Jon Lester shines as Boston Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 6-2 – MLB Update
Jon Lester put in a brilliant pitching effort as the Boston Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 6-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore on Thursday, April 28.
The Red Sox averted a series sweep by the Orioles’ by winning on Thursday. The utterly unpredictable Red Sox which has experienced some turbulent time this season managed to secure an easy victory. The player who demonstrated an extraordinary feat on Thursday
night was Jon Lester. The starting pitcher unleashed his effective weapon of fastballs against the Orioles with remarkable skill and left them in an uncomfortable position.
Thursday night’s game was marked by a relatively fast start by Boston’s offence. The team had previously lost two matches and losing this game meant losing the series 3-0. Adrian Gonzalez began by doubling to deep left where Jacoby Ellsbury scored in the
very first inning. Brad Bergesen gave up two hits in the inning followed by Jon Lester who did not seem to have a good start either. Derrek Lee singled to left to level the score at the end of first inning.
Boston increased the lead to 2-1 in the third inning by another single of Gonzalez, as he singled to right centre to take the lead up. Lester strengthened the Sox defence with an equally good performance. Vladimir Guerrero did the slightly unexpected thing
in the sixth inning, as he charged Lester and homered to left, levelling the score once again.
Lester, who pitched eight innings, giving up only four hits and two runs, was overcome with delight. "If I knew the answer to that, I'd do well against everybody," Lester said. "I just pitch well against this team. I really like pitching here at this park,
I've always felt good here."
If records are anything to go by, Lester is so far an unrivalled starting pitcher who has remained unbeaten in 17 games against the Orioles.
The Red Sox made it 3-2 in the very next inning, as Dustin Pedroia hit an infield single to make things difficult for the Orioles. Boston scored three runs in the eighth inning with extravagant fashion. Ellsbury scored a double and Jarrod Saltalamacchia
a single to make an unsurpassable 6-2 lead. Lester did the needed in the eighth inning by pitching a shut-out inning followed by Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth to win a comfortable 6-2 victory.
Lester managed to contain the Orioles with his brilliant pitching. It will be interesting to see how far the Red Sox can carry their winning ways into their next few games. The Orioles put in a fairly decent performance, but it was just not enough to handle
the Boston’s offence on the night.
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