Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Since Josh Beckett was booed off the field last Thursday, the Sox rotation had made 4 very good starts in a row. If Beckett didn't make it 5 against a weak Seattle lineup, on his birthday, and in front of Tim Wakefield, then I think people would have spat on him as he left the field. In other words, there was no excuse to not pitch well today. He certainly hadn't been strained in his previous start. Hell, he'd only thrown 2.1 innings in May.

He did his job yesterday. He struck out 9 Mariners in 7 innings, making quick work of a lineup that has 0 players hitting over .300, and 2 hitting below .200. Only Ichiro gave Beckett a problem with a pair of singles and a pair of stolen bases. Beckett only threw 93 pitches in his 7 innings, and easily could have gone deeper into the game.

That was unnecessary. The bullpen was fresh thanks to Lester's CG on Monday. And the Sox had a 4-0 lead. With the way Beckett was pitching, and the way Seattle was missing, a 4-0 score looked like a 14-0 score. Ortiz hit his 8th homer of the season. Aviles had an RBI double. Middlebrooks had an RBI single. Aviles added another RBI double in the 8th to erase any doubt.

The Sox ended their homestand on a positive note, with 5 straight wins. They're still very streaky. They were streaky last year, too. Streaky is the mark of inconsistent starting pitching. Good SPs prevent losing streaks. Streaky teams might win 5 straight (the Sox have done that twice), but they'll also lose 5 straight (the Sox have done that twice, as well).

Even after winning 5 straight, the Sox are still 2 games under .500.

So they've made steps. They have more steps to go. Beckett and the Sox are very similar. Inconsistent and unpredictable. We've seen brilliance from Beckett before. That's never been his problem. His problem has always been consistency.

The Sox go down to Florida for a two game series against the Rays. This will be a good test for them. Tonight Buchholz faces 3-0 Jeremy Hellickson. Unlike Buchholz, Hellickson has actually earned his wins.

-The Captain

Mariners @ Red Sox Preview

The Red Sox exactly what they have been looking for from Lester last night. Today, we will find out if Beckett can start earning his paycheck. Beckett has basically been tared and feathered since the whole golfing incident and made it 10 times worse by coming out up 7 runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the Indians. Want to put this stuff behind you Beckett? Do what Lester did last game.

That's the problem with Beckett, you just don't know what you're going to get from him. In his first start of the season he let up 7 runs. He then pitched 4 quality starts in a row (6+ innings 3 or less runs), only to turn around he get lit up for 7 runs again. Seattle is a terrible hitting team, so there is no reason why Beckett should be able to go 7 innings and he shouldn't let up any more than 3 runs.

Going against Beckett is 22 year old Blake Beavan. He has had a decent start to the year with a 4.32 ERA, but has go very little run support and thus has a record of 1-3. The Red Sox hit Beavan hard in dealing him two losses last year, totaling nine runs and 20 hits in 13 innings. Ortiz in particular has crushed him going 3 for 7 with a homer and a double, Adrian Gonzalez is 3 for 6 with two doubles.

No excuse for the Red Sox to lose this game today.

Red Sox win 6-3
Player of the Game: Ortiz
Game starts at 4:05pm


Red Sox Lineup:

1. Ryan Sweeney, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Cody Ross, RF
8. Daniel Nava, LF
9. Mike Aviles, SS

In other news during warmups today Doubront took a fly ball off the side of the head. He was knocked down when it happened, but was able to leave the field under his own power. We haven't heard anything from the Red Sox, but Doubront says he is fine.

Red Sox 6, Mariners 1

This was the type of start the Sox needed and Lester needed. Jon Lester scattered 8 hits, didn't walk anyone, only allowed 1 run, and went the distance.

He was efficient. He finished the game with 119 pitches, but 22 of those came in the 9th. He only needed 97 pitches to go 8 innings. He retired the first 11 Mariners he faced, and by the time Seattle started to make him work, the Sox were already up 5-0.

Daniel Nava was a big reason for that lead. He hit a 2 run homer in the 4th. Kelly Shoppach hit a solo shot later in the inning.

Nava has been hot since joining the team. He's 7 for 12 (.583), with 4 doubles, a homerun, and 6 walks. He's gotten on base in three fourths of his plate appearances. Pawtucket has given the Boston Red Sox some nice boosts this season.

I know that some have speculated that when Youkilis comes back, the Sox might keep Middlebrooks at third and put Youk in left. But which outfielder do you sit? Ross, Sweeney, even Byrd have all been solid. And now Nava.

The Sox are a better team than the Mariners, despite having similar records. They should beat Seattle. They did it once. It'd be great if they could do it again and end this homestand on a positive note.

But guess who's starting for the Sox today...

Josh Beckett. He'll face Blake Beavan, who is 1-3 with a 4.32 ERA and dealing with elbow problems that shortened his last start. So it's Beavan and Butthead (Beckett). Lame joke, I know.

It's a weird start time today. 4:00pm.

-The Captain

Mariners @ Red Sox Preview

Streching back to last year over Lester's 11 starts he is 1-6 with a 5.55 ERA in his last 11 starts, with his lone win in that stretch capping Boston's six-game win streak last month. That's just not good enough from a pitcher that has the stuff that Lester does.

One way to right the ship is to play against one of the weakest offense's in the MLB. The Mariners have a team batting average of .235, some of that might be because of their stadium, but more of it has to do with a lack of talent. This is a start Lester should dominate.

Going against Lester is Vargas. He isn't all that well known, but he is having a very nice start to the season with 4-2 record 2.79 ERA. I don't like when the Red Sox have to play lefties, that could make this start tough tonight.

Red Sox win 4-3
Player of the Game: Pedroia
Game starts at 7:10