Last night Jon Lester made the expectations for Josh Beckett’s start this after noon even higher by pitching a complete game against the Seattle Mariners. His first (nine-inning) complete game sinceJune 27, 2010.
The game came in at a swift 2 hours and 25 minutes and Lester almost had himself a complete game shut out until he gave up one run when Ichiro Suzuki scored from third on a ground out. Seattle only used two pitchers but gave up six runs on nine hits. As well as he pitched, Lester was also the beneficiary of some good luck and better defense as he gave up eight hits throughout the game. Â But the Mariners had difficulty hitting him; Ichiro and Justin Smoak were the only two batters to get multiple hits off the lefty.
Catcher Kelly Shoppach, who drafted by the Red Sox in 2001 and made his Major League debut for them in 2005 before being trading in 2006, got his first home run as a Red Sox player last night, and Daniel Nava added to the offense with a homer of his own. The win is the fourth in a row for the Sox who are still languishing at the bottom of the American League East. After the game Lester made many mentions of Shoppach being part of the reason he pitched so well.
Today’s game is scheduled early for a Tuesday, 4pm. Prior to the game the Red Sox will be honoring newly-retired pitcher Tim Wakefield in a celebration they’re calling “Thanks, Wake!” The appreciation will be followed by Josh Beckett’s first appearance since his shelling on Thursday versus the Cleveland Indians where he was soundly booed off the mound. The timing could benefit Beckett at least in the sense that Red Sox fans might be in too good a mood to boo the controversial pitcher.
Including today’s game, the Red Sox have nine games left on their 20-game period where they play without a day off. Their record in this stretch is 5- 6 so a win today would bring them to the .500 mark for the first 12 games of the 20 game tour and it would bring them two games under .500 in the standings.
It’s taking small steps but the Red Sox are definitely making progress.
(Originally published on Examiner.com)