Web Analytics and Web Statistics by NextSTAT The Boston Sports Nut: Lowell Slams O's 9-2

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Lowell Slams O's 9-2


Thursday, June 12 Boston, MA. Mike Lowell blasted his second grand slam of the season and Kevin Youkilis also hit a two-run homer as the Red Sox posted a 9-2 win at home against the Baltimore Orioles. Red-hot J.D. Drew, filling in for slugger David Ortiz, hit a two-run homer and a double. With Big Papi missing, the Sox are 8-3 and have pulled 2 1/2 games ahead of second place Tampa Bay.

Drew is 18-for-36 with six homers and 15 RBIs since the designated hitter has been sidelined with a wrist injury, raising his batting average from .282 to .324. He also has five doubles, a triple, 15 runs and 10 walks in that span.

John Lester had another solid pitching performance. Lester (5-3) allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out three in seven innings in his return from a five-game suspension after he hit two Tampa Bay batters June 5 during a game in which there was a benches-clearing brawl. The extra day of rest "made it worse," he said. "It feels weird."

He allowed just two runners to reach second base in the first five innings, then struggled in the sixth when he gave up doubles to Brian Roberts, Oscar Salazar and Aubrey Huff that cut the lead to 5-2.

The streaking Drew kept filling the hole left by Boston's injured slugger on Thursday night when he hit a two-run homer and a double as the Red Sox kept rolling at home with a 9-2 win over the Orioles.

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