A lot to like in the Red Sox series just concluded in San Francisco.
Jon Lester and Felix Doubront were both sensational, both going at least eight innings and combined allowed just one run. The bullpen was well-rested for the upcoming series in Los Angeles.
The Sox bats came alive, scoring 19 runs in the two wins (7-0 and 12-1). Will Middlebrooks continued his torrent hitting since returning from Pawtucket, blasting a home run in yesterday's win.
Jake Peavy pitched well in the loss on Tuesday, and clearly wasn't happy being yanked in the 6th inning of that game. (John Farrell made some head-scratching moves in that game. Fortunately, that has been a very rare occurrence this season.)
The Red Sox' worst starter this year, Ryan Dempster, sits for not only 5 games due to suspension, but will now sit for 11 days, as his next start was moved back to August 30th against Chicago. MLB did the Sox a huge favor handing down the 5-game suspension when they did, as it moved the Sox rotation up favorably, so Lester will pitch on Saturday and Peavy on Sunday. The Dodgers miss Dempster (thank goodness) and the Sox miss Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke (thank you, baseball gods).
It says a lot about this club when handed a brutal schedule this week (that Sunday night start at Fenway and a Monday night game in SF), they played as well as they did. And to bounce back with a very convincing win after an awful loss on a 9th inning bases loaded walk on Tuesday. I was hoping the Sox could split the four games in California this week, and they need to win just one in LA this weekend to do that.
And the Sox did a smart thing by recalling Xander Bogaerts on Monday. He started Tuesday night and came in on Wednesday after the game turned into a blowout. Good to get the future star's feet wet now, and hopefully he can contribute to the club down the stretch.
Tampa Bay's loss in Baltimore last night leaves the Sox one up in the AL East.
