Final, Red Sox 6-1: Dan Wheeler has another solid outing in a relatively pressure-less situation and the Red Sox have another series win on the road.
They did it with contributions from all over the place. Darnell McDonald and Carl Crawford homered, Jason Varitek had an RBI triple (!) and Ryan Lavarnway a run-scoring double.
Jon Lester goes six strong. Daniel Bard is his dominant self.
With that, we turn our attention to Texas, which will host the Red Sox in triple-digit temps for the next four days. Look for us to take you through the opener tomorrow night at 8:10 p.m., which will feature Erik Bedard against C.J. Wilson.
Mid 9th, Red Sox 6-1: Dan Wheeler, the guy we all thought we would see in the eighth, is on to pitch the ninth. Look at some of his numbers in this piece.
End 8th, Red Sox 6-1: There will be plenty of people questioning the use of Daniel Bard in the bottom of the eighth.
It's not that he can't do the job — he just made the heart of the Royals order look like a high school team. It's that he threw 24 pitches in his first two-inning effort since May 4.
You wonder if Bard will be available tomorrow night. We'll see.
Joakim Soria is in for Kansas City.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 6-1: With the Yankees ahead in Minnesota, the Rays already victorious and four games in Texas on the horizon, it becomes a pretty important day for the Red Sox.
Things were nip-and-tuck until the eighth. Boston can now give the back end of its bullpen a rest. Or can it? Daniel Bard remains in the game, somewhat to my surprise.
4:54 p.m.: Louis Coleman, a former butler who teaches courses in good manners on the side, just made Kansas City's run in the seventh relatively insignificant, giving three runs right back.
Marco Scutaro doubled, Darnell McDonald singled (first three-hit game of the year) and Adrian Gonzalez singled to produce the first run.
Another run came in when Jed Lowrie lifted a sac fly to center to plate McDonald.
Ryan Lavarnway then sent one deep to left that landed on the top of the wall and bounced back into play. It goes down as an RBI double, Lavarnway's first extra-base hit as a major leaguer.
That does it for Coleman, who exits a game that is just flying along right now. We should be done by Tuesday.
End 7th, Red Sox 3-1: What an unbelievable weapon.
Daniel Bard came in with the Royals in a must-bunt situation. He buzzed the light tower on Alcides Escobar, then saw the Royals shortstop foul off a pair of bunt attempts and later dispatched him on that insulting slider.
Two more outs and Bard is out of the inning without the runners moving a single inch. Now, the only question for Terry Francona is if he gives Bard three outs in the eighth or splits it between him and Jonathan Papelbon….1.5 outs apiece.
The final line for Jon Lester looks like this: 6+ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
Again, the walks. That's my only real beef. Has to get those down to become truly elite.
Still, another solid effort overall for Lester, who remains in line for what would be his 13th win.
4:29 p.m.: This feels a tiny bit like last night, doesn't it?
Jon Lester was better than Tim Wakefield. I'm not making that comparison. But all of a sudden a Red Sox starter has been chased, Kauffman Stadium has a little life (as much as those polite people can muster) and it's up to the bullpen to stop the bleeding.
Jon Lester gave up a leadoff triple to Johnny Giavotella, walked Salvador Perez and then gave up an RBI single to Mike Moustakas. That's enough for Terry Francona, who calls upon that man, Daniel Bard, to put an end to things.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 3-0: All-Star Aaron Crow came on and former All-Star Carl Crawford took him deep.
That's a quiet little four-game hitting streak for Crawford. He is 3-for-7 with a pair of RBIs in his last two games.
One wonders if this is how it will be with Crawford going forward. He'll have a little burst and you'll think he is going to get red hot, but then comes three straight 0-fers. Just seems like we've seen that pattern quite often — he cannot sustain his runs. At least not yet.
End 6th, Red Sox 2-0: The song remains the same. If Jon Lester can just reduce his walks by a tiny bit, he is perhaps the best lefty in the game.
When Lester is on, the hits are so few and far between, as is the case with his current surge. Since giving up a pair of doubles in the first innning of his last start, Lester has yielded two measly singles in 12 frames.
He is at 100 pitches after six.
Mid 6th, Red Sox 2-0: Darnell McDonald had two extra-base hits in 52 at-bats through the first three months of the season.
He has eight in 54 at-bats in a month and a half since. It's not much, but it's very much in line with his rather productive 2010.
McDonald just smoked a solo homer, his fifth of the year (all against lefties) and fourth on the road this year. It was an 0-2 fastball.
End 5th, Red Sox 1-0: Jon Lester's scoreless streak is at 11 innings after he breezes through the fifth.
The pitch count, at one point a concern, is at 88. He'll get through six and maybe get a shot at an out or two or three in the seventh.
I drank a 32-ounce fruit punch in the second inning, so you can guess where I'm going between innings.
Mid 5th, Red Sox 1-0: I was going to type last inning that the Red Sox were just a Jason Varitek RBI triple away from taking the lead.
Didn't want to come across too basic, though. That was way too easy to predict.
