A Shining Star In Atlanta

*****CAPTAIN CRUNCHES*****

There was NO threat of rain, no uncertain start time. The things that I thought had bothered him last time obviously did. But there was nothing uncertain about the pitching of Jon Lester last night, who was cool, calm, and collected. He wore the right deodorant, and the struggling Braves paid for it. 6 innings, 93 pitches, and all of his pitches were working. The 92MPH fastball, the slider, the slow curve, sharp as a hair salon's razor against a stubbly face.
He worked out of trouble in the 4th and 5th, but good pitches and good glovework prevailed. It didn't matter that Atlanta had been struggling of late. His location, for the most part, was good, and hitters were baffled.
The 7th, 8th, and 9th were taken care of by the 'pen, with Rudy Tavarez going in the 7th. He has allowed only 2 earned runs in his last 17 and 1/3 innings going back 15 appearances. Could'a fooled me with that stat. Mike Timlin threw a 7 pitch 8th, and another rookie, Jonathon Papelbon, threw 16 in securing Lester's first big league win and his 21st save.
The batting star? There was but 1, Tek, for without his bases clearing double, the score might STILL be tied. He had 2 other hits in the game, and has been hot. The rest of the Sox are swinging cold lumber still, but the star of the night was on the mound, and in a Red Sox uniform. Sweet
Josh Beckett today, against a just called up Cormier. Maybe we can have a few players with multi-hit games. Just what the doctor ordered on this beautiful but blacked out here in Connecticut Saturday. Father's Day eve. I know my Dad would have enjoyed it.