That's More Like It by Jared Carrabis
Sox break out the bats, Lester dominates O's...again


Now that's more like it.

After finally putting and end to their five-game losing streak on Friday night, the Red Sox looked to end their six-game streak of scoring three runs or less. With the help of a couple booming home runs, the Sox were able to end their offensive slump streak.

Entering this game with Jon Lester on the hill, it really wasn't a matter if the Red Sox were going to win or not, it was a matter of: could the Red Sox score more than three runs andwin?

Lester took the mound at Fenway Park and this thing was over before it started. In his career, Lester had been 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA in ten starts. In other words, he owns the Baltimore Orioles. After putting up a goose egg in the top of the first, the Sox' bats went to work in the bottom half of the frame.

With two outs and a man on, Jason Bay lined a single up the middle to move Dustin Pedroia, who walked, to third to put men on the corners for David Ortiz. Opposing pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had entered Saturday night's game allowing 22 HR, the second most in the American League, as well as ranking second in earned runs allowed. With two men on, Ortiz helped pad Guthrie's stats for him by blasting a 3-run bomb to straight-away center. When Ortiz touched home plate, Guthrie stood alone atop the AL in home runs allowed.

It was a great start for Boston. I mean, if my personal goal for this team was to score more than three runs and win the game, they had at least eight innings to get the job done.

In the next two frames, Lester would go on to strike out four Baltimore batters, while the Sox added on another run after an RBI double by Jacoby Ellsbury.

A pair of singles plated two runs for the O's in the fourth, but that would be all for the birds. Lester went on to dominate the Orioles into the eighth inning, going 7.1 innings, giving up just the two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out nine and walking two.

Daniel Bard got the ball in relief of Jon Lester in the eighth. At the time of my writing this, it's technically July 26, which means that Bard has not allowed an earned run in a month. Since June 26, the right-hander's ERA is 0.00.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Adam LaRoche, who made his first start with the Red Sox since being added to the roster on Friday, introduced himself to Red Sox Nation by driving a two-run home run the other way and into the Monster seats. The two-run shot for LaRoche gave Boston a 7-2 lead that they would not relinquish.

I don't me to brag, but if you don't mind, I'd like to highlight a quote from the blog I wrote on Friday night:

"A win's a win, but this win still doesn't give me the sigh of relief that a losing streak-snapper normally would. The Red Sox once again failed to score four runs or more since their first win after the All Star break. I'll be more convinced that this collective team slump is over when the Sox' offense drops an eight-spot on the birds on Saturday."

Listen, I'm no psychic. I may have been one run off, but it doesn't take a genius to make a prediction like that after looking at Guthrie's stats this season and the way the Sox have manhandled the O's at Fenway. The true test was going out and doing what they were supposed to do tonight, which they did. So after Ramon Ramirez completed the ninth inning with a scoreless outing, the Red Sox won their first game since the All Star break in which they scored five or more runs; clap it up, they just may be getting their groove back.

Things you'll need to know to impress your friends:

With the win, Lester now improves to 9-0 in his career against the Baltimore Orioles. What's even more eye-popping is that of the nine wins that the lefty has against the O's, in comparison with the rest of his opponents, he doesn't have more than four wins against any other team in baseball. He's 3-0 in three starts against the birds in 2009, and in his career, he has held the Orioles to a .249 batting average with a 2.21 ERA.

After striking out nine Baltimore Orioles' batters on Saturday night, Jon Lester raised his strikeout total to 146 K's in 2009. He struck out 152 batters in all of his 33 starts in 2008. He's only made 20 so far in 2009. Think he'll set a new career high?

Adam Laroche's eighth inning home run was his first in a Red Sox uniform and his first since July 2 against the New York Mets. It was also his first home run at Fenway Park in the 15 at bats he has had in his career at the Fens.

Sunday's pitching match-up:

John Smoltz will get another chance to prove that he was worth the Red Sox' investment in him on Sunday when he takes the ball against the O's in the series finale. If Smoltz can avoid the one bad inning syndrome, he should be able to give the Red Sox a chance to win. With a Red Sox win and a Yankee loss on Saturday, the Sox picked up a game on the (for now) first place Yankees. A strong outing for Smoltz will help the Sox regain their place atop the American League East. Smoltz will have to bring his A-game, because the Sox are going up against David Hernandez, a rookie. The Red Sox have notoriously struggled against pitchers whom they have never faced, so it will be imperative for Smoltz to keep the O's off balance in case the Red Sox rookie woes continue.

Jim Rice headed to the Hall:



"When you think about the guys that played before me who are in the Hall of Fame, you're talking about Yaz, you're talking about Williams and then myself," said Rice. "You're talking about three guys that are in the Hall of Fame -- three left fielders -- which you will probably very seldom see, as far as playing for one team. I think before the Hall of Fame, it was more gratifying for me to be able to play for 15 years, to play all my career here with the Boston Red Sox and to follow in the footsteps or even be categorized with Williams and Yaz. Now to be in the Hall of Fame, it's even better. I was very fortunate to be able to establish myself in Boston, where I didn't have to take any of my equipment home. I just had one uniform and one number."

Beginning at 1:30pm ET on July 26, 2009, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will begin, as the Hall opens its doors to welcome our very own Jim Rice into baseball immortality. If you didn't already know, there will be a ceremony held at Fenway Park this Tuesday to retire Rice's number 14 before their home game against Oakland. Congratulations to you, Jim Ed! This honor is long overdue, but will be well worth the wait.

-Jared Carrabis

Final Score: Orioles 2, Red Sox 7

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Published on July 26, 2009

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