MINNEAPOLIS — As manager Terry Francona walked to the mound at Target Field in the seventh inning, an image flashed through his head. He thought of John Lackey, standing on another mound, in another time zone, screaming at another manager.
He thought of the last time Lackey had been removed from a game that mattered in the middle of an inning, when Angels manager Mike Scioscia was greeted by an irate pitcher shouting, “This is mine!’’ in Game 5 of the 2009 American Leage Championship Series.
Lackey didn’t scream yesterday. In fact, he didn’t protest at all. As he said, “I’ll give him a few starts before I start yelling.’’
“It’s funny what things will go through your head,’’ Francona said.
The pitcher knew he was done at that point, 6 2/3 innings into his first win as a member of the Red Sox, as Boston pulled out a 6-3 victory over Minnesota. He already had faced Joe Mauer three times, with just an infield single to the MVP catcher’s credit, and it was time for another pitcher to see Mauer. It was time for Lackey to head back to the dugout, without a peep, ceding the game to Hideki Okajima.
Especially because Lackey hadn’t exactly dominated. He had struggled to get through the afternoon, allowing four walks as his command deserted him.
“Uncharacteristically, he walked a couple of guys today,’’ Francona said. “I thought he had to kind of fight early to get in a rhythm. Fortunately, it seems like he’s always that ground ball away from getting a double play, which he did early.
“As he got into the game, he started spinning his breaking ball, especially in a couple 3-and-2 counts, 2-and-1 counts, which gets them off the fastball. He got us to a point in the game, I thought he did a terrific job.’’
He wasn’t alone.
“That’s why he’s one of the better pitchers in the league,’’ Mauer told reporters. “He comes right after you, gets out of jams, and he pitched me pretty good today.’’
The game wasn’t won when Lackey left, though. He exited with men on first and second for Okajima, with the Sox leading by just a run. And then came the moment that might have helped the Sox win: Victor Martinez allowed a passed ball.
“Once their guys moved up, didn’t seem like it was a real tough decision,’’ Francona said, knowing immediately that he would put Mauer on with an intentional walk, given that first base was open.
And though it wasn’t an easy catch, with Adrian Beltre darting in to make the play in front of the mound, Okajima did induce Justin Morneau to pop up. The inning was over and Lackey’s lead was safe, a 3-2 advantage that would get bigger in the eighth.
