With the way this team is built right now, this is the way they are going to have to win games. Jon Lester last night proved that he is officially over his early season struggles. He pitched 8 innings letting up 1 runs on 5 hits with 5 K's. Lester was very good, but he didn't even have his best stuff. He ran into trouble in the 8th inning, as he let up back to back singles to start the inning. You would've thought that he would've been taken out, but Francona stuck with him, which speaks to how much he trust Lester, and how little he thinks of that bullpen right now. Lester responded by pitching out of the inning with some help from Pedroia's glove.
It didn't look like Lester was going to get the win, as Boston's bats were back to being dormant, but in the 8th inning Hermida hit a 3 run bases clearing double, and that was all the Sox needed to put this game away. Papelbon came in for the 9th stuck out 2 out of 3, and the game was over.
With the win Boston is now 13-14, 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees, and 6 1/2 behind the Rays, but at least they seem to be gaining some confidence. They also should get a boost in a week or two with the return of Ellsbury and Cameron.
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