This picture would be infinitely better if that ball landed safely. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Jon Lester and Jake Peavy went toe-to-toe tonight and when the dust settled, the Red Sox held on for the 1-0 victory for their 6th straight win.
If you enjoy pitching duels, this game was tailor-made for you. The White Sox' Jake Peavy, who's having a tremendous season thus far, cooled the Red Sox hot bats. He pitched a complete game, allowing only 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 7. Against Red Sox pitching, that should net you an easy victory. But Jon Lester was sick of losing. He threw 7 innings of shutout ball, allowing 5 hits and striking out 7 batters of his own. He earned his first win of 2012.
Things got a little dicey for Lester in the 7th. Vicideo singled on a ball down the 3rd base line that Youk let roll, hoping it would end up foul. The next batter, Flowers, hit a rocket up the middle that Aviles lunged for and nabbed. But he tried to flip the ball to Pedroia at second while he was mid-dive and the ball sailed over Pedroia's head, putting two men on. Lester, well over 100 pitches at this point, got Morel to ground into a fielder's choice. Then, with the tying run on 3rd, he got Beckham to ground out to end the inning.
Morales and Padilla tag-teamed the 8th, and Aceves used about 300 pitches (at least it seemed like it) to get the save in the 9th. 2 innings of relief work with only 2 runners on base in a one-run game is cause for a parade these days.
Nothing to get excited about from the offensive side of the ball, thanks to Peavy. The Sox only run of the night came in the 4th on a Gonzalez single that drove in Sweeney (who started the inning with a double). Sweeney was the only Red Sox with multiple hits. The 4th hit came from Marlon Byrd. And Papi, who went 0-4, saw his average drop down to .403. On the bright side, IT'S ALMOST MAY AND DAVID ORTIZ IS BATTING OVER .400!!
