Rain, Rain, Come and Stay: Jays-Sox Gamer IV

The Sox need a win if they are to keep their hold on first and stay ahead of the Yankees (not as important right now as if it were Sept. 29, but good for the soul nonetheless), but let's just say the matchip tonight doesn't make us optimistic about snapping the five-game losing streak, off day or no off day.

Roy Halladay takes the mound for Toronto. He's no slouch, having gone fewer than eight innings just once this season -- though he wasn't that impressive against Boston and got slapped around by the Rays his last time out. Unfortunately, taking the mound for Boston is Jon Lester, who hasn't even made seven full innings yet this season (Halladay's done it every time) and thrown just one quality start. His walks have skyrocketed, his strikeouts have plummeted -- and he's allowing more hits, as well.

Maybe he puts it together in this start. The Blue Jays have certainly made things easier for him and all other AL East pitchers by releasing Frank Thomas. Still, color us pessimistic. Jon Lester v. Roy Halladay? That doesnt give one much hope.

Comment away!

Comments

[Atheose]

Lowell is back? Nice!

Lester has a 1-2-3 inning. Haven't said that much this season.

[rootbeerfloat]

Just stopping on my way to a Little League game... go Sox!

[sf rod]

low blow rbf. the sox are playing bad right now but calling them little league is rough.

[Paul SF]

Yayy, first hit of the game goes to Youks. Hopefully Lowell comes back with a vengeance. He wasn't very inspiring before the injury...

[Atheose]

Holy shit Youk stole 2nd!

[TJ]

Lester take notes of ur game, this is how its done.... I dont csare if u walk a batter every other inning aslong as it goes along like this!

[sf rod]

can i say it yet? can i say it yet? can i say it yet?

[Atheose]

Who is this pitcher and what has he done with Lester?

Don't say anything sf rod!

[Atheose]

Booo lead-off single.

[Atheose]

Ugh, a 2nd baseman over 5 feet tall woulda had it. It's okay Pedroia, we still love you.

OMFG next batter GIDP on the first pitch. Gorgeous.

[TJ]

if that ends up the only hit tonite, Pedroia might find him self being stretched by teammates :p

[Atheose]

TJ's statement just guaranteed the Jays at least three hits next inning.

[Atheose]

Shit, why'd Moss replace Drew? I'm happy for the single yes, but...

[TJ]

Cause drew is a sissy girl :p

[Atheose]

Oh thank goodness Lester throws a strike at the knees.

[Atheose]

Another GIDP!

[Atheose]

Geez Eckstein earning his money there at shortstop.

Halladay truly is a master at his craft. It's almost comical watching batter after batter ground out, every time to the same place.

[Jackie (SF)]

Soo... what's up with the determination to waste brilliant performances by every single pitcher? I fully expect Wakefield to pitch a PG through the 9th inning tomorrow, and lose on a single unearned run in the 10th.

[TJ]

Ortiz will go deep in the 7th

[TJ]

errr nm lol

[z118]

Is it just me or is this one heck of a game from Lester?

[sf rod]

gotta scratch together a run here. lester has left it all on the mound. pick him up now dammit.

[SF]

Hey everyone, wish I could be more present in the game threads but events have conspired to keep me away more than I'd like. Glad to see Lester making me look stupid, though. Time for some runs!

[sf rod]

z- the jay's have helped him out a bunch. they kinda threw the book out on lester. swinging early in counts, and jumping out of their shoes on the slow breaker. that said....all credit to lester. hope he can repeat this.

[SF]

Why isn't Ellsbury playing tonight?

[Paul SF]

I feel like I should be frustrated by this game, but scratching three hits against Halladay isn't exactly an uncommon sight. Just a shame we won't get Lester a win, as it looks like Papelbon is coming in...

[SF]

Go away Julio...

[sf rod]

thru 8-

lester: 97-58
halladay: 97-66

[TJ]

he has a sore groin

[Atheose]

Great outing by Lester spoiled by a great outing by Halladay. Papelbon comes in in a tie game.

[SF]

Look at the past week: Masterson brilliant, Buchholz even better, Beckett exceeds Buck, then Lester tonight. The offense chose an awful time to fold up -- the pitching gave them a chance (after being bailed out by the O for a little while) to race to a tremendous early-season record and got nothing in return. I'd like to say them's the breaks of a long season, but it's still frustrating while being simultaneously encouraging.

[Atheose]

Anyone watching on TV/mlb.tv? The new center-field camera location is sweet. It's a lot like the Rays' camera, where it's dead-center aimed at the plate.

Papelbon sets him down on three pitches.

[sf rod]

we were owed a bad stretch after the week + of late inning heroics, but i wouldn't have figured the bats would be as flat as they've been.

[Atheose]

Strikeout number 2 for Papelbon. 8 pitches, 7 strikes, two K's.

