Sweep Success!

Sox: 5 Broomed Jays: 1

There's nothing like sweeping the team you're looking up at in the standings and that's just what the Sox did tonight. The Jays came cruising into Fenway riding high with a 3 1/2 game lead over the Red Sox. Three days and three losses later, the lead has been whittled to 1/2 game as Sox pitching limited the first place team from up north to five runs over the entire series. It's a very good sign from a beleaguered rotation that they could stifle a hot, league-leading offense like Wake, Penny, and Lester were able to do this week.

Lester rebounded from his back-to-back implosions and held the Jays to just one run, that was surrendered by Ramon Ramirez after he [Lester] left the mound. He worked his way in and out of jams, the "out" part being key, with the help of timely pitches and excellent defense behind him. His first few innings were a trifle tentative, but he really got in a groove in the fifth and sixth, his pitch count in the single digits for those two frames. The next step for him is following this outing up with another solid performance in his next start.

At the dish, the Sox had some early success off Jays rookie Robert Ray, including a two-run Bay dinger that bounced off the top of the wall in right-center and into the pen. It's clear that Bay likes to save his biggest hits for when guys are on base; he just set a Red Sox team record for most consecutive multi-run homers. The Sox had better be prepared to shell out major dough for this guy, as his stock is skyrocketing with every big clutch hit he makes. At 30, he's in his prime and he's thriving in the high-intensity, pennant-chasing Boston baseball atmosphere. He has a highly professional work ethic and is an ideal player for this team.

Jake continued his hitting streak at his first at-bat with a double down the first base line. He scored on two straight ground-outs by Pedey and Papi. Speaking of Papi, no, he did not hit another one out tonight, but he got himself a single in the fifth and two of the outs he made were productive, moving runners along. Youk followed up his three-hit welcome back night last night with an RBI single in the third, plating Pedey, who doubled off the wall. Pedey also had a single in the fifth. Drew also had a single on the night. The 7-9 batters, Lowell, Tek and Lugo, went hitless.

Tomorrow, the Mets are in town for a little interleague play. The pitching match-up is an interesting one: a returning-from-the-DL Dice-K goes head to head with Mets ace Johan Santana. Keep rolling, Boston boys!

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! CONGRATS ON THE SWEEP!!!