Boston Red Sox starter John Lackey returned to the place he called home for all of his major league career until this season in search of his elusive 10th win of the season. His buddy, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Jered Weaver, had every intention of spoiling Lackey’s quest.
Lackey started and ended his Tuesday night with boos from the crowd of his former team but it was he who had the last laugh as the Red Sox rallied for a 4-2 win. Weaver was actually quite surprised the Angels fans booed him.
“The ovation wasn’t quite what I thought it would be,” Weaver said. “This guy’s done a lot for the organization for eight years. It’s very disappointing people didn’t understand.”
The pair engaged in a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel last night with the Angels getting to Lackey for a run in the third. And that’s how the score would stay as they matched zeroes until the top of the 7th inning.
Weaver had gotten the first two outs before a walk to Darnell McDonald, who was late addition to the lineup after J.D. Drew was scratched with a sore hamstring. Marco Scutaro got McDonald to third with a single and both would come around to score when Jed Lowrie hit a double over Juan Rivera who had been playing shallow.
The Red Sox added a run in the 8th on an Adrian Beltre double and it was a good thing because Bobby Abreu ended Lackey’s night with a solo home run to cut the lead back to one. Daniel Bard finished the inning off for him and after a run in the top of the 9th, Jonathan Papelbon closed the door on the Angels.
Lackey had said that he would have a good second half and he’s shown that in his three starts since the All-Star break. He’s 1-0 with a 1.61 ERA (5 runs/4 earned in 22.1 innings).
Despite throwing a lot of pitches early on, he was sharp on the mound. He had great command of his offspeed stuff and that’s what helped him keep pace with Weaver who mowing down Red Sox hitters like they weren’t even there. And the fact that he gutted it out for as long as he did allowed Terry Francona to use the guys he trusts most in the bullpen in Bard and Papelbon.
A win today against the Angels would go a long way for the Red Sox to finish off this 10-game west coast swing before tomorrow’s off day.
We’ll be back in a short while with this afternoon’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, news and any links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
For Sox, the real Lackey appears in his former park [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Lackey return stellar [Boston Globe]
No good reason for no-nos [Boston Globe]
Pedroia is jolted by news [Boston Globe]
Sox ailing on airwaves, too [Boston Globe]
Recap: John Lackey heaven sent in Sox win [Boston Herald]
Jonathan Papelbon shifts gear into overdrive [Boston Herald]
John Lackey outduels former understudy Jeff Weaver [Boston Herald]
Not so fast on Dustin Pedroia’s recovery [Boston Herald]
NESN strikes out as Sox take ratings hit [Boston Herald]
Lackey won’t forget boos [Clubhouse Insider]
Notes: Lowrie is healthy and contributing [CSN New England]
Motivated Lackey wins in return to Anaheim [CSN New England]
Lackey: I won’t forget boos [ESPN Boston]
Silence broken: Hideki Okajima on media, Boston Red Sox teammates [ESPN Boston]
Lackey: Boos ‘won’t be forgotten, for sure’ [Full Count]
Schilling on D&C: Lackey’s reaction to boos surprising [Full Count]
Jacoby Ellsbury Ignoring Cynics, Focused on Healthy, Productive Return From Extended Rehab [Kathryn Tappen – NESN.com]
Jacoby Ellsbury’s Long Road Back From Injury Should Lead to Boston ‘Real Soon’ [NESN.com]
Red Sox Developing Key Prospects in Farm and Cape League Organizations [NESN.com]
Jed Lowrie, Darnell McDonald Spark Offense, Continue to Provide Unexpected Depth [NESN.com]
Angels Have Rally Monkey, But What Can Serve as Red Sox Rally Cry? [NESN.com]
Happy homecoming for Lackey [Providence Journal]
Maturity has led McDonald to security [Providence Journal]
After warning from doctor, Pedroia cools it [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: With Pedroia still ailing, Lowrie takes second [Providence Journal]
Specialist gives Pedroia a wake-up call [RedSox.com]
Lowell, Ellsbury take big steps [RedSox.com]
Drew a late scratch, also out Wednesday [RedSox.com]
Lackey victorious in return to Anaheim [RedSox.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 read the enemy papers, head over to the LA Times, LA Daily News and Orange County Register websites.
Photo credit: Getty Images
