Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff


Final Score
Angels 8
Red Sox 3

Lester comes up with a “L�: Can you hear the phone calls? One loss and the amateur general managers on talk radio must already be working on trade proposals to send Sox rookie lefty Jonathan Lester out of town.

Lester (5-1) yielded five runs on 10 hits last night in 6.1 innings of work, and Manny Delcarmen came in and gave up another pair of runs in 1/3 of an inning. Can you say Lester and Delcarmen in a package deal for (insert name of unavailable All-Star pitcher here).

Well, hold on those trade talks for just a minute because Lester did came out after a two hour and two minute rain delay and allow just one run in the first six innings. It’s always that last third of an inning that kills you!

Speaking of killing you, in case you didn’t notice, the Sox are now even in the loss column with the New York Yankees (technically the Red Sox hold a ½ game lead). That’s right. It’s officially a pennant race. And as the drivers start their engines, the Yankees are riding a four-game winning streak and have two games left in their series with Tampa Bay.

Josh Beckett will be looking to stop the bleeding and keep the Sox from losing their third straight tonight. Also, there is word that help -- if you can call it that -- may be on the way. Along with Keith Foulke working his way back off the DL and into the Sox bullpen, 43-year-old lefty David Wells will make a start on Monday against the Cleveland Indians.

Red Sox Nation, are you optimistic that guys are getting healthy and things are just about to take a turn for the better? Or… perhaps you’re getting a sick feeling as you look at the standings, Lester finally proving to be human, and the team from the Bronx creeping up the standings?