Game time: 8:35 pm EDT (7:35 CDT)

Scheduled starters: Jon Lester (3-0, 3.08) v. Mark Buehrle (9-5, 3.86)

Chicago Weather: Noon (CDT) observation at ORD: wind calm, visibility greater than 10 miles, few clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 79F, DP 53F


Forecast: The Chicago weather will be influenced by a high to the east for the next couple of days. It is keeping the area under clear skies, with cool temperatures and low humidity. The winds should pick up later in the day, mostly out of the east or southeast, which is a lake-breeze. The winds should remain light, under around 10 mph. It'll be in the low 70's by game time.

The winds will be blowing across from left toward first to in from left.

Anni

Thank God this game is on ESPN so I don't have to listen to "He gone!" and "Put it on the boooooaaaaarrrrrdddd - YES!!!" on my Extra Innings package.

Last year I almost threw my TV out the window with those clowns....

Tonight's game is the NESN feed. Tomorrow is FOX, and then Sunday you'll have to live through Hawk and DJ. During the ALDS last year, I tried muting the TV (Berman Sutcliffe and Piazza) and listen on the radio but it was much farther ahead than I'd anticipated.

I honestly don't see where White Sox fans get off thinking they are going to sweep us-- given the pitching matchups. They harken back to last year...we were a banged up team and yet it still took a Graffanino abortion(game 2) and El Duque working out of a bases loaded, no out jam(Game 3), to beat us.

The team we have...right now..is right there with the Chicago White Sox...save the #5 pitcher. We have better starters 1-4. We have a better closer. We have a better lineup 1-9. We have a better defensive team.

If we improve the #5 slot with the return of Wells or via a trade by years end.. we will have the best team in baseball.

Tonight will be a great test for young Lester...it should be fun.

Sunday is Schilling, though, right?

As in, the Schilling who is probably not much of an Ozzie Guillen fan at the moment?

That is to say, the Schilling who will be pitching a 3-hit complete game shutout?

That's fine. I can live with the White Sox announcers that day.

*MOJO* - BOS @ CWS - Lawmen Day 2

Top prospect Jon Lester has been impressive since being called up to the big club. He has been pitching with some success, and at times his stuff is downright electric, including a start in which he struck out 10 in only 6 innings of work. The only thing holding him back now is his command of his arsenal of pitches. Today's mojo comes courtesy of Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, the stalwart detective from TV's Dragnet.



"Just the strikes, Lester."

His name is Lester - he's a pitcher. And a damn good one. Time to close the book on win #2.

I've looked at that three times now and can't figure what you mean. Lester's 3 - 0, right?

The current winning streak is 1. So maybe that's what "win #2" means...

Or maybe we have such high expectations for Lester, that we're only counting every two wins as a win, which puts him at 1.5 and 0 on the season.

Man, you really try hard solving something. I like that. Maybe it is team winning streak.

They're interviewing him in the pregame......oh my, he just said Pierzynski is the best at calling a game. I just saved myself from being incredulous by reminding myself he's a homer when he broadcasts.

Regardless, he's still brutal....

[codebox]Boston Chicago WSox
------ ------------

Pos Player HR RBI AVG. Pos Player HR RBI AVG.
--- ------ -- --- ---- --- ------ -- --- ----
1B Youkilis, Kevin 10 41 .304 LF Ozuna, Pablo 1 13 .432
2B Loretta, Mark 3 34 .305 2B Cintron, Alex 2 19 .285
DH Ortiz, David 29 82 .277 DH Thome, Jim 29 75 .293
LF Ramirez, Manny 24 65 .310 1B Konerko, Paul 21 67 .315
C Varitek, Jason 9 40 .244 RF Dye, Jermaine 22 61 .321
3B Lowell, Mike 9 41 .298 3B Crede, Joe 16 57 .300
RF Kapler, Gabe 2 7 .370 SS Uribe, Juan 11 46 .239
CF Crisp, Coco 3 13 .254 C Widger, Chris 1 7 .209
SS Gonzalez, Alex 5 26 .272 CF Anderson, Brian 5 20 .182
P Lester, Jon (3-0, 3.08) P Buehrle, Mark (9-5, 3.86) [/codebox]

Joe Crede looks like a chick.

Just sayin is all.

