Jon Lester pitched well through eight but it wasn’t enough for the Red Sox who lost the game, and the series, to the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1.
The loss puts the Red Sox at 1-5 on the season so far and ties them (in a bit of baseball irony given former GM Theo Epstein is running things there) with the Chicago Cubs for worst record in MLB. Â Facts which, come September, could either become very important (see 2011) or completely meaningless (in 2005 the Red Sox were 2-4 six games in and, at least, made it into the playoffs).
It’s easy to get caught up in what feels like a seven-month losing streak but the team doesn’t seem to be doing that. Â By all accounts, they’re all just looking forward to finally coming home to Fenway for the opener tomorrow afternoon. Â Some quotes from the hometown team:
Dustin Pedroia: “I’m excited to go back to Fenway and play. It’s been a long time. I’m sure excited about it.”
Darnell McDonald: “Â Tough roadie ready to come home to best fans in baseball and get this thing goin!”
Mike Aviles: “ glad to be back in Boston. Pumped for my first opening day as a @redsox! See you all at Fenway”
Bobby Valentine: “I’m really looking forward to getting into Fenway and getting the fans on our side”
So the guys are saying the right things and hopefully the fans will respond tomorrow with support for their struggling team and the Red Sox start off the 2012 season at home with a win.
(Originally published on Examiner.com)