Sunday’s game between the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants was being billed as a game between the two of the best young pitchers in the big leagues in Jon Lester and Tim Lincecum. But it was a pitcher’s duel that never materialized.
Instead it was Lester who dominated and Lincecum who was roughed up as he lasted just three innings.
Lincecum just didn’t have at all on Sunday as he fell behind just about every batter he faced. He was leaving pitches up in the zone and the Red Sox were able to take advantage of that. David Ortiz took one of those hanging pitches and put it into McCovey Cove becoming the first player to do it in 2010 and first ever by a member of the Red Sox.
But it was the effort by Lester that really helped the Red Sox to the win.
After the bullpen had to take over on Saturday when Clay Buchholz went down, Terry Francona needed his ace to go deep in the game. And that’s just what he got as Lester threw his second complete game of 2010 and sixth of his career. He was so strong during the game that he retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.
He ended up scattering five hits and only allowed one run and a walk while striking out nine Giants. Besides the 1st inning where he allowed the run, the only other inning he had any trouble was in the 4th when the Giants had runners on first and third with out. But he escaped that mini-jam with a strikeout of Pablo Sandoval and got Nate Schierholtz to pop out to Marco Scutaro.
The effort by Lester and his complete body of work this season should be enough to get him into the 2010 All-Star Game. And it will be an honor well deserved for Lester.
The news wasn’t all good for the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon though as for the third straight game a member of the team went down with an injury.
Victor Martinez had to leave the game in the fourth after taking two foul balls off of his thumb. It was initially thought that VMart had to leave the game after the first foul ball went off his thumb but also hit the toe he had injured previously. But that wasn’t the case as it was learned after the game that he suffered a fracture of his left thumb.
Francona and VMart both said after the game that he might not have to go on the disabled list. But that determination won’t come until VMart is examined by Red Sox team doctors today in Boston. Hopefully good news will come out of the examination as the Red Sox aren’t exactly deep with big league experience at the catcher position in the minor leagues. The good thing though is the fact that they have the Captain, Jason Varitek, on the bench to fill in for VMart should he miss any time.
The local nine also finished up interleague play with the third best record at 13-5. Only the Chicago White Sox (15-3) and Texas Rangers (14-4) were better.
The Red Sox are off today and return to action tomorrow night when the reeling Tampa Bay Rays to come to town. The Rays trail the Red Sox by a game for second place in the AL standings.
If we hear anything about VMart’s injury, we’ll pass it along but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
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This couldn’t be better [Boston Globe]
Broken thumb for Martinez [Boston Globe]
Bang-up job [Boston Globe]
Body parts hurting, but team’s spirit not broken [Boston Globe]
Recap: Red Sox 5 Giants 1 [Boston Herald]
Giant pain for Red Sox [Boston Herald]
Bad tip puts Victor Martinez in foul situation [Boston Herald]
Lineup aces stiff tests [Boston Herald]
Bill Hall on banged-up Red Sox: ‘We expect to win’ [Clubhouse Insider]
Source: Pedroia will miss at least four weeks, but six weeks more likely [CSN New England]
Lester dominates in 5-1 victory over the Giants [CSN New England]
Martinez fractures thumb, could avoid DL [CSN New England]
Quick hits: Lester picture of efficiency [ESPN Boston]
Cy Young winners sigh against the Sox [Extra Bases]
Updating the various injuries [Extra Bases]
Disharmony in Tampa Bay [Full Count]
Red Sox Look to Keep Winning Despite Injury-Riddled Road Trip [Heidi Watney – NESN.com]
Overcome Adversity [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Luis Exposito Racking Up RBIs in Eastern League As Red Sox Prospects Rankings Stay the Same [NESN.com]
Victor Martinez Fractures Left Thumb, Disabled List Decision To Come [NESN.com]
Terry Francona on Victor Martinez’ Thumb Fracture: ‘Not an Automatic DL’ [NESN.com]
Jon Lester Continues Dominant Stretch With Complete Game Defeat of Giants [NESN.com]
Jon Lester Dominates Again, Continues to Carry Burden for Red Sox [NESN.com]
Victor Martinez Fractures Left Thumb, Expects to Miss Some Time [NESN.com]
Can Lackey Still Be A Horse In 2010? [Nuggetpalooza]
Lester easily bests Lincecum in battle of star pitchers [Providence Journal]
Options few for Red Sox if Victor Martinez goes on DL [Providence Journal]
Red Sox may go with Hall-Patterson platoon to replace Pedroia [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Buchholz shows encouraging signs; may not miss a start [Providence Journal]
Red Sox can be cautious with Buchholz [RedSox.com]
Patterson to join Red Sox on Tuesday [RedSox.com]
Lester cruises as Red Sox top Lincecum [RedSox.com]
Red Sox add Martinez to ranks of wounded [RedSox.com]
How the Red Sox can survive [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times websites.
Photo credit: Reuters Pictures