Some more Big John Mojo:

Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed 2-45
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip
And everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big John
(Big John Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
Nobody seemed to know where John called home
Just drifted into town and stayed all alone
He didn't say much he kinda quiet and shy
And if you spoke at all you just said hi to Big John
Somebody said he came from New Orleans
Where he got in a fight over a Cajun Queen
And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand
Sent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land Big John
(Big John Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
Then came the day at the bottom of the mine
When a timber cracked and men started cryin'
Miners were prayin' and hearts beat fast
And everybody thought that they'd breath their last cept John
Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well
Grabbed a saggin' timber and gave out with a groan
And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone Big John
(Big John Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
And with all of his strenght he have a mighty shove
Then a miner yelled out there's a light up above
And twenty men Scrambled from a would be grave


Well David picks it up right where he left off last night. Wow, 30 dingers now!!

That one got out quick.

2-0 Sox



I just turned the game on - Papi HR? I saw Manny get out so thats what I figured.

Yup, Papi HR they just said

So thats 30 HR and 84 RBI's.

Laser for sure. Ortiz is on fire. Pretty low called strike three to Varitek. Let's see that call for Lester now.

And the shift kills the Sox.

And a similar pitch to Konerko is a ball that was a strike to Tek.

Shit bases loaded with 1 out now.

Lester is again struggling with control. This is something I don't remember him doing last year in Portland,

Sac fly, they just said on ESPN that the only arm in the OF you need to worry about is Kapler. Uh doesn't Manny have a pretty good arm too/

I would have thought Dye was set uo for the big curve not another fastball.

Wow!......I just came back from a short backpacking trip in the Yosemite backcountry. No papers, no radio for a few days. I seriously expected the Sox to take 3 out of 4 (lose the Kazmir game), the Yanks to tank against Cleveland and hopefully by the time I came back to civilization the Sox would be at least 4 or 5 up. What a letdown! We almost got swept by the Rays.

I am never leaving again.

At least I the Red Sox ar on ESPN. Tired of watching on the computer.

Back to the game......if Lester gets out of here with one run we dodge a bullet.

Nice pitch by Lester to K Crede there

Got of it without too much damage.

I called for the same pitch ... oh well.

Really Lester made his own problems in the 1st with the two walks and Thome's fortunate single. I'm sure he's a bit nervous facing such a tough lineup ... have faith in your stuff Jonny! It's nasty.

Maybe I'm alone in this, but this series ... at least to me .... has more tension than any time we've played the Yankees this year (with the possible exception of Damon's return.)

I fear the White Sox and I also hate Ozzie Guillen.

We dodged it!

Yeah, but a gift wrapped run it was. Hopefully just first inning jitters. Runs, runs, runs. Buehrle's getting the calls so far.

Dear AJP,

F*ck you.

Coco is in some slump, now 0 for his last 23 at bats. Hopefully he will break out of it tonight.

Baseball is a weird game. Buehrle gives up 7 runs in the first against the Cubs and looks like he's already settled in here in the 2nd.

2nd thought, if WMP can swing a bat for Pawtucket, why can't he swing it for the big team (mammoth HR couple nights ago). Kapler shouldn't start any games.

why is Veritek batting 5? I would put him in at 9.

Widger was struck out. OK, out 6 - 3, but call it damn it ump!

Varitek.

Smooth inning Jon ... I'm hoping for five solid innings from Lester tonight. Anything beyond that is gravy.

Much better control for Lester that inning.

score update?

Gonzo is hitting .385 in last 15 games. We should not sit him down.



2-1 Boston

2-1 Red Sox.

OT, Eric Gagne is done for the season, will have back surgery.

Damn, just tried searching for the game. I have ESPN news where ESPN should be. Guess cause I'm in central Illinois, it's blacked out. Now I have to put up with Hawk on my computer. This sucks.

Youkilis need to get it going again. His average is close to dropping below .300 now.

Two hitters going in opposite directions: Gonzalez and Youkilis. People would be all over Gonzalez, or Varitek, or Loretta for a GIDP, but Youks gets the free pass. I hope he gets it going again too.

OK, Big Papi needs to learn how to do that.

Another chippy hit, poor Lester is having terrible luck tonight.

our offense is sucking and white sox are geeting all cheap shots. We are doomed tonight

Hopefully the Sox defense will make an adjustment.

What a horrible throw by Crisp!

Nice job kiddo!

That could have been worse.

out of another jam

Great DP ... Great.. Now lets get it going on offense ...

Awful throw Crisp. They obviously have zero respect for his arm. Now a DP, OK.

Lucky to get out of that with only one run in. Lester's gotta settle down a touch.

Awful throw by Coco there.....but nice DP to minimize the damage.