Projo Sox Blog

Jon Lester gave up two big hits early, and the Red Sox only managed one. That disparity was to be the difference in a rain-shortened series finisher tonight against the Florida Marlins.

The Sox came in having taken the last two from Florida by convincing margins, 8-2 and 6-1. Kevin Youkilis' 12th home run put the Red Sox on track to continue that trend in the bottom of the first inning, but the Boston lead didn't last long.

Lester cruised through the first inning, looking nasty in striking out two Marlins. Then in the second, Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla crushed a 94-mph fastball over the Green Monster, and two batters later, catcher Ronny Paulino hit another solo home run even harder, this one to left center.

Neither team scored after that, and the storm clouds that hung over the stadium all night finally delivered on their promise. In the fourth inning, the rain began in earnest.

At 8:59 p.m. In the top of the sixth, with Jorge Cantu on first and Dan Uggla at the plate, the game was put on delay. The five innings in the books meant the game was long enough to be official, and after a 2:26 hour rain delay, 2-1 would be the final. Lester was at 114 pitches.

Youkilis' home run was Boston's only hit off Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco.

The Red Sox now host the Atlanta Braves for a three-game set starting tomorrow night at Fenway.

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Dan Barbarisi Jon Lester Kevin Youkilis

---