BOSTONWhat to say to your starting pitcher who has just given up five runs in the first inning, including a first-pitch home run, and is preparing to go out for the second?
The five runs Jon Lester gave up were the most hes allowed in any inning since giving up six in the second inning on Sept. 24 at Yankee Stadium. The runs also extended a career-high streak of five starts in which Lester has given up at least one run in the first inning.
Perhaps there were no words that would prove to be effective. But Dustin Pedroia felt that he had to say something. And say them emphatically.
Basically, just telling him that we have his back, Pedroia said. I mean, everyone goes through tough times, you know. But just said however many more starts you have the rest of the way. Were not going to win the World Series if Jonnys not himself, if Im not myself. Hes not going anywhere, hes our horse. We love him and Ill play behind him any day of the week. Just wanted to make sure he knows that because everyone goes through tough times, we all do. Theres times when youre not playing well or Im not swinging the bat well or whatever. Its just good to have reassurance from your teammates that we got your back.
Pedroia could see Lesters poor start to the game was affecting the left-hander.
He was frustrated, Pedroia said. As long as Ive known Jon every game he pitches were in it. Its all you can ask for. Hes got a great winning percentage now .659 for his career, just .384 this season for a reason. Because hes a bulldog, attacks the zone, and gets outs, and overpowers people. His confidence is not high right now but it will get back to being high. Hell be fine.
Hes had that talk with me. Everyone goes through tough times throughout the year and it feels good when a teammate comes to you and says. Its going to be alright.
Boston Red Sox
Hell be alright. Hes mentally tough. We all go through tough periods. Geez, this games not easy and its not like that team over there . . . they swing the bats.
We have all the confidence in the world in him.
It can be difficult to know what to say in a pitcher in that situation.
You dont want to say the wrong thing, said Cody Ross. You dont want to get on his nerves. He knows what he has to do. Everyone once in a while just go up and give him a little pat. He understands what that means and we all understand what that means. Thats the thing, we just got to keep picking each other up. We cant start pointing fingers. We got to stick together.
Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has perhaps as much experience as any player on the team offering a well-timed pep talk or wake-up call.
It's tough because his stuff's there, Saltalamacchia said. I think it's just one of those things you got to get over. It's one of those youre in a slump, you know one little thing clicks and all of a sudden youre out of it.
Pedroias words were meaningful to Lester.
Yeah, I mean it is but I still have to go out and my job, said Lester, who fell to 5-8 with 5.46 ERA. He did his job today. I got to do my job. Thats what it comes down t. Its nice to know that guys obviously want you to succeed, not only on a business level but on a personal level. So, yeah, its nice to know guys have my back, which I know they all do. So got to keep grinding it out.
However sincere Pedroias words may have been, and however meaningful they were to Lester, they proved to be ineffective. Lester went out for the second inning and gave up four more runs on his way to a career-high 11 runs allowed.
But it wasnt for lack of a good talking-to from his second baseman.