Game 120: Rays 1 Sox 3

Quick game and a pitcher's duel to start the double header. It wasn't looking good for Lester after the first inning. Two doubles in the inning and the Rays looked like they were all over Lester. Fortunately, he got out of the inning with only the one run. Two more baserunners in the 2nd inning but after that only one baserunner in the last 5 innings. His final line was 7 IP, 1 ER on 3 Hs and 1 BB with 8 Ks. Bard and Papelbon pitched perfect innings to finish the game.

Lester was nearly matched by Shields who had a complete game loss and only gave up 3 hits and 1 walk. Unfortunately for him, those three hits all came in the 3rd inning. Reddick and Aviles both singled before Ellsbury hit his 21st home run of the season. That was all the Sox needed and that was all they got.

Game 2 of the doubleheader features Bedard and Niemann. Niemann is one of those guys who doesn't look very good ( 4.05 career ERA, 1.31 WHIP) but somehow always seems to beat the Sox. Let's get some runs and give Bedard his first W as a Sox!