When a Six-Run Inning Isn't the Pitcher's Fault - Page 4

The next batter, B.J. Upton, lays down a bunt.  Lester takes a little too long getting there, and Upton is called safe on a close play at first.  That's not a pitching mistake, but really a defensive mistake.

Carl Crawford comes up and sends yet another ball past a diving Lugo into left field.  Iwamura scores, making it 3-1.

Next up is Evan Longoria, who hits a towering fly ball to left field.  It bounces high off the monster and plates two, with Longoria ending up at second.

The Rays lead 5-1, but how much can we blame on Lester?  Longoria's fly was high but not very deep; by the time it hit the wall, the ball was coming almost straight down.  With another ten feet of space in front of the wall, that ball lands cleanly in Jason Bay's glove.  Similarly, if Longoria hits the same ball to right field (where the fence is much deeper), there's no way it's a double.  Rocco Baldelli catches it and the Rays settle for a sac fly (if that; Dioner Navarro doesn't have much raw footspeed at third).  Carlos Pena comes up, and Lester finally records the first out with a three-pitch strikeout.

If you've read this far in the article, you can probably guess what happens to poor Jon Lester next.  He induces another groundball (off the bat of Pat Burrell) and watches again as it rolls between the shortstop and third baseman into right field for a hit.  Crawford and Longoria score, making it 7-1.

Next, in what can only be described as an ungodly coincidence, Jason Bartlett singles through the left side of the infield, moving Burrell to second.  You can almost see the path being worn down on the infield grass by the flock of baseballs rolling by.

At this point, Terry Francona takes Lester out of the game and brings in Hunter Jones.  The first batter Jones faces is Gabe Kapler who — that's right, fans — hits a grounder through the hole into left field.  This loads the bases and proves that whatever deity Jon Lester pissed off is also mad at Hunter Jones.

Next, Aki Iwamura steps up for the second time in the inning and, as if you hadn't already guessed, hits the ball on the ground.  By some miracle, though, this one is actually hit at a fielder, Julio Lugo.  Lugo throws to second for the force out, but they can't turn the double play.  So Burrell scores on the fielder's choice, making it 8-1 (all eight runs are earned and charged to Lester).

Article Author: Aaron Whitehead

Aaron, 28, lives in southern Kentucky and works at the local community college. He spends his spare time working in the theatre and cheering for the Braves ... against his better judgment.

Visit Aaron Whitehead's author page — Aaron Whitehead's Blog