The free-swinging Angels, who entered last night averaging 6.2 runs per game this month, nearly matched that total in the seventh. The Angels scored six runs, four charged to the lefthanded starter and two to reliever Manny Delcarmen (4.18 ERA), en route to an 8-3 victory and souring the night of Boston's two prize youngsters, who are probably on the wish list of every general manager that calls Theo Epstein before Monday's trade deadline.
The Sox are only a half-game ahead of the Yankees, who blanked Tampa Bay last night, 6-0.
``Once Manny gives up the two runs there, it got away from us," said Francona.
The Angels, who entered Fenway averaging 5.3 runs on the road this season, are 18-5 in July. It's a record they'll look to improve this afternoon when undefeated phenom Jered Weaver (7-0, 1.15 ERA) faces 13-game winner Josh Beckett.
Last night's starters began the night -- albeit two hours two minutes later than originally scheduled because of the rain, wind, and lightning -- with the intentions of making it a pitching duel. Lester used his fastball, cutter, and curve to limit the Angels to one run through six innings, spotting his pitches on both sides of the plate and not walking a batter.
Kelvim Escobar, throwing considerably harder than his lefthanded opponent, mixed his fastball, slider, changeup and splitter, striking out the side in the first inning and recording strikeouts (eight total) against every batter except Ortiz, Jason Varitek, and Alex Gonzalez.
Lester, who allowed one run in the second, started off the seventh like he had most of the night -- with a first-pitch strike. That pitch, however, was up in Garret Anderson's hitting zone, and the left fielder bounced a single up the middle, kicking off an inning that would make a mess of scorecards around New England. Designated hitter Tim Salmon followed with another first-pitch single.
Catcher Mike Napoli grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out, but first baseman Robb Quinlan drove in Anderson with a slow roller that third baseman Mike Lowell couldn't snag in time. Then Maicer Izturis doubled home Napoli, giving the Angels a 3-2 lead and ending Lester's night.
