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Closing Time: Jon Lester left still looking for answers as Blue Jays sweep Red Sox 07.22.12 at 5:05 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield seen in the Fenway Park visitors clubhouse before waving in a boatload of runners Sunday morning. (WEEI.com)

Just when Jon Lester thought it couldn’t get any worse …

The Red Sox starter struggled through perhaps the worst outing of his career, allowing a career-high runs (11) and home runs (4), while tying his mark for most walks surrendered (5), in the Sox’ 15-7 loss to the Blue Jays, Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Lester saw his ERA jump from 4.80 to 5.46 after giving up the 11 runs over just four innings, allowing nine of the runs to come in the initial two innings. The lefty now has a 15.62 ERA in his last three starts (21 runs, 12 1/3 innings), having not made it past 4 1/3 innings in any of the outings.

It marked the most runs allowed by a Red Sox starter since Doug Bird when he allowed 11 over 2 2/3 innings on May 24, 1983. The last time a Sox starter gave up 11 runs was when Tim Wakefield suffered though a 5 2/3-inning, 11-run outing on May 5 against Toronto, with all but one of the runs being unearned.

It continued a bad trend of the top of the Red Sox rotation, with the team carrying a 13-23 mark in starts by Lester and Josh Beckett. Conversely, the Yankees are 23-12 in games their two highest-paid pitchers – CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda – have started.

Here is what went wrong for the Red Sox in suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays:

WHAT WENT WRONG

- On Lester’s very first pitch of the game, Brett Lawrie turned a 94 mph fastball around, depositing it well over the left field wall for a quick 1-0 lead for the Blue Jays. It was the third time this year a player has hit the first pitch of the game for a home run, with the Reds’ Zack Cozart and Derek Jeter of the Yankees previously accomplishing the feat.

- The five-inning first inning included a successful squeeze bunt by Jeff Mathis, scoring Rajai Davis. There was no option to go home with the ball as catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia retrieved the bunt, leaving home plate open for Davis to score.

- The first inning pitch counts for Lester in his last four starts is as follows: 31, 29, 27, 29. He would finish his first two innings having thrown 54 pitches, his second-highest count for the initial two frames this season.

- Lester’s troubles continued in the second when J.P. Arencibia blasted a three-run homer over the left-center field wall with two outs in the second inning to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 8-3. That was followed by a solo shot by Davis, giving the visitors a six-run lead after having made just five outs. It marked the first time since last season’s Opening Day Lester had allowed three homers in first two innings.

- Daniel Nava continued to struggle, going hitless and in four at-bats. He is now gone 8-for-74 (.108) dating back to June 25.

- With the Red Sox still within striking distance at a four-run deficit, reliever Mark Melancon came on in the eighth and struggled through a four-run outing while just getting one out.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

- Adrian Gonzalez hit his ninth homer of the season – a three-run job – in the first inning. The bomb was the first baseman’s second of the season in which he cleared the right field fence at Fenway Park, having done it three occasions last season.

- Jacoby Ellsbury notched his first home run of the season, taking Henderson Alvarez over the center field wall in the fifth inning.

- Junichi Tazawa turned in one his best outings in his young major league career, throwing three shutout innings, while allowing just two hits and no walks to go along with five strikeouts.

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  • http://twitter.com/chickenbaconran james flannery

    The picture of Blue Jays coach Butterfield reminds us that football season is near. Never more evident than today.

  • Nate

    Just plain Terrible!  Next three in Texas and three in New York.  Almost time to stick a fork in this team.  

  • LIZARD5

    PLEASE FIND A WAY TO TRADE LESTER! In my opinion, he looks miserable and doesn’t want to be here.

  • AndyP

    Lester needs to sit; Morales deserves to resume starting.

