August 23, 2007
...
Game rained out ...
With the decision to option Jon Lester to Double A Portland
for one start, the Red Sox gained a lefthander out of the bullpen,
something they didn't have last season during a crushing five-game
sweep at the hands of the Yankees, who have plenty of left-handed
firepower on offense. The Sox have a three-game series against the
Yankees in New York starting Tuesday.
The swap is
Lester for reliever Javier Lopez, who was pitching in Pawtucket. It provides an
additional lefthander after Hideki Okajima, who has rarely been used as a
situational reliever this season. Lester will start for Portland Monday, with
Julian Tavarez starting against the White Sox Sunday. Lester was sent to
Portland, instead of Pawtucket because of the teams' schedules. Francona and
pitching coach John Farrell explained the situation to Lester, who will return
for his scheduled start Sept. 2.
Tavarez
pitched well in his last spot start, allowing two hits and two runs in six
innings of a loss to the Angels last Sunday, but Lester struggled Tuesday in a
victory over the Devil Rays, giving up five earned runs on four hits over 5 1/3
innings. He walked four and struck out four.
Lopez is 2-1
with a 2.87 ERA in 44 appearances with the Red Sox this season. He has allowed
10 of 36 inherited runners to score. If he is on the 25-man roster Aug. 31, he
will be eligible for the postseason roster. Lester would not be eligible, though
he could be added based on the players the Sox have on the disabled list.
Lopez left
Buffalo, where the PawSox were playing, at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) yesterday
and didn't arrive in the clubhouse here until 8:45 (Central time). Lopez endured
a 2 1/2-hour layover in Milwaukee, and waited anxiously as his plane circled
Chicago in his second flight of the day.
The Red Sox
will keep their pitchers in line for today's day-night doubleheader and the
White Sox will flop their starters. Josh Beckett will face Jon Garland in the
first game (2 p.m.) and Curt Schilling will face John Danks in the nightcap
(8:11).
Dustin
Pedroia, who was hit on the left elbow in the third inning Wednesday and was
replaced in the field in the bottom of the inning, was initially in the lineup
last night but was scratched. Eric Hinske, who had a right calf cramp, also left
Wednesday's game and he was still sore last night.
Infielder
Royce Clayton was signed to a contract with Pawtucket. He was scheduled to join
the PawSox today in Buffalo. Clayton was released by the Blue Jays Aug. 6. He
was hitting .254 in 189 at-bats with Toronto.
