Red Sox Are 1-0 In The Post-Mike Cameron Era

Well I guess we all know what was holding the Boston Red Sox back this last week (losing six of seven): Mike Cameron.

Haha just kidding but it was still nice to see Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Co. finally swallow their pride and designate Cameron for assignment. I'm not even trying to be funny when I say I can't remember one highlight from his 1.5 seasons in Boston.

Speaking of salvaging pride, the Red Sox (46-34) finally decided to show up against the Philadelphia Phillies (51-31) yesterday afternoon and it resulted in a 5-2 Red Sox win at Citizens Bank Park, averting a sweep in the "World Series preview."

Jon Lester (10-4) pitched like an ace, going seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Fortune was also on Boston's side as Phillies starter Cole Hamels left after four innings due to an injury to his right hand (Adrian Gonzalez's smoked a line drove off it). Hamels only gave up two hits and struck out two in what was shaping up to be a sweet pitcher's duel.

Instead, Phillies relievers David Herndon (0-2) allowed three earned runs on five hits in two innings and teammate Drew Carpenter allowed two earned runs on four hits in two innings.

Boston got its first two runs in the fifth as Drew Sutton (2 hits, run, RBI) and Jacoby Ellsbury (3 hits, RBI) each had RBI singles.

Jason Varitek hit a solo homer (his fourth of the season) in the sixth before Dustin Pedroia (Laser Show! His seventh of the season) and Varitek went back-to-back in the eighth. Josh Reddick (2 hits, run) almost made it three in a row as he flew out to deep right.

Daniel Bard recorded a 1-2-3 eighth on eight pitches (including a strikeout) which is pretty damn impressive.

Bobby Jenks came on to start the ninth with a 5-0 lead but clearly that's not enough for his fat ass. He promptly recorded one out, walked one, gave up a hit then a two-run bomb to Ryan Howard before he was mercifully taken out by Terry Francona. Hopefully a DFA is in his near future, he's beyond useless now.

Jonathan Papelbon got the last two outs for his 15th save of the season.

Boston wraps up its nine-game road trip and interleague play with three games in Houston this weekend. The Astros are the worst team in baseball so nothing less than two of three is acceptable for the Red Sox. Tonight, Tim Wakefield opposes Bud Norris.

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The Bartolo Colon Experiment's Dark Side

For a guy that cost virtually no money and that we had very low expectations for, Bartolo Colon has already been a huge success. Still, last night at Citizens Bank Park in Philly was a painful reminder of how quickly it can change for a major league pitcher.

Colon (4-2) had nothing and as a result, the Phillies (42-30) blew out the Sox (44-29), 8-2, in the first game of a three-game set.

In four innings of work, Bartolo gave up four runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The three home runs he allowed were killer as were the Babe Ruth-like swings (and six misses) in his two plate appearances (both times, he ironically came up with two runners on and two outs).

As a result, Colon came out early with back pain aggravated from his comical swings. After one mighty cut, his batting helmet fell off. Really. No need to worry though as the early exit allowed him to get a jump on his postgame wheelbarrow full of cheesesteaks from Pat's.

On the other side, Phillies ace Cole Hamels (7-4) pitched seven effective innings, showing that he's the best lefty in baseball not named Johan Santana.

"Hollywood Hamels"-as my buddy from Philly dubbed him, scattered two runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He also allowed two homers but that's pretty much par for the course in the Little League field known as the Bank.

Watching the game, I was reminded that when everyone is healthy, Boston and Philly probably field the top 1-5 hitters in their respective leagues.

Reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins led off the bottom of the first with a homer, on his way to a three hit, three RBI, two run night. Shane Victorino had two hits, a walk and a run. Chase Utley was 0 for 5 but nobody will remember that as slugger Ryan Howard was 3 for 4 with two homers and a triple (yes a triple). The former MVP drove in four and both of his bombs went to left. Even Pat Burrell reached base all four times he came up (two walks and two hits).

Down 3-0 right out of the gates (after the first) and 4-0 going into the fifth, the Red Sox scored both of their runs in the inning, fittingly on long balls.

Dustin Pedroia (3 hits) and the still on fire J.D. Drew did the honors with consecutive solo shots that made it 4-2 Phillies.

Any thoughts of a Sox win were extinguished when Mike Timlin gave up four runs in the sixth. Rollins had a two-run single and Howard tripled in Utley who reached on an RBI fielder's choice.

It'll be old school vs. new school tonight when Jon Lester takes on 46-year-old Jamie Moyer, who has been great this season. A quality start from Lester would be a big help since Boston had to use four relievers last night.