  • 45 year Sox fan

    Wow censored … :o(

  • Curious

    I have to wonder to what extent coaches and batters learn the tells and habits of pitchers, rendering them less effective in a league. Maybe signing pitchers to long-term contracts doesn’t make sense? Maybe teams in different leagues or even divisions should swap pitchers every now and then to keep hitters on their toes?

    Has anyone looked into this?

  • 45 year Sox fan

    I am disappointed that they didn’t leave Lester out there for 150 pitches… Can’t we D/L Lester for a tight “something or the other” ?  D/L him in Pawtucket into the bullpen… Remind me why Morales in the bullpen again?  how about a rotation of Buckwheat, Cook, Morales, Doubront the bucket… we might end up in 3rd place… Figure Bucket and Looser combine for every fifth start until it is over 987 combined ERA….  we might win 3 out of 5 ?

  • Doug

    What has happened to the decision making of the FO & of Bobby V?  Today was a prime example of that, for starters Lester is worth saving, if you immediatley put him in Pawtucket and get him a Sports Psychologist, for some time we’ve all seen his body language exhibit signs of a toxic nature.  The FO has rendered itself as a Public Joke, they have not done anything about Lester or Beckett but keep throwing them in the fire!  Now it looks as the BP is folding up like a cheap suit!  Immediately get Morales back into the rotation forget that “other” lefty in the BP, the BP is self destructing, Hill is on his way back that ought to help, also Bailey!  Get Pods back up here quick and put Nava back down in Pawtucket, he helped for awhile, but has lost whatever magic he had.  This season has become a nightmare in more ways than one can count.  Nice story Bradford, you’re a member of the media, what is your solution?  I’ve overall respected you as you don’t seem like a Yellow Press ripper or the like, just find out what is transpiring in the FO and let us demoralized fans know!  Thanks

  • J Ristagno

    60 Year Fan: The most important thing in my sports life was to watch the Sox win a world series. I have seen it twice now and I am happy. I love the Sox and always will. Sometimes you need to change things big time. Even the Yanks missed several years of the play offs. It’s time to retool and move on. It will be hard to watch.

    Interesting note is that the top two sports franchises in the world are soccer teams. So if you don’t think Henry knows what he is doing you are badly mistaken.

  • Steven Ladd

    Even if this team gets in as a wildcard (which is not even close to likely) who would start that game? It’s a win or go home game and Bex and Lester, I cannot see being used. I guess Bucholtz? But then what? They are not going to win a series with this staff. Blow up the starting staff and let’s move on. It can’t get much worse….

  • Sanford

    I thInk it’s pretty obvious at this point that Beckett and Lester are purposely not trying and “throwing” their season — all in attempts the “play” their way out of town. This season is such an enigma when compared to their career stats, it becomes very obvious when you take a closer look. Who was widely blamed for the collapse of the team last year? Chicken and beer Beckett and Lester, right? This season is a big FU to the FO, their teammates and to the fans. These two guys are the biggest a-holes around and they don’t want to be here in Boston any longer. Look at the lack of effort they exert. What a joke. Can’t believe more people aren’t taking a closer look at his angle. Maybe after this weekend we will.

  • JerryCraci12

    Painful to watch Backett and Leser purposely tank their seasons like this. Not only is it incredibly selfish on their parts, but it is painful to watch and extremely embarrassing. Don’t poo poo and say that no, it’s just a bad season… With their career stats, maybe one of those guys could be having and off-year, but both top-of-rotation guys at the same time??? Something smells here, and it has become very apparent — especially after this weekend — that both of these guys are tanking it on purpose. Do you see the BP fastballs they just leave over the plate? Their seemingly obvious lack of concentration and effort in EVERY start? No way, these guys are too good career-wise to both be having a down year. These guys were blamed for the season collapse last year. They are full of themselves, arrogant white trash that is trying to stick it to management and to the fans. We should boo these two jerks at every start. We shouldn’t stand for this mockery. They are purposely making fools of us in Red Sox nation and they should be ashamed of themselves.

  • Al Mills

    it’s not good

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