Sox, Lester Bombed by Rays

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)





This wasn't supposed to happen. Jon Lester's run of scoreless innings in the postseason came to a screeching halt Monday as the Rays jumped on him for 5 runs and routed the Sox at Fenway.

All the fans, myself included, expected Lester to right the ship like he has so many times this season, and it looked like the Red Sox expected it as well.

It's hard to believe a team with as much playoff experience as the Red Sox may have been looking past any playoff game, but what other explanation can there be?

BOX SCORE: Rays 9, Red Sox 1

Lester just didn't have much from the start, but he did find a way to pitch into the 6th inning and give the team a chance to come back.

But the bats didn't come alive again, and now there has to be genuine concern about the lack of offense, especially the lack of big hits.

Jacoby Ellsbury looks like he's trying to hit a home run on every swing instead of just trying to get on base. I'll be very surprised if Coco Crisp isn't in center field on Tuesday.

David Ortiz continues to try to pull every pitch instead of just going with the pitch to the opposite field, and his lack of power is alarming.

Although Mark Kotsay has looked good in this series, the rest of the bottom of the lineup, Jason Varitek in particular, is pathetic.

Even Kevin Youkilis struggled Monday night.

Dustin Pedroia is tearing the cover off the ball, but he and Jason Bay can't do it all. The team has to start getting some clutch hits now or it won't matter who's pitching, the season will be over.

Paul Byrd pitched in mop-up duty as Terry Francona apparently wanted to save the rest of the bullpen for Tuesday. maybe that will payoff as the bulpen will likely be need with Tim Wakefield going in game 4.

This game did have a similar feeling to Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees handed our asses to us 19-8 setting up the historic comeback.

Let's hope this blowout will have the same effect on the team.