Start Me Up.....

One of the best unexpected surprises of this season is the play of Jon Lester.  Lester has pitched several big games for the Sox this year, and he has come up money in all of them.  On a night where the bullpen was heavily taxed from the night before, the Sox needed someone to step up and go deep into the game.  Lester was equal to the task, as he went 7.1 innings for the Sox last night.

  Jon Lester had total control of all his pitches, and was dominent and effcient the entire outing.  Lester threw 108 pitches last night, 76 of the pitches were strikes.  Lester struck out six, and scattered seven hits.  Lester did give up a homer to Ian Kinsler, and he was charged with three earned runs.  Mike Timlin allowed both of his inherited from Lester to score.  Lester previous to this season was not know as a tough competitor on the mound, he seemed to wilt in tough outings.  However this season has been completely different.  Earlier in the year when the Sox had just been swept by the Rays, they had a four game set in Yankee Stadium.  Lester stepped up and completely owned the Yanks in the house that Ruth built.  He pitched a complete game shut out.  A few weeks ago, after the Sox had dropped the first two against the Yanks in Fenway, again Lester stepped up when his team needed him, and again he crushed the Yankees.

  The Rangers, who have the best offense in all of baseball, and lead in most offensive catagories, have been treated to some fireworks the last two nights.  Of the Red Sox starters, all but two had hits, and four Red Sox batters had multi-hit nights.  Kevin Youkilis had another big night as well, as he collected three hits and two r.b.i.'s.  The Sox have now outscored the Rangers 27-21 in the last two games.  The Sox also lead the season series with the Rangers 6-0.  It is safe to say that none of the Rangers have Neil Diamond in thier i-pods.