Game Preview: Tampa Bay @ Sox

Jackson (4-14, 6.00) vs. Lester (4-0, 4.47)
Fenway 705

I don't have much time to preview this one or wrap up last night's slugfest because I'm on my way to my son's LL practice, but let's just say if Boston doesn't win this game and take the series, there is going to be a ton of hand-wringing going on in the Nation for the next 36 hours or so afterwards.

Boston's AL East lead currently sits at five games, meaning it cannot afford to lose tonight while the Stanks continue to pound the Jays. Should the Sox lose this game and New York wins the next two vs. Toronto (Boston is off tomorrow), the margin could be reduced to a measly 3 1/2 games by the time the Bummers come to town Friday night for the first of three games.

I don't think I need to point out to any of the Faithful that a 3 1/2 game lead coupled with another three-game Stankee sweep would be disastrous for Boston's hopes of securing their first division title since 1995.

Not that there's any pressure on Jon Lester to go out there and pitch lights out in order to prevent such a doomsday scenario from taking place or anything.

By the looks of the pitching matchups a win tonight is all but a lock. Although Edwin Jackson has pitched much better in the second half of the season, including a victory over Boston when he allowed just one run and five hits in six innings on Aug 22nd, he is still 10 games under .500 and has an ERA of 6.00.

Lester, meanwhile, continues to look more & more comfortable every time he puts another start under his belt and distances himself from the one-year absence from the game.

He has won his last three starts and in his last four he has allowed 16 hits and 8 earned runs in 25 1/3 innings for a 2.84 ERA, and more importantly he has appeared to be better, longer while also being faster and stronger.

Sorry, got caught up in all the Kanye cross-promoting.

Anyway, the Sox should be able to ride the strength of last night's come-from-behind beatdown and an improving young pitcher to a much-needed victory over the Rays and its worst starter.

If not tomorrow will be a very long and uncomfortable day in the Hub.