[Atheose]

Goddamnit Rolen doubles, spoiling my "I've never seen Papelbon look this dominant" comment.

[sf rod]

game saver.

[Atheose]

OH MY F*CKING GOD DUSTIN PEDROIA!

[Brad]

Yeah, Atheose: That play was absolutely sick. Stay tuned for Web Gems...it's certainly in the top three.

[sf rod]

that play by dustin was pretty much the same play as the clay no-hitter play.

[Atheose]

Yeah, I'd be surprised if it's not #1.

*pulls out David Ortiz bobblehead* Up to you, Papi.

[sf rod]

somehow i think this game gets decided right here.

[Brad]

Doc is just a freaking beast. I bet he comes back out if this goes on. I was really hoping he'd go the whole game, not take the loss, and their bullpen would blow it.
Manny Delcarmen is warming: we have to win it here..

[SF]

I need to pony up for Extra Innings...

[Atheose]

My f*cking heart just stopped

[Brad]

Nearly.
Get on it Ortiz!!!

[SF]

If Paps doesn't go two tonight Tito should be kneecapped.

[sf rod]

or here.

[Brad]

Okay Manny. Do your thing here, buddy.

[Atheose]

Brad, Okajima is warning, not Delcarmen.

Ortiz walked. Does Ellsbury pinch-run for him? Oh wait, just heard Ellsbury has a groin problem. No pinch runner, up to Manny now.

[Brad]

He's not, Delcarmen is warming.

[Atheose]

Wow, no one warming behind Halladay. Craziness.

MANNY SINGLES! Ortiz in scoring position!

[sf rod]

or here.

[Brad]

Oh, well the just showed Delcarmen throwing.. maybe OK for the lefty or something..
On another note...how does Doc ever lose a freaking game. What a beast. Seriously.

[Atheose]

Where do you see that Brad? I'm watching on mlb.tv and they showed Okajima physically up and throwing the ball in the bullpen.

[Brad]

YOOOOOUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

[Brad]

NESN...but it doesn't matter at all!!!!

[SF]

If the game goes to the 10th, Paps ought to come out.

As for that play by DP, I just saw it on MLB.com, and it was tremendous.

[Atheose]

YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK I just pissed myself

[SF]

Forget that last comment! YOUK!!!!!!!!!

[Atheose]

Dirty. F*cking. Water. We needed that win.

I feel bad for Halladay. The man is truly a master and he pitched brilliantly. He also let loose a shitload of cuss-words when he saw the CF bobble the ball.

[Brad]

I think if you throw four consecutive complete games, and don't win some of them, you might want to punch something really, really hard. Like your offense.

[Paul SF]

What a game!!!! Wow! What a great win to pull it out against Halladay with two outs in the ninth!!

And, even better, three straight fantastic pitching performances from the Red Sox...

[Dionysus]

First game I've been able to watch since Buc's game and we finally win one. Sorry for not posting.. I came in in the 6th and didnt want to jinx Lester

[sf rod]

ortiz would have been meat at home.

nice win. too bad they couldn't have done it for lester but oh well. star to dustin. halladay is a stud. 4 consecutive games throwing 9.....he's nutz (and looking for a new contract).

[Atheose]

Roy Halladay is now 2-4, despite not pitching less than 7 innings all season. That's sad.

[SF]

I think if you throw four consecutive complete games, and don't win some of them, you might want to punch something really, really hard.

Does the offense get to punch something really, really hard when they score 9 runs off the Yankees and lose by six?

[Brad]

I'll take Doc over nearly every single pitcher in baseball. He's never been given the oppportunity to have all the equations to put his name out there. He's won awards and everything, but he plays so far from the public's interest up there that a lot of people just foget to put him in the mix when talking about aces. He's unbelivable.
On another note...Do they wonder why he hurts himeself...they didn't even have anyone warming for him..He should have been lifted as soon as he let Ortiz on base.

[Brad]

SF, I'm not following you..What game was that, buddy?

[Brad]

Oh, nevermind.

[Brad]

and that should read "parts to the equations"

[Paul SF]

Jon Lester v. Roy Halladay? That doesnt give one much hope.

What idiot wrote that? ;-)

Glad to see Lester picked up the pace and dominated. Still needs to cut down the walks...

[Atheose]

Yeah, I can see why the Jays would have more confidence in Halladay than their bullpen, but after letting both Ortiz and Manny on base? Bring in someone fresh.

[sf rod]

so nice to have a sox game finish in 2 1/2 hours.

[SF]

Not picking on you, Brad. Just pointing out that the offense can complain about the pitching sometimes as well (probably more than the reverse, frankly, with this team). What's most frustrating is that FOUR CONSECUTIVE GAMES nearly ended with superlative pitching being wasted by an anemic offense, Roy Halladay's brilliance notwithstanding. Two games might be excusable (if frustrating), but four games? Please!