.
“I’m an employee. I follow orders.”
Some good news for the Red Sox on the injury front as John Smoltz looked really sharp in his second rehab outing. He ended up going 3 1/3 innings, throwing 60 pitches. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and had 2 strikeouts. He didn’t walk anyone and said he was pain free after the game.
The plan for Smoltz is for him to make three more starts before a probable June 16th start against the Marlins. His next start will come in Single-A Greenville on Sunday afternoon and then will make two starts for the Pawtucket Red Sox. The reason he’s pitching in Greenville is the fact that it’s close to Georgia home (thanks to Joe Haggerty for that tidbit).
Patient progress for Smoltz [Boston Globe]
Another step closer [Portland Press Herald]
John Smoltz Sea Dogs Rehab Post Game Press Conference [Central Maine Sports Blog]
Smoltz takes another step towards Boston, throwing 3 1/3 innings for Portland [Providence Journal]
Smoltz rehabs in front of record crowd [RedSox.com]
John Smoltz makes minor stop in N.H. [Boston Herald]
Out of order [Boston Globe]
A quiet start to a new lineup [Providence Journal]
Troubles continue in Sox loss [Boston Herald]
Ortiz giving his all in these trying times [Boston Globe]
Are lost innings and lost games beginning to add up to a lost season for Lester? [Providence Journal]
David Ortiz good to last drop? [Boston Herald]
Ellsbury skids – but not at bat [Boston Globe]
Sox finally make the change, dropping David Ortiz to sixth in the order [Providence Journal]
David Ortiz moves down to No. 6 [Boston Herald]
Mauer would be great catch [Boston Globe]
Ortiz’ efforts to get it going are growing old [Providence Journal]
There’s a catch to loss [Boston Herald]
Minority owner selling stake in Red Sox [Boston Globe]
Red Sox journal: Francona’s aim — put Papelbon’s struggles ‘in perspective’ [Providence Journal]
Five Things We Learned: A Confusing Day For These Red Sox [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Pioneer Press websites.
