Boston (1-0) at Oakland (0-1)

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bos

Lester, Sox aim for Japan sweep

Ian Browne / MLB.com
The Red Sox once looked at Jon Lester as a promising part of their future. Now, they look at him as a staple to the here and now.
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Red Sox probable pitcher

Jon Lester

  • #31 LHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Lester is looking to make the leap from promising young pitcher to dependable starter. Whereas last year when he was trying to come back from cancer, he has been able to focus exclusively on pitching this spring.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 11-2 4.68 144.1 74 110 .278

Series at a Glance

Standings - 03/26/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Boston Red Sox (AL East) 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0
Oakland Athletics (AL West) 0 1 .000 - 0-1 0-0
Stats - 03/26/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
BOS .289 6 1 6 0 7 4.50 10.0 7 7 10
OAK .194 5 2 5 1 10 5.40 10.0 11 3 7
oak

Harden charged with earning split

Mychael Urban / MLB.com
Want to wipe the smile off of Rich Harden's face? Ask him about his injury history. The Canadian sushi lover will turn into a clam before your very eyes.
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Athletics probable pitcher

Rich Harden

  • #40 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
A tantalizing talent that most baseball insiders think would contend for a Cy Young Award if he could avoid the injury bug that's limited him to 32 starts over the past three seasons, Harden has enjoyed a healthy spring this year.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 31-18 3.60 464.2 201 431 .226

Red Sox hitters vs Rich Harden

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Anderson, Brian - - - - - - - -
Baldelli, Rocco - - - - .571 7 0 0
Bates, Aaron - - - - - - - -
Bay, Jason - - - - - - - -
Brown, Dusty - - - - - - - -
Drew, J.D. - - - - .400 5 0 0
Ellsbury, Jacoby - - - - .333 3 0 1
Gonzalez, Alex - - - - - - - -
Hermida, Jeremy - - - - .200 5 1 1
Iglesias, Jose - - - - - - - -
Kotchman, Casey - - - - .200 15 0 1
Lowell, Mike - - - - .286 7 0 0
Lowrie, Jed - - - - - - - -
Martinez, Victor - - - - .200 5 0 0
Ortiz, David - - - - .556 9 2 4
Pedroia, Dustin - - - - .222 9 1 1
Reddick, Josh - - - - - - - -
Varitek, Jason - - - - .000 7 0 1
Wagner, Mark - - - - - - - -
Woodward, Chris - - - - .000 2 0 0
Youkilis, Kevin - - - - .000 7 0 0

Athletics hitters vs Jon Lester

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Barton, Daric - - - - .222 9 0 0
Buck, Travis - - - - .000 3 0 0
Chavez, Eric - - - - - - - -
Crosby, Bobby - - - - .111 9 0 0
Cunningham, Aaron - - - - - - - -
Cust, Jack - - - - .000 8 0 0
Davis, Rajai - - - - .000 2 0 0
Ellis, Mark - - - - .167 12 0 0
Everidge, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Garciaparra, Nomar - - - - - - - -
Hairston, Scott - - - - - - - -
Kennedy, Adam - - - - - - - -
Patterson, Eric - - - - - - - -
Pennington, Cliff - - - - - - - -
Petit, Gregorio - - - - - - - -
Powell, Landon - - - - - - - -
Suzuki, Kurt - - - - .222 9 0 0
Sweeney, Ryan - - - - .286 7 0 0

Harden delivers brownout to Sox (1-1) (1-1)

Athletics 5, Red Sox 1

Offense held at bay

Ian Browne / MLB.com
Manny Ramirez drilled a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning, but that was the only offense the Red Sox could muster. Jon Lester lasted just four innings, yielding four runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

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Red Sox Wrap >

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Series at a Glance

 

Righty dominates

Mychael Urban / MLB.com
Rich Harden turned in a six-inning gem, allowing just one run on three hits while recording nine strikeouts. Chris Denorfia hit an RBI single in the second, and Emil Brown launched a three-run homer in the third.
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Athletics Wrap >

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Athletics 5, Red Sox 1

BostonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Pedroia, 2B4000012.250
Youkilis, 1B3000100.143
Ortiz, DH3000113.000
Ramirez, LF4111032.333
Lowell, 3B4020000.375
Moss, RF3000031.250
  a-Casey, PH1000001.000
Varitek, C4000031.000
Crisp, CF3010020.333
Lugo, SS2010101.500
Totals3115131311 

a-Grounded into a double play for Moss in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Crisp (1, Casilla).
HR: Ramirez (1, 6th inning off Harden, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Ramirez 4; Lowell 2; Crisp 2; Lugo.
RBI: Ramirez (5).
2-out RBI: Ramirez.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ortiz; Lugo; Ramirez.
GIDP: Pedroia; Casey.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Lugo (1, 2nd base off Harden/Suzuki).
 
OaklandABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Buck, RF5000015.000
Ellis, 2B3100110.143
Barton, 1B3000111.000
Sweeney, M, DH4120001.500
Brown, E, LF4113001.250
Crosby, SS4110010.333
Hannahan, 3B4010021.375
Suzuki, C3120101.375
Denorfia, CF2011010.500
  a-Cust, PH0000100.000
  1-Fiorentino, PR-CF10110001.000
Totals335954710 

a-Walked for Denorfia in the 6th.
1-Ran for Cust in the 6th.

BATTING
2B: Crosby (1, Lester), Suzuki 2 (2, Aardsma, Corey).
HR: Brown, E (1, 3rd inning off Lester, 2 on, 1 out).
TB: Sweeney, M 2; Brown, E 4; Crosby 2; Hannahan; Suzuki 4; Denorfia; Fiorentino.
RBI: Denorfia (1), Brown, E 3 (4), Fiorentino (1).
2-out RBI: Denorfia; Fiorentino.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Buck 2.
Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
E: Crosby (1, fielding).
DP: 2 (Crosby-Ellis-Barton, Ellis-Crosby-Barton).
 
BostonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Lester (L, 0-1)4.05443419.00
Aardsma 1.21000300.00
Lopez 0.10001000.00
Delcarmen 1.01000000.00
Corey 1.02110004.50
 
OaklandIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Harden (W, 1-0)6.03113911.50
Casilla (H, 1)1.01000200.00
Foulke (H, 2)1.00000100.00
Embree 1.01000100.00

WP: Foulke.
Pitches-strikes: Lester 83-47, Aardsma 20-14, Lopez 10-4, Delcarmen 18-11, Corey 14-12, Harden 95-60, Casilla 17-12, Foulke 15-10, Embree 12-10.
Ground outs-fly outs: Lester 3-5, Aardsma 2-0, Lopez 0-1, Delcarmen 2-1, Corey 1-2, Harden 3-6, Casilla 1-0, Foulke 0-2, Embree 2-0.
Batters faced: Lester 20, Aardsma 6, Lopez 2, Delcarmen 4, Corey 5, Harden 23, Casilla 4, Foulke 4, Embree 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Lopez 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Paul Nauert. 3B: Rick Reed.
Weather: 68 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:51.
Att: 44,735.

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner