June 3, 2008
Boston 6, Tampa Bay 3
The matchup of young southpaws had many of baseball's pundits drooling over a budding rivalry between the two rivals. While Scott Kazmir has the experience (he is the Tampa Bay career leader in Wins, ERA, Starts, Innings Pitched, Strikeouts, WHIP and VORP), Jon Lester has the World Series title.
Lester didn't disappoint. Throwing seven strong innings, the Sox starter allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven without allowing a walk. Kazmir, on the other hand, last only four and a third innings, surrendering five runs on either hits. Kazmir is now 1-2 in three starts against the Sox this season.
Lester celebrated striking out Wily Aybar to end the 7th inning with runners on second and third.
Kazmir survived a first inning scare, when he walked the bases loaded before getting Kevin Youkilis to fly out routinely to left to end the threat. In the second, though, Boston wouldn't waste their chances. Trailing 1-0, Mike Lowell led off the inning with a solo home run. Following a Julio Lugo ground out, Kazmir walked Josh Bard and Coco Crisp to put runners on first and second with one out. Dustin Pedroia moved the runners up a base with a groundout to first before David Ortiz drew a walk to load the bases. Manny Ramirez drove home Bard and Crisp to put the Sox ahead, but Ortiz was caught out at the plate to end the inning.
Lowell got to Kazmir again in the 5th, this time with a two-run double that ended the starters night. With J.D. Drew and Manny Ramirez on base, Lowell launched a two-out line drive off the wall in left. With the runners moving on contact, both runners were able to score easily. After Akira Matsumoto relieved Kazmir, Lugo moved Lowell to third with a single. Josh Bard struck out looking to end the inning, stranding the runners.
Brian Corey surrendered a two-run home run to pinch hitter Johnny Gomes in the top of the ninth to cut the lead to 5-3, but Javier Lopez came on with no outs and retired the Rays to end the game.
W: Lester (7-1) L: Kazmir (5-2) SV: Lopez (1)
Player of the Game: Mike Lowell (3-4, 2B, HR (6), 3 RBIs)
Around the League:
...Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley hit for the Cycle against the Cincinnati Reds, going 4-5 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored...Tampa Bay signed MR Al Reyes (20 app., 2-2, 1 sv., 4.50 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) to a 2-year contract extension worth $840k...Seattle placed SP Felix Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring...Boston signed minor league free agents LF Jerome Groulx and 1B Alonso Gonzalez...