Boston's pitching future was on display Monday afternoon at McCoy Stadium -- the future in the person of starter Michael Bowden and reliever Daniel Bard.
Bowden recorded his first Triple-A victory (which is interesting in the sense he won his first major league game last season) as the Pawtucket Red Sox blanked the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, 2-0.
As Jon Lester's frustrations lifted,striking out nine Orioles over seven innings pitched to earn his first victory of the season, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz' frustrations continue to mount.
Kevin Youkilis launched a three-run homer over the Green Monster giving Boston a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Then, Mike Lowell singled to center making it a five run gap. And for the first time this season the Red Sox finally held onto an early lead.
Down seven runs to begin the bottom of the second inning Boston never changed their approach at the plate. The Red Sox knew they were given too many innings to catch up. J.D. Drew lead off the inning with a walk and Jason Bay followed crushing his third home run of the season into Baltimore's bullpen cutting the lead to 7-2. Boston's comeback was just getting started.
Maybe the Pawtucket Red Sox lost the battle Friday night in their home opener against the Leigh Valley Iron Pigs.
But because knuckleballer Charlie Zink and reliever Billy Traber gave them nine innings, the PawSox may win the war - the war being the remainder of a six-game homestand.
The scenario was reminiscent of Curt Schilling's performance against the Oakland Athletics two years ago on June 7. Boston was in a funk. Oakland had a chance at sweeping the Red Sox at home for the first time in a four game set since May 19-21, 1932 when they played in Philadelphia. Schilling was called upon to halt the losing streak.
Not only is Daisuke Matsuzaka's arm fatigued, but Red Sox Nation is also after suffering through a 12 inning, four hour and 24 minute, 6-5 extra innings loss to Oakland.
Jon Lester would certainly trade his start to the 2009 season with Kevin Youkilis. Reason being, they have been polar opposites of what was expected of them coming into this season.
Bobby Abreu got all the revenge he needed.
That wasn't a playoff game was it? Yesterday's match-up between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels had everything a fan could ask for in a regular season game.