Game 76: Red Sox at Tigers - Sox, Lester look to bounce back

Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer

Oy!

That’s about all that can be said for last night’s game for the Boston Red Sox. Another strong performance by a starting pitcher wasted. Depending on which Jon Lester shows up tonight, things may or may not be much better against this lethal Detroit Tigers’ lineup. Lester takes the ball in Game 2 of this four-game set in Motown, in hopes of turning things around for himself and for the Red Sox (44-31). Boston still leads the AL East, but the lead had shrunk to one game over the Orioles. The Tigers (40-31) lead the AL Central by four games and will attempt to continue Lester’s woes.

Lester is 6-4 with a 4.37 ERA, but is 0-4 after beginning the season 6-0. Lester is 0-2 with a 4.78 ERA against the Tigers in five starts in his career. Here is the Sox starting lineup (first pitch – 7:08 pm EDT):

1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Nava, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Iglesias, 3B

Lester, P

Tigers' starter Doug Fister is also 6-4, but boasts a 3.21 ERA and is the second-straight starter the Tigers send out who has flirted with a no-hitter. He went into the sixth inning this past Sunday without allowing a hit against the Twins. He ended up giving up two runs in 7.2 innings in the win.

Slumping Middlebrooks
Jose Iglesias continues to play carousel around the infield and takes Will Middlebrooks’ spot at third base tonight. Middlebrooks is batting .192 for the season after going 0-for-4 last night. Iglesias is hitting .423 this season and continues to impress at the plate and in the field.

Cabrera joins Teddy Ballgame
Miguel Cabrera is the first player since Ted Williams in 1948 to have at least 100 hits and 71 RBIs in his team’s first 70 games. Cabrera has exactly those totals through the Tigers’ first 70 games. Williams had 102 hits and 72 RBIs in 1948 for the Sox.

Let us know what you think about tonight’s game by commenting below.

Like what you read? See more from Ben here.
As always, give me a shout on Twitter: @thebenwhitehead