Debut in the Rain …


Photo courtesy of Yahoo! / Assoc. Press / Winslow Townson

In case you missed it, Jon Lester fought off hours of rain delay anxiety and put out a pretty decent debut performance, yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks through 4 1/3 innings. Line score aside, the performance apparently dazzled the Fenway faithful who honored the 22 year old with a standing 'O' as he exited. In kind, the kid tipped his hat. Awkward, yet nice.

Meanwhile, the Sox made it a short visit for Craig Hansen.


Photo Courtesy of Boston Herald / http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox.bg

The guy pitched two-thirds of an inning before getting dished back to Pawtucket. The Herald's Michael Silverman didn't paint as happy a face on the demotion, noting, "it was perfectly understandable that Craig Hansen looked and sounded upset to hear he was being sent back down to Triple-A …" Poor. After Saturday's game, I more firmly think that Foulke should have been the one bumped from the roster. Call it the DL … whatever.

Meanwhile, David Pauley gets another shot at the rotation tomorrow night, due in part to the continuing floods. That is, unless Francona changes his mind on Matt Clement's usability again.

Somebody call Nelson -- we need some of that "After the Rain" magic …