Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Lester's 1-Hitter tops Jays; Zimmerman Leads Nats over Braves

Players of the Day from Tuesday, April 29, 2008 American League The Boston Red Sox went into Tuesday's game riding a five-game losing streak and to break out, they knew they'd have to beat Toronto's Roy Halladay, who was seeking his 4th straight complete game. Technically, Halladay got his complete game, but it wasn't the way he wanted it as Boston starter Jon Lester hurled 8 innings of 1-hit ball and Kevin Youkilis knocked home David Ortiz from second with two out in the bottom of the 9th for the game's only run in Boston's 1-0 triumph over the Blue Jays. Lester walked four and stuck out six, surrendering only a 3rd inning double to Toronto's Scott Rolen. Of the remaining out, Lester got 15 on ground balls and just 3 on flies, but didn't get the decision. He remained at 1-2 as Jonathon Papelbon came on to work a perfect ninth for his first win of the season without a loss. Notes: Halladay has pitched four straight complete games but has lost 3 straight. Boston's win kept them tied with the O's for first place in the AL East. Tampa Bay dropped a game off the pace, losing 7-4 to Baltimore. National League Ryan Zimmerman cracked his third homer of the season and broke a 2-2 tie with a 2-run double in the 7th inning as the Nationals topped the Braves, 6-3, in Washington.

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