August 12, 2008
Ninth Inning Rally Lessens Pain of Lester Injury
Boston 5, Texas 4
Jon Lester lasted just two pitches before Milton Bradley lined a ball off his throwing arm, sending the young southpaw down to the mound in pain. After a moment that had the Sox coaches holding their breathes, Lester left the field under his own power with a sore arm.
Edward Mujica came out of the bullpen in relief of Lester, making his Red Sox debut after pitching at both Portland (AA, 11 G, 101, SV, 1.93 ERA, .86 WHIP) and Pawtucket (AAA, 31 G, 3-3, 6 SVs., 2.18 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) this season. In four innings of work, Mujica pitched admirably, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits.
After a solo home run with one out in the fifth against Mujica, the Sox bullpen combined to pitch four and two thirds innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits and a pair of base on balls.
The Sox scored first in the bottom of the fourth, when J.D. Drew doubled home David Ortiz from second against Texas starter Kevin Millwood. Mike Lowell stranded Rafael Furcal on third to end the inning.
In the ninth, the Sox bats came alive as hope seemed lost. After Furcal led off the inning with a single, Texas catcher Kevin Richardson threw the runner out at second trying to steal the base. J.D. Drew followed with his second RBI of the game, a solo home run to left field off Joaquin Benoit. Mike Lowell doubles and Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo walked to put the winning run on base.
Coco Crisp walked with one out to cut the lead to 4-3 before a RBI-single by Kevin Youkilis tied the game and ended Benoit's night. Manny Ramirez drove home the game winner with a single off closer C.J. Wilson to enable the Sox to steal a game that looked lost when their starter went down after one batter.
W: Wilson (2-1) L: Benoit (5-3)
Player of the Game: J.D. Drew (3-4, 2 2B, HR (15), 2 RBIs)
Around the League:
...Boston placed 2B Dustin Pedroia and SP Jon Lester on the 15-day disabled list. SP Kason Gabbard and 3B Rhyne Hughes were recalled from Pawtucket...Florida activated SP Josh Johnson from the 60-day disabled list...Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett went 5-5 in the Rays 5-3 triumph against the Oakland Athletics...Philadelphia SP Jamie Moyer shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-0 on 4 hits...