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INDIANS 7, RED SOX 3: Without bad luck, the Sox wouldn't have any at all »
October 17, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
CLEVELAND -- If there was a bright spot in Tuesday night’s Red Sox debacle at Jacobs Field, it was the pitching performance of Jon Lester.
The left-hander entered with the game seemingly out of reach for Boston and he was able to keep the Red Sox within striking distance, though to no avail. Lester worked three solid scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and struck out four.
The outing was quite different then his previous one when he made his postseason debut in Game Two of the ALCS and surrendered two runs on two hits, including a home run to the Indians’ Franklin Gutierrez in the 11th inning on Saturday at Fenway Park.
Lester was back in fine form Tuesday.
''It was big,'' he said of his performance ''Just being able to pitch was nice. I just went out there and tried to do my best to keep the team where we can be in striking distance.''
Even though he was pleased with his night of work, he said he would rather have not been in that situation because that meant the club was losing.
After starter Tim Wakefield suffered the loss, while allowing five runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of work, reliever Manny Delcarmen struggled, too. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits, including a home run before Lester was summoned to start sixth inning.
''It’s tough,'' said Lester. ''Wakey pitched his butt off, and Delcarmen came in and tried to control the damage. Stuff like that happens.''
The last time Lester pitched at this park was back in July when he made his triumph return to a major-league mound after a courageous victory over cancer. He earned the win that night against the Indians, but it wasn’t about to dwell on the past, especially not in October.
''This is a great park,'' he said. ''If you can’t get up for a game here then there’s something wrong with you. There was a lot of energy tonight and it’s a great place to play. Hopefully the outcome on Thursday will be a little bit better. It will always be in the back of my mind, but it’s not something that comes up on common occurrences. It’s something that was in the past and I’ve moved on.''
When asked what he thought of Boston’s chances now that the club is down three games to one with Game Five on Thursday, Lester said the Red Sox will be ready.
''A lot of these guys here have done it before,'' he said. ''They had their backs up against the wall [in 2004], even worse than this. I think tonight spirits are down a little bit, come Thursday spirits will be back up and we’ll be ready to get after it and hopefully put up a good fight.''
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