After going 16-6, with a 3.21 ERA last year, Jon Lester is off to a 2-4, 6.32 ERA start. And I really can't explain why. I think he was a bit on the lucky side in '08, with the number of double-play balls he induced. But that doesn't explain a near doubling of his ERA.
He's already allowed 10 homeruns. He only gave up 14 in '08. He's striking out a lot of batters, 54 so far (he had 152 total last year), but he's also giving up many more hits, and much bigger hits.
One thing is certain, the Red Sox cannot achieve postseason success with Jon Lester and Josh Beckett pitching this poorly.
The Man of the Game is Ichiro Suzuki, who was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, a walk, and a pair of homeruns. His 2 run shot in the 6th was the game winner.
Beckett faces Garrett Olson at 10:10 Saturday night. This is Olson's first start of the season.
Source:
ESPN.com
Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
