Red Sox-Tigers Live: Jon Lester Outduels Max Scherzer As Red Sox Pull Out Dramatic 2-1 Win
Final, Red Sox 2-1: Koji Uehara strikes out Jose Iglesias for the final out, and the Red Sox come away with a 2-1 victory over Max Scherzer and the Tigers.
Scherzer was his usual dominant self, but Jon Lester matched him step for step, allowing just one run over seven innings of work to pick up his 13th win of the season.
These two teams will close out their three-game set Wednesday night, with Ryan Dempster taking the mound for the Red Sox opposite Rick Porcello.
End 8th, Red Sox 2-1: Mike Napoli’s base hit loaded the bases, but Luke Putkonen rallied to retire Jonny Gomes and Stephen Drew in order to end the inning.
It’s Koji time at Fenway, as Koji Uehara looks to close out the Tigers here in the ninth.
Bottom 8th, Red Sox 2-1: The Tigers are employing a multi-reliever approach here in the eighth, as well. Luke Putkonen replaces Phil Coke after Coke gets David Ortiz to fly out to right field.
Mike Napoli, pinch-hitting for Mike Carp, will be the first to bat against Putkonen.
Bottom 8th, Red Sox 2-1: That’s the night for Max Scherzer, who walks Daniel Nava and allows a base hit to Dustin Pedroia before being lifted.
Phil Coke, who jogged in from the bullpen at a brisk pace, is now in to pitch for Detroit.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 2-1: Junichi Tazawa fans Omar Infante, and the Red Sox will look to add to their one-run cushion in the bottom of the eighth.
They’ll do so against starter Max Scherzer, who returns to the mound despite having thrown 104 pitches already tonight.
Top 8th, Red Sox 2-1: The Red Sox are now on to their third pitcher of the inning, as Junichi Tazawa relieves Craig Breslow with two outs.
Breslow faced two batters, getting Prince Fielder to ground out into the shift before allowing a base hit by Victor Martinez that Will Middlebrooks was unable to come up with.
Top 8th, Red Sox 2-1: Brandon Workman’s outing was a short one.
After getting Miguel Cabrera to fly out to right field, and with left Prince Fielder coming to the plate, Workman is replaced by southpaw Craig Breslow.
End 7th, Red Sox 2-1: Max Scherzer has tired in the later innings, losing a bit of the dominant command he possessed earlier in the game.
Scherzer issued a one-out walk to Stephen Drew, just missing on a 3-2 curve; hit David Ross in the hand with a pitch one batter later and missed very high and inside with his first pitch to Will Middlebrooks.
Scherzer’s erratic pitching didn’t harm the Tigers on the scoreboard — two flyouts and a popout got him out of the inning unscathed — but his pitch total is now up to 103. Detroit had a pair of relievers warming in the seventh, meaning the ace’s night may be over.
One person whose night is definitely over is Jon Lester, as Brandon Workman comes in to protect a one-run lead in the eighth. Lester was stellar in this ballgame, allowing just the one run on eight hits and zero walks while racking up a season-high nine strikeouts.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 2-1: Jon Lester leaves the mound to a standing ovation in what is likely his final inning of the night.
It was a quick one, as the lefty retired Jose Iglesias, Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter on just 10 pitches, but with Lester’s pitch count now up to 111, it seems like a prime time to go to the ‘pen.
End 6th, Red Sox 2-1: Apart from a David Ortiz walk, the first free pass issued by Max Scherzer tonight, the Red Sox are silent in the sixth.
Jon Lester returns to the mound for the top of the seventh, but it appears he will be on a short leash. With Lester up to 101 pitches, the Sox have Craig Breslow and Brandon Workman warming in the bullpen.