With Jed Lowrie on second and two outs, Varitek hit one into the right-center field gap that got to the wall and died. Like a blur he flew around second and was in at third with a slide.
That's the first triple for Varitek since June 24, 2007, in San Diego.
End 4th, 0-0: Jon Lester will not pitch a no-hitter today. It would have had to be a combined no-no anyway. No chance in heck he lasts all nine in this one.
It was a two-out single by Salvador Perez that gave the Royals their first hit. Mike Moustakas grounded to short to finish the frame on Lester's 76th pitch.
Mid 4th, 0-0: Darnell McDonald's season has been a struggle from time to time, to say the least. Some of those times involve moments when he is on the bases.
Nobody will forget the game-ending out he made in Cleveland during the 0-6 start. There was another mistake that I can't recall at this point in time (hey, at least I'm honest).
And then there was the bad read he got on the fourth that led to the first out of the inning.
McDonald led off the frame with a single, but couldn't get a good read on a pitch that bounced off Salvador Perez as Adrian Gonzalez was batting. McDonald started for second, stopped, thought about heading back to first but it was too late. He was in a rundown and very soon an easy out.
Gonzalez followed with one of about five fly outs in this series that have looked like home runs off the bat. That may be as good an indication as any that his power just isn't there right now — when his timing is seemingly there and the stroke looks good but the ball has warning track distance, at best.
End 3rd, 0-0: Jon Lester won't be sending any holiday greetings to home plate umpire Jim Reynolds. Well, maybe one of those burning bags of poop that you leave on the front porch, ring the bell and then run.
That constituted a season's greeting where I come from.
Lester had strike three on Billy Butler for the third out of the third, going so far as to take a full two steps toward the dugout.
Reynolds disagreed and Butler drew Lester's third walk one pitch later.
Once again, all it did was drive up Lester's pitch count a tiny bit more. He finished the frame at 59 pitches after getting Eric Hosmer to chop one to first.
Mid 3rd, 0-0: At this juncture of his last meeting with the Red Sox, Danny Duffy had given up five runs on five hits.
You might say, "Well, Tony, he was facing a better, more healthy lineup." Not really. Both Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis were absent in that one as well, although Ellsbury entered the game off the bench.
Darnell McDonald was the leadoff hitter and Marco Scutaro was second that night at Fenway. The bottom of the lineup card read: Varitek, Reddick, Navarro.
The point is that Duffy looks a little better this afternoon.
End 2nd, 0-0: Jon Lester has a pretty good glare. A rather intense fellow.
If he wanted to give Jed Lowrie the stink eye, you couldn't blame him.
An error by Lowrie — his 14th in just 62 games in the field — extends the inning for Lester, all in steamy conditions.
Lowrie backed up on a two-out grounder by Salvador Perez and the ball glanced off his glove. That put runners at first and second (the leadoff man, Eric Hosmer, walked). Lester added to the issues by walking Mike Moustakas.
Finally, 11 pitches after the Lowrie miscue, Lester gets Alcides Escobar on a bouncer back to the mound.
Lester's pitch count through two is 42. He has not allowed a hit.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: Hitters can show their muscle the conventional route by hitting long home runs.
Or they can do what Ryan Lavarnway did in the second.
When a Danny Duffy pitch got in on the hands of Lavarnway and shattered his bat, the Red Sox DH still had enough to bloop the ball into center for a base hit.
Weaker hitters would get eaten alive by that kind of stuff. Lavarnway did what he could and is now 4-for-12 since being called up.
Speaking of weaker hitters, Carl Crawford struck out to end the inning.
End 1st, 0-0: Jon Lester seemed pretty peeved he did not get a call on a 2-2 offering to Alex Gordon. It was a pitch just over, or just off, the outside corner and Lester showed some of his trademark bad body language, first slumping his shoulders at the call and then snapping the glove at the throw back from Jason Varitek.
As if he had something to prove to home plate umpire Jim Reynolds, Lester went right back to the same spot, this time getting Gordon looking.
It's part of an easy first for the lefty.
Mid 1st, 0-0: As you may or may not know, Adrian Gonzalez has hit into 25 double plays, tied with Albert Pujols for most in the majors.
Gonzalez did not hit into a DP in the first, but he was indirectly involved in one.
After Marco Scutaro drew a leadoff walk and Darnell McDonald flew to center, Gonzalez struck out on a heater as Scutaro bolted for second. But Scutaro stopped for some reason, perhaps because he would've been a dead duck. The throw went to second base and Scutaro was immediately caught up in a pickle. He would eventually be tagged out for the inning-ending DP.
2:10 p.m.: Danny Duffy has delivered his first offering to Marco Scutaro. Hope you enjoy this one.
I mentioned in this piece that Felix Doubront is one very interesting guy when you look at late-inning outs in September. However, his wildly inconsistent and injury-plagued year has continued with a rough outing for Pawtucket today.
Doubront gave up six runs in one-plus inning of work. No word on any injury, it just seems he was woefully ineffective. Doesn't change the fact that he will be a call-up in September, but he may not get many of those late-inning outs.
