Max Scherzer is 29 years old, he throws right handed but above all else, he came into last night's game with the Red Sox chasing history. If Max Scherzer earned a victory he would move himself into a tie with Rodger Celmens as the only pitcher in history to start his season 20-1. Now records are nice but the only problem with this was for Scherzer to earn the win, Boston would have to loose...and well, let’s just say they DID NOT WANT TO!
For the first time since July 3rd, Scherzer was credited with a loss snatching history right out of his hands and handing the Red Sox their 83rd win of the year. But in his defense, Scherzer was not bad. He struck out 8 while allowing just 5 hits.
It is a rare night that Max Scherzer does not turn in a formidable performance and while last night was no different, Jon Lester’s proformance was even better.
"I think everybody in our dugout feels that when he goes to the mound -- and that can be said for [John] Lackey, that's not to slight anybody -- but Jon has stepped up in those games when we needed to get back on the winning track," said manager John Farrell.
Lester shredded opposing hitters fanning a season high 9 batters in the 7 innings he pitched. The only problem for Jon was the fact that no matter how good HE was, the Detroit Tigers offensive lineup was equal.
Right off the bat they were making him pay delivering a strong message of "we are the better team" that simply made Red Sox fans want to cringe. Jon faced 4 batters in the 1st inning, all of which drove themselves deep into counts. Leadoff man Austin Jackson saw 8 pitches before he creamed a 3-2 fastball in for a double then, number 2 hitter: Tory Hunter added an addition 9 pitches of his own before he popped out to Mike Carp in foul ground. Largely due to the work of Jackson and Hunter, Lester would finish the first inning having already thrown 25 pitches.
As was said earlier, it seemed that for the time being the game was over before it had even begun as Scherzer followed up Lester's struggles by mowing down each of Boston's first 3 hitters via the strikeout. It seemed bad but before long instead of looking lost on the mound; Lester caught up to his pitching foe and roared through a Detroit offence ranked right up with the Sox as the best in baseball. Through the 3rd and 4th innings, not a single hit was recorded by either team as Lester compiled 3 of his 9 K's in that span.
Nevertheless, time was running out and even with Boston trailing by the pathetic margin of 1-0 you knew very well that with Scherzer dealing like he was, that could easily be enough.
Desperate for even the thought of an offensive spark, the Sox lineup finally delivered in the bottom of the 5th as Johnny Gomes soon blooped a 1 out single to right field to get the tying run aboard. One batter later, Stephan Drew moved Gomes to 3rd via his 23rd double of the year. Still one out.
David Ross would strike out, but that was not of issue as with Will Middlebrooks coming to the plate, the fact that there were 2 outs in the inning was not of issue. The Sox were in the best position to score a run of any and you had this feeling that Will was not going to mess up.
"[Scherzer] likes to start me out off-speed," Middlebrooks said. "Normally I go up there, look for a heater. But in that situation, guys in scoring position, I figured he'd throw the off-speed. I looked for it, and I got it."
In the blink of an eye, Will Middlebrooks had changed the entire complexion of the game flipping the score from 1-0 to 2-1. Just the same as when Scherzer was dealing, with Lester pitching with a lead you felt...no knew that the Sox had a chance to pull a win out of this whole thing.
"I'm in a better spot right now as far as going down the mound," Lester said, "which puts me in a better position for that pitch. I think maybe taking a break from it for a little bit helped me, trying not to pound my head against the wall with it. It's been good the last three, four, five starts, so, keep grinding it out."
Lester sure grinded out last night's night of work as amidst all the pitches that he threw, he was bombarded (literally) in the top of the 6th inning when he took a sharp line drive to the ribs. The ball could easily have been travailing upwards of 100 miles per hour but Lester waved off Farrell and the Sox trainers insisting that he was fine.
He WAS fine and before he was pulled prior to the 8th inning, Lester fanned 2 additional batters and actually held Detroit star: Miguel Cabrara hit-less.
Following Lester's removal, Koji Uehara would eventually come into the game all to blast home a perfect 9th inning and earn his 17th save of the year while also extending his shutout streak to 25 innings.
"Max certainly pitched good enough to win tonight," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We just didn't win."
Detroit didn't win...neither did Max Scherzer but by default, that meant that the Red Sox did. They ended the dominant run of a pitcher and ended his bid for history, all to bring home win number 83 on the year.
Detroit didn't win...neither did Max Scherzer but by default, that meant that the Red Sox did. They ended the dominant run of a pitcher and ended his bid for history, all to bring home win number 83 on the year.
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