Sox headed to ALCS
Lowrie and Lester lead the way in win over Angels
Jon Lester has acted as both stopper and resident ace for the Red Sox all season, and the 24-year-old lefty wunderkind did it again last night.
Lester did his best Josh Beckett impersonation in dominating the Angels hitters for seven shutout innings, but the Sox also needed a dramatic RBI single by Jed Lowrie in the bottom of the ninth to secure a rousing 3-2 victory in Game 4.
The Sox thus defeated the Angels in the American League Division Series for the third time in the last five years, and now prepare for an American League Championship Series matchup with Tampa Bay, set to begin Friday at Tropicana Field.
The bottom of Boston’s lineup was hitting a combined .167 (5-for-30) heading into last night, but the Sox offensive denizens finally busted loose in a must-win game. Singles by Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek set up a first-and-third situation.
Things looked dire when Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a grounder to second that had double play potential, but the play was momentarily botched by Howie Kendrick. The bobble erased any chances of ending the inning, and allowed Kotsay to score the game’s first run.
Dustin Pedroia followed by turning one of his patented tomahawk swings into an RBI double off the left field wall, and made it a 2-0 ballgame. The Pedroia two-bagger snapped an 0-for-17 skid in the ALDS, and prompted the Fenway Faithful to erupt into “MVP” chant as the mighty mite infielder clapped his hands in celebration.
Lester was 5-1 with a 1.41 ERA in seven starts following a Red Sox loss during the regular season, and again showed why he’s both the best antidote to a Boston losing streak and a certified postseason weapon.
The Sox lefty was hitting 96-97 mph on the radar gun with a crackling, overwhelming fastball mixed with a cutter and change up he has utilized all season to great success.
Unfortunately, Lester was lifted after seven frames and 109 pitches, and Justin Masterson couldn’t protect the two-run lead. A pair of walks and a key passed ball set up a two-run single by Torii Hunter in the eighth that tied the game at 2-2. Jason Bay doubled with one out in the ninth, however, and set up Lowrie’s seeing-eye RBI game-winner to right field.
