Losing streak, ovah! Lester silences Yankees with complete game shutout

Boston's bullpen did not hurt the team tonight. Jon Lester wouldn't let it. The 24-year-old left-hander tossed a complete game, five-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium, and the offense knocked around Andy Pettitte, as the Red Sox ended a five-game losing skid with a 7-0 victory.

After five consecutive one-run losses, including three games of uninspired play in Tampa Bay, Boston didn't waste time grabbing the lead tonight, courtesy of an early Fourth of July gift from Derek Jeter. With one out in the top of the first, Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a base hit. J.D. Drew followed with a single. The slumping Manny Ramirez - perhaps he is under the curse of traveling secretary Jack McCormack - appeared to hit into an inning-ending, rally-killing double play (a la Julio Lugo), but Jeter did his best Lugo imitation by throwing the ball wide of first baseman Wilson Betemit, allowing Pedroia to score. Moments later, the Red Sox actually got a clutch hit - an RBI single by Mike Lowell for a 2-0 advantage.

The bottom of the first did not start well for Boston. Lester walked Johnny Damon and Jeter to open the frame. He then induced what should have been a double play grounder off the bat of Bobby Abreu. Instead of flipping the ball to Pedroia, Lugo chose to keep it himself, though he was five steps from the bag. The shaky shortstop touched second and made a surprisingly accurate throw to Kevin Youkilis that appeared to beat Abreu, but the Yankees right-fielder was called safe. In a sign of the dominance that would follow, Lester escaped trouble by striking out Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi.

The Yankees did not mount another serious threat. Their best chance to score after the first inning was in the eighth, when Melky Cabrera lined a ground-rule double with two outs, but Lester whiffed Damon to end the frame.

Overall, Lester threw 105 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. For many pitchers, a complete game, five-hit shutout would qualify as the their best start of the season. Lester, of course, has a no-hitter and a one-hit shutout to his name this year as well. He improved to 7-3 and lowered his ERA to 3.21. What was most impressive was a two-to-one strike-to-ball ratio. Lester is growing into a third ace behind Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Now, if only Dice-K could learn how to throw strikes and pitch deep into games, but that is a story I will address on Monday. As for tonight, Lester gave the bullpen a sorely needed physical and mental break, and he breathed life back into a sluggish team.

While Lester settled down after issuing two walks to start the game, Pettitte didn't recover from his first inning woes. In the top of the second, Coco Crisp singled, Jason Varitek walked and Lugo dropped a successful sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Jacoby Ellsbury, who is struggling like several Red Sox hitters, slapped a soft liner into right for a two-run double.

Single runs in the fourth (via a Lugo sacrifice fly) and fifth (thanks to a Mike Lowell sacrifice fly) gave Boston a 6-0 lead and chased Pettitte, who coughed up six runs (five earned) and nine hits in 4.2 innings. The Sox reached LaTroy Hawkins for a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Varitek, who desperately needed some good news at the plate.

With the win, Boston shaved a half-game off Tampa Bay's lead. The Rays were off tonight and will host Kansas City in a three-game weekend set. The Yankees fell to eight games off the pace and continue to struggle at the plate.

Tomorrow, the Fourth of July, features a pitching match-up of Josh Beckett versus Darrell Rasner in a 1:05 p.m. start. Justin Masterson and Mike Mussina are the scheduled starters for Saturday's 3:55 p.m. game on Fox while Tim Wakefield and Joba Chamberlain get the call on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

The Red Sox could use at least three wins in this series, but after a five-game losing streak, it is wise to take it one game at a time. Sometimes, cliches should be respected.