Youkilis & Lester Help Sweep Away Rays

Kevin Youkilis high fives his teammates as he walks back into the dugout (AP Photo)

Kevin Youkilis had a career high tying day at the plate yesterday afternoon with four RBI as he and his Red Sox teammates completed a three game sweep of the Rays. It was just last weekend that Tampa Bay swept Boston, and the Sox were kind enough to return the favor in Fenway this weekend.

The Red Sox now embark on a ten day road trip, and hopefully the momentum of this weekend along with their revived bats can carry into their first series in Detroit. The Red Sox became the second team in the AL to reach the 20 win plateau and now sit seven games over .500 at 20-13. Lefty Jon Lester had another strong outing for the Sox going 6.0 IP and giving up only 1 ER.

Jon Lester has already shown me a lot in this young season. His start of the season was shaky and his control seemed to be missing, however he's really hunkered down and has been throwing a lot of different pitches well. He also stepped up when the Sox needed him to and pitched on three days rest earlier when the killer flu of flu's was ravaging the Sox clubhouse. Jon Lester, maybe more then the other young guns the Sox have (By the way, Papelbon is no longer considered a young gun), is integral in the Sox success. He's the only left handed starting pitcher the Sox currently have, and I think he's an essential cog to our team success.

Lester has now dropped his ERA to 3.94 and as his pitches seem to be gaining a nasty bite with every start he makes. All good signs for both Lester and the Sox, and hopefully yesterday was a performance to be built upon.

Tigers tonight at 7:05. It's a four game set, and realistically I'd be thrilled if the Sox can take three of the four to set the right tone for this road trip.

Comments

[Troy]

oi.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/05/05/yankees.redsox.death.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

[Derek Hixon]

That is absolutely pathetic. Fans from both sides get reckless and stupid, and debates can get heated, but this is just unacceptable.

What a senseless and sad way to go....