A "By The Book" Win For The Boston Red Sox Over The Milwaukee Brewers 10-4....Carl Crawford Injures His Hamstring

John Lackey looks like has settled into a comfortable groove, something he wasn't able to do all last season. He was able to go eight innings and Matt Albers pitched a goose egg ninth. Before Lackey settled down after the third, the Sox bats were there to keep Lackey and Boston in the game.The amazing Adrian Gonzalez had yet another three hit day, as did Big Papi David Ortiz. The Sox scored six runs in fifth, sixth and seventh innings to put this one away. But the big story, at least to me, was John Lackey. He was great. Here's the Boston skipper, Tito Francona, speaking about just that...

“I actually thought early in the game, his stuff was really crisp. He didn’t locate a ball to Casey McGehee for the two runs in the first, but the ball was coming out of his hand really well. We come back and score right away, which was important, and then he settled into the game, didn’t walk anybody, kept the ball down, changed speeds, and pitched really effectively.’’

He really did. If he continues to throw the ball like this, the hole in the rotation caused by the sudden departure of Daisuke Matsuzaka (remember him?) will diminish and eventually disappear. Poof. But the news wasn't all good. We already knew that Jed Lowrie was going to be placed on the DL list with a displaced shoulder and he was. Now he has company. Carl Crawford grabbed his left hamstring while running to the first base bag and the manager will tell you more...

“He got an MRI during the game. He’s got a Grade-1 hamstring injury and we certainly need to reevaluate that and see what we’ll do.’’

Grade-1 is the LEAST serious on the injury scale but hamstring injuries are infamous for hanging around. The 15 day DL is just fine, literally just what the doctors ordered.

Another Saturday, another game at Fenway Park. The first pitch time has been pushed back to 7:10pm EDT so nothing would conflict with the Boston Bruins victory parade. I'll be watching that on NESN. Boston will be packed with people ready to celebrate their team's first title since 1972. That's 39 years! I'm not a hockey fan, not since the Whalers left Hartford for greener pastures (that's STILL BS) but I congratulate the entire Bruins organization. Good job, guys.

As I said, it's Saturday night baseball as Jon Lester (9-2) faces R. Wolf (4-4). The numbers say the Sox should win but sometimes the numbers aren't the most important thing. I have faith in Jon Lester AND his team, the Boston Red Sox. They're my team too, since 1966 and the rejuvenating 1967 Impossible Dream year of delight and magic.

So enjoy, click on this post's title for all the Sox highlights from last night and as always, BE WELL.

THIS JUST IN FROM THE AP...

BOSTON -- "The Boston Red Sox have placed left fielder Carl Crawford on the 15-day disabled list before Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Crawford, a top free agent acquisition by Boston during the offseason, was hurt after straining his left hamstring beating out an infield hit in a 10-4 win over the Brewers on Friday night. Boston recalled outfielder Josh Reddick from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Crawford’s place on the roster."