G66: Marlins 2, Red Sox 1 (5, rain)

Marlins - 020 00   -  2  8  1
Red Sox - 100 00   -  1  1  0

Game called at 11:24 -- after a delay of 2:26. Sox lose.

***

8:58 PM: Rain delay in the top of the 6th, with a man on first and no out for the Fish.

All the runs so far have come on solo home runs, Kevin Youkilis for Boston and Dan Uggla and Ronny Paulino for Florida.

Lester (5-8-2-0-4, 110) was less effective than his recent starts, but had settled down after throwing 54 pitches through the first two innings and 70 through the first three.

The Red Sox had soggy bats against Nolasco. Their only base runner for the first four innings was Yook's dong to left field. In the fifth, David Ortiz swing on a 3-0 pitch, popped up and reached when Emilio Bonifacio dropped the ball. After Mike Lowell flew to left, Ellsbury forced Tiz at second. LBJ stole second, but was left there as Jason Varitek struck out swinging.

The Nationals shut out the Yankees in New York 3-0.

***

Rocky Nolasco (7.62, 55 ERA+) / Jon Lester (4.76, 99 ERA+)

Lester has really turned a corner in his last three starts: 22 innings, 7 hits, 7 walks, 34 strikeouts, with opponents hitting .099/.175/.127.

Since missing the Yankees series (June 9-11) with a right shoulder sprain, Jacoby Ellsbury is 8-for-20 (.400) with two homers, five RBI, five runs scored, five walks and five stolen bases.

In his last 10 games, David Ortiz is hitting .400/.545/.920, with half of his hits going for extra bases (including four home runs).

Rain is in tonight's forecast.