Obviously Darnell McDonald throwing out Edwin Encarnacion with an assist from Jason Varitek was an exciting way to end the Boston Red Sox’s 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night. But the news of Jon Lester leaving his start with a lat strain was disconcerting to say the least.
I won’t rehash what I said last night but it was obvious that Lester was in the midst of another great start. He struck out four of the first six batters he faced and had an electric fastball. He departed after four innings due to the lat strain he suffered during the 4th.
While he said after the game he thinks he’ll only miss one start, I think he ends up on the disabled list for 15 days. Remember folks, this is the same injury that cost Matt Albers two weeks earlier in the season. It could end up that he won’t go on the DL but after using the bullpen the past two nights, it wouldn’t surprise if the Red Sox put him there just to get someone up to help in the bullpen.
Speaking of the bullpen, they were pretty good last night. Of course I say that and you look at the fact that Jonathan Papelbon gave up a two-run homer to Jose Bautista and then saw McDonald and Tek save his on the final play of the game.
But before that, Albers went two innings allowing a hit and two walks with two strikeouts. Franklin Morales followed that up with a perfect inning with Daniel Bard coming in for the 8th and walking one while striking out one. And we all saw the adventures of #heartattackpapelbon so no need to go there again.
Brett Cecil would go the whole way for the Jays and the three runs the Red Sox got early would stand up against him. Two of them would come in the 2nd inning.
David Ortiz led off with a double and went to third on a McDonald ground out. The Captain brought him home with a double of his own and J.D. Drew got Tek home with a single to push the lead to 2-0. The Red Sox got their other run on a Dustin Pedroia home run in the 4th inning.
While the scoring was at a premium for the Red Sox, the bullpen definitely stepped up to help the Red Sox get back in the column. And it was a win that was needed with the New York Yankees beating the Cleveland Indians last night.
We do have some concern here in Red Sox Nation if Lester misses any significant amount of time. The Red Sox are already down Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. And of course there’s the ineffective Dice-K John Lackey. And that’s not to mention that Kevin Youkilis missed last night’s game after being hit with a pitch the night before. Plus Jed Lowrie and Carl Crawford are on the DL as well.
It does look like Youk will return tonight and we’ll know more about Buchholz later in the day as he is currently in North Carolina getting his balky back looked at. Crawford could be close as well but right now the offense has been ok. It’s the pitching that worries me, especially the bullpen after using it the past two nights.
But these Red Sox are a resilient bunch and I’m sure things will be just fine.
We’ll be back later today with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and any links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below.
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What Jon Lester’s injury means for the Red Sox [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Thrown a scare [Boston Globe]
Aiming to contribute, he did [Boston Globe]
Clemens already in a jam before start [Boston Globe]
Cameron sent to Marlins [Boston Globe]
Jon Lester’s early exit mars win [Boston Herald]
Participants replay final out [Boston Herald]
Bullpen answers call [Boston Herald]
Dustin Pedroia all 4 new role [Boston Herald]
Smart money’s on Jacoby Ellsbury [Boston Herald]
Getting plunked not a big hit with Kevin Youkilis [Boston Herald]
If Lester goes to the DL … [Clubhouse Insider]
Out at the plate! Or was he? [Clubhouse Insider]
Saltalamacchia: Ellsbury has something to prove [CSNNE.com]
Bautista: ‘Great honor’ to be picked for HR Derby [CSNNE.com]
Source: Lester (lat strain) will be out two weeks [CSNNE.com]
Red Sox survive to beat Blue Jays, 4-2 [CSNNE.com]
Youkilis wants to wear shoes during All-Star break [CSNNE.com]
Notes: McDonald, Varitek connect in the clutch [CSNNE.com]
Rapid Reaction: Sox 3, Jays 2 [ESPN Boston]
Pedroia cleans up again [ESPN Boston]
Good to the last block [ESPN Boston]
Video: Francona, Lester talk about injury [ESPN Boston]
Video: BBTN on Lester [ESPN Boston]
Sox take stock of Wily Mo Pena HR Derby Campaign [Full Count]
Closing Time: Red Sox best Blue Jays; Lester leaves with injury [Full Count]
Lester on lat strain: ‘I don’t think this is going to be an issue’ [Full Count]
Make no mistake, John Farrell thinks the ump blew the game-ending call [Full Count]
Video: Jon Lester Not Worried About Lat Injury, Says He ‘Should Be Fine’ [NESN.com]
David Ortiz Praises Dustin Pedroia’s Love for the Game After Red Sox Win [NESN.com]
Game-Ending Play at the Plate Creates Tale of Two Clubhouses Following Red Sox Win [NESN.com]
Red Sox Get Another Boost From Bullpen in Win Over Toronto After Jon Lester’s Early Exit [NESN.com]
Drew Sutton Turns to Yoga, Active Release Therapy to Alleviate Pain in Overused Muscles [NESN.com]
Sox win game, but lose Lester [Providence Journal]
DH controversy not going away soon [Providence Journal]
This All-Star Game is the best, but it could be better [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Ineffective Cameron finds home with Marlins [Providence Journal]
Solid effort [Providence Journal]
Morales making big strides in Sox’s bullpen [RedSox.com]
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 papers, head over to the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun and the Globe and Mail websites.
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