Lackey not focused on run support

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By Jessica Camerato
CSNNE.com

BOSTON - Losing is frustrating enough for the Boston Red Sox, but when they dont come through with run support for their pitchers, that only adds to it.

On Saturday, John Lackey (2-3, 5.65 ERA) threw 113 pitches over six innings, giving up just two runs, seven hits, while recording three strikeouts. His efforts were all for naught, though, as the Red Sox (11-15) went 0-for-11 with men in scoring position in their 2-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners (13-15).

After the game, Lackeys teammates were carrying the responsibility for failing to produce run support.

We just didnt score any runs for him, said Kevin Youkilis. He threw the ball great and we just came up short offensively. Its a shame that we couldnt get enough runs for him and get him a W, but weve just got to keep battling and tomorrows another day.

Lackey said he was able to locate his breaking ball well but did not have the same fastball command as he did in his previous outing, a win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Ichiro Suzuki scored the first run of the game in the third inning off a double to left by Milton Bradley. Later in the sixth, Jack Cust scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Jack Wilson.

I felt pretty good, Lackey said. I made some pitches. The first run, had a ball hit right on the line on me, and the shift kind of got me on the second run (Cust's leadoff single was a routine grounder to the left side that got through to the outfield because the Sox infielders were overshifted to the right on the left-handed-hitting Cust). What are you going to do?

Terry Francona relieved Lackey after the sixth inning and was impressed with his performance.

On a lot of nights, were commending him for not giving in and throwing his breaking ball behind the count and getting back in the counts, but we didnt do anything offensively, he said. He wanted to stay out there and I thought he was effective. I just didnt want to get in a position where we dont have many days off so weve got to keep the starters on track.

Lackey is staying focused on his job at hand and not worrying about his teammates. He has confidence in the players around him and believes they can take care of business on their own.

Im not going to comment on all that, he said when asked about the runners left in scoring position. Weve got a lot of guys with a lot of good track records on the offensive side I think will get going. As pitchers, weve just got to keep handling our business. Weve got enough to worry about on our own.

In the meantime, his teammates will try to do what they can to help.

Thats John Lackey, said Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Thats the guy that goes out there and just battles. Thats what he did tonight. He pitched his butt off and I just wish we could have got that win for him.

Jessica Camerato is on Twitter at http:twitter.comjcameratonba

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