May 3, 2014

G31: Red Sox 6, A's 3

A's     - 000 000 003 - 3  4  0
Red Sox - 401 100 00x - 6  6  2
Jon Lester (8-1-0-2-15, 119) set a new career-high in strikeouts and Jonny Gomes hit a first-inning grand slam to power the Red Sox to victory. David Ortiz and David Ross hit solo shots for Boston's other runs.

In the first inning, Dustin Pedroia walked, Xander Bogaerts singled, and Ortiz walked. After Mike Napoli struck out, Gomes launched the Red Sox's second grand slam in as many games, and their third in the past eight days.

Oakland managed only one hit against Lester, a single by Craig Gentry leading off the third inning.

Lester's previous strikeout-high was 13 (July 24, 2010 against Seattle). He's is the first Red Sox pitcher to strike out 15 batters in a game since Pedro Martinez did it on July 23, 2000.

What was a relaxing afternoon turned tense in the ninth inning. Chris Capuano allowed the first four batters to reach (and two to score) before John Farrell called on Koji Uehara, who walked Yoenis Cespedes, loading load the bases and bringing the potential tying run to the plate.

Derek Norris grounded back to the mound and Uehara got a force at the plate, but Ross's throwing error brought in another Oakland run. Koji fell behind Alberto Callaspo 3-1, before coming back to strike him out. Then Koji fell behind pinch-hitter Brandon Moss 3-0; he got a called strike and then Moss flied out to right field.

Example
Tommy Milone / Jon Lester
Pedroia, 2B
Bogaerts, SS
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Sizemore, CF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, RF
Ross, C

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