Cubs Lose to Red Sox

The Cubs came into Fenway Park this evening looking to extend their winning streak to three games and to climb closer to the elusive .500 mark.  Friday's game, the opening game of a three-game series with the Red Sox, marked the first time that the Cubbies had been to Fenway since the 1918 World Series.  While the many Cubs fans who made the trip to Fenway were hopeful that the Cubs would play well against the Sox, the pitching match-up of Doug Davis versus Jon Lester did not bode well for Chicago fans.

Sitting down the first base line, I witnessed the offensive rampage of the Red Sox firsthand.  The Sox scored 15 runs on 19 hits, while the Cubs managed 12 hits but only five runs.  Davis only lasted 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks.  From the first pitch he threw it seemed as though it was going to be a long night.  When Davis was pulled, reliever Scott Maine immediately gave up a bomb to Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis.  Maine gave up another home run to start the fifth inning off the bat of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  After two more hits, Maine was relieved by lefty James Russell.  Russell pitched three scoreless before giving way to Jeff Samardzija, who gave up five runs in eighth inning.

The Red Sox were led offensively by Adrian Gonzalez, who compiled four hits and drove in four runs, and Kevin Youkilis, who drove in three runs on three hits.  Sox starter Jon Lester pitched six innings, giving up five runs and picking up the win.  Reliever Scott Atchinson pitched three scoreless innings and picked up the save.

For the Cubs, third baseman Jeff Baker went 4-5 with four singles and Aramis Ramirez went 3-4 and drove in one run.  Left fielder Alfonso Soriano and right fielder Reed Johnson had two hits apiece and Johnson drove in two runs.  Tomorrow, Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 4.89 ERA) will square off against Red Sox starter Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 2.60 ERA), who will be making his first start for Boston.