1:28 p.m.: As you know by now, Jacoby Ellsbury is not in the lineup today, and I'd be shocked if he appeared off the bench in any kind of pinch-hitting or running role.
This is a definitive day off, just like Saturday was.
And with C.J. Wilson, a tough lefty, on the mound Monday in Texas, we may be waiting at least one more day for the return of Ellsbury, regardless of health. Right-hander Colby Lewis is Tuesday's starter. Even though Ellsbury has some success in limited action against Wilson and the Rangers southpaw has not completely dominated lefties this year, Terry Francona may just want to bring his center fielder back in the best possible way.
It was a lefty who plunked Ellsbury when a pitch got away from him. Having him get back in there with another southpaw on the mound may be forcing the issue.
However, this is an offense that has been held to four runs or less in 14 of the last 18 games. If Danny Duffy finds a way to shut it down, then by all means throw out the best possible lineup, as long as everyone is healthy. We'll just have to see how Ellsbury responds to another day of rest.
12:58 p.m.: There's an interesting little clash going on in Kansas City today.
Jon Lester loves to pitch in day games. He is 5-0 with a 1.55 ERA in seven afternoon starts this year, after posting a 2.60 mark in day games in 2010.
However, when it is really hot, Lester has been known to hit a wall and even cramp up. It hasn't happened often, and he did win a game in triple-digit temps last year in Texas, but the mercury is worth monitoring today in K.C. It is expected to flirt with 90 around first pitch and there won't be much shade for the moundsmen.
Speaking of weather, have you taken note of the temperatures in that cauldron known as Texas? The expected highs for the next four days in Arlington, the Sox' heated home for the upcoming series, are as follows: 105, 105, 103, 103.
Thankfully, each of the games will be at night. Also, the humidity is not expected to be oppressive. But you can expect the heat to at least be a topic of discussion during the series. Lester just hopes that it isn't today.
12:35 p.m.: Hey, it's time for some links!
Here's a quick take on Matt Albers' struggles, and where the Red Sox stand on his role.
Our NESN.com Daily Poll looks ahead to September and the potential impact call-ups for the team.
While J.D. Drew prepares for a rehab stint, we relive his greatest moment as a Red Sox player as part of our Boston's Greatest Sports Moment bracket.
And in another leftover from last night, here's my look at last night being the most frustrating of Tim Wakefield's five tries at win No. 200.
Back in a bit.
11:28 a.m.: As far as mismatches go, this one is rather notable.
While Danny Duffy may have a bright future, he is the type of young pitcher that can get eaten alive by a lineup like Boston's, even when it has a makeshift construction.
Then there's Jon Lester, whose presence on a mound in a game against Kansas City is like sending the Navy Seals in to break up a third birthday party. (Does that analogy work at all? Like, picture the Seals having to scheme to find a way to send toddlers home crying…that's how tough it is for Lester to game plan for KC. Kinda.)
Lester has allowed six runs in 42 1/3 innings against the Royals, who are hitting a mere .156 against him. The lefty has not allowed one home run in his six starts vs. KC.
The one asterisk in all of this lies in the fact that five of those six outings have taken place at Fenway Park, and in Lester's one start in Kauffman Stadium he gave up four runs in five innings and took the loss. Then again, that came back in 2006 in just his 12th appearance in the majors. Since then it's been an extremely one-sided situation.
Lester will look to keep alive that trend against this lineup:
Alex Gordon, LF
Melky Cabrera, CF
Billy Butler, DH
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Salvador Perez, C
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Alcides Escobar, SS
There's a nice bell curve going on here. Gordon is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts vs. Lester. The next three hitters are a combined 14-for-33 (.424). The next five are a combined 0-for-5.
10:48 a.m.: As expected, Jacoby Ellsbury remains sidelined with that bruised back. Here is the latest shuffled lineup for the Red Sox:
Marco Scutaro, SS
Darnell McDonald, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Jed Lowrie, 3B
Ryan Lavarnway, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Jason Varitek, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Pedroia had a double and a triple in two plate appearances against Royals starter Danny Duffy the last time the Sox faced him. Gonzalez was 1-for-1 with a walk.
8 a.m. ET: Two lefties at very different stages of their career square off Sunday when the Red Sox and Kansas City Royals complete a four-game series in Kauffman Stadium.
Jon Lester takes the hill for the Sox, looking to build upon a strong outing his last time out and to keep alive his career-long dominance of the Royals. Lester, who allowed a run on just three hits in seven innings against Tampa Bay five days ago, is 4-1 with a 1.28 ERA in six career starts against Kansas City.
Included in that sample is Lester's no-hitter against the Royals back in 2008.
On the other side sits Danny Duffy, a highly regarded 22-year-old still learning what it takes to make it in the majors. Duffy gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings at Fenway Park last month and surrendered eight runs in only three frames his last time out against the New York Yankees.
At the very least, Duffy will be able to face a Boston lineup devoid of Jacoby Ellsbury, who is expected to miss his second straight game with a bruised back.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.
