If I asked you at the beginning of the season which Red Sox pitcher on July 4th would be 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA and two complete game shutouts – one a no-hitter – who would you have said? I’m guessing the first few names would be Beckett, Dice-K and maybe Buchholz. And they’d be wrong, of course. Meet Jon Lester: big league leftie starter and cancer survivor. Now a Yankee-killer
Lester owned the pinstripes last night, going just four batters over the minimum and using just 105 pitches to do it. The key was the low strike call Lester was getting all night. Once the Yankees realized it was being called, it forced them to swing at it. The result: nine ground ball outs, three of them double plays
The offense showed signs of life against Pettitte with everyone in the starting line-up getting a hit. Except Julio Lugo, who did have a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly RBI
And just like that, all is well in Beantown. I’m calling for 3-out-of-4. The only matchup that concerns me is Mussina versus Masterson. If they can steal that one, bring your broom on Sunday. And lots of heavy artillery if you’re planning on walking into Yankee Stadium with a broom…
