Lester, Sox Can't Get Above .500

Sox lose 7-4 to drop the opening game of their important series with the Rays. It was another step backwards for Jon Lester after 2 good outings. Yes, the Carlos Pena homer was a 1st row seat-scraper that Marlon Byrd could have caught. But the damaged from the Joyce grand slam & a 2nd homer had already been done. There were some balls thrown at Pedroia & Scott that got the teams, mostly the coaches, riled up. But that is a smoke screen to divert thought away from a critical loss. All the positive momentum from Baltimore is gone, thanks to a day off on Thursday & a loss on Friday. Now the Sox need to beat Price & Hellickson to win this series. To me, Jon Lester came up short when the team needed him to pitch a good game. That's the story of last night, not the pushing by coaches on the field.