Lester Earns 2nd Straight Win, Feels 'Normal' After Leaving With Hip Injury
BOSTON (CBS) - Jon Lester earned his second-straight win on Thursday night in Boston's 7-4 win over the Blue Jays, but there was some concern after Boston's ace left the mound in the eighth inning.
The good news is that after the game, both Lester and Red Sox manager John Farrell sounded confident it was nothing major.
"The final pitch he threw, his landing foot kind of gave way and he jammed his hip. He had clearly done his job so precautionary, we removed him," said Farrell. "Just checking with him after the game it doesn't seem to be anything lingering."
"I slipped a little bit and I guess the doctors are calling it a jammed hip. I had a kind of zinging sensation down my leg; something I've had before in years past when you slip or over-stride," explained Lester. "The part of the game we were in, no point in messing around with it at that point in the game."
"I feel fine now. Walking off the field it stays with you awhile, but after the doctors looked at me -- I feel normal," he said confidently.
"Hopefully that will carry into tomorrow and we won't have to worry about it."
Lester called Farrell and the training staff to the mound after delivering a 2-0 pitch to Blue Jays second baseman Emilio Bonifacio in the Top of the 8th inning. After a short conference, Farrell summoned Junichi Tazawa from the Boston bullpen.
The Sox lefty gave Boston a solid outing on Thursday, allowing five hits and striking out five while on the hill. Lester left the game with Boston up 7-2, but was charged with two more runs after Tazawa allowed the two inherited runners to score.
"Overall with Jon tonight, he was down in the strike zone much more on a consistent basis," said Farrell. "He was very efficient overall."
Lester ended up going seven-plus innings -- his longest outing since going seven innings on May 25 -- allowing four runs on five hits and three walks. He did not allow a hit until a one-out single to center in the fifth by Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera.
