Red Sox News & Notes – 5/31

As Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia(notes) looks down, starting pitcher Jon Lester(notes) throws his gum after giving up a two-run single to Chicago White Sox's Alexei Ramirez(notes) during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Monday, May 30, 2011.

After so-so starts from Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox were expecting Jon Lester to put things back in order for the starting rotation and the local nine. After a few crappy starts of his own, Lester had put together a good outing in his last start.

But instead of pitching like we know he’s capable of, Lester had his own command issues on Monday night as the Red Sox fell to the Chicago White Sox 7-3.

Lester was all over the places with his pitches. He may have gotten squeezed one or two times from the home plate umpire but had he had been consistent with his pitches, he might have gotten those calls.

The cutter, which is his go to pitch, didn’t really have the action on it we are accustomed to. Instead, it looked more like a slider. And with those command issues, the White Sox were able to break open a 3-3 game with four runs in the 6th inning.

Should we be worried about the bad starts from Lester, Buchholz and Beckett? Not at all.

The great thing about these three is their ability to put it in the past. They’ll work out the kinks before they toe the slab again. Due to the off day and the fact that Buchholz and Beckett both pitched in the doubleheader on Sunday, Lester will get an extra couple of days of rest so he’ll definitely have the time to put things back together.

Offensively, the Red Sox weren’t able to do much against Jake Peavy. It’s not like Peavy was overpowering but he was able to get the Red Sox hitters to hit the ball right at his defenders.

Adrian Gonzalez came through with two hits against his former teammate in San Diego, including a solo home run in the first. David Ortiz also had two hits while Dustin Pedroia brought in the other runs with an RBI double in the third inning that tied the game at three.

We can’t expect the Red Sox to maintain their current pace but there’s no doubt they certainly can do it. These past two games are just a little bump in the road.

Hopefully Alfredo Aceves can keep doing what he’s been doing while getting some support from the bats tonight. A great start tonight by Aceves would also give Terry Francona something to think about when John Lackey returns to the hill on June 5th.

We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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Lester not wild about this outing [Boston Globe]

Hitting the pause button [Boston Globe]

Peavy is the ultimate winner [Boston Globe]

Jon Lester’s luster lost [Boston Herald]

Reunion of ex-Padres [Boston Herald]

Trying to get it Dunn [Boston Herald]

Jacoby Ellsbury’s seeing stars [Boston Herald]

Drew Sutton pulls double duty [Boston Herald]

Lester rocked by White Sox, 7-3 [CSNNE.com]

Lester haunted by lack of command [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Gonzalez gets to Peavy; Jenks to be activated [CSNNE.com]