Catching Up With Red Sox Castoffs: Lackey, Lester Win; Peavy Flirts With Perfect Game

Wondering how your old friends who were shipped out of town are making out with their new teams? Let’s take a look at how some former Red Sox players performed over the weekend.

– Lackey wins debut as Cardinals slip past Brewers

Former Red Sox righthander John Lackey picked up a “W” in his first start with the Cardinals on Sunday. Lackey pitched seven innings, gave two runs on seven hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in his first NL outing. The Cards rallied past the Brewers for a 3-2 victory.

“It worked out good, got a win,” Lackey said after the Cardinals rally. “You obviously want to do well in a new place, for sure… It’s a great baseball town and the atmosphere was awesome.”

– Lester picked up a win in Oakland on Saturday

Former Sox ace Jon Lester picked up a win in his first start in an Oakland uniform on Saturday, allowing three in runs in 6.2 innings against the Royals in an 8-3 win.

Lester gave up nine hits, struck out three, and walked one in his A’s debut.

“This is my new family now,” Lester said after the debut win. “I’m going to go out there and bust my butt and hopefully I go out there and win more games like today and see where it can take us.”

– Big night for Drew at Fenway Park

Stephen Drew struggled at the plate in his return to the Red Sox this season, but he had a big night at the plate as a member of the Yankees Sunday night at Fenway.

Drew went 2-for-4 on the night and drove in four runs in helping the Yankees to an 8-7 win. He hit a two-run double helping the Yankees rally for three runs in the fourth inning to tie the score. Drew has five RBIs in three games since joining the Yankees, going 3-for-11 in three games played.

“I am just coming in here and being the best I can,” Drew said after Sunday night’s Yankees’ victory. “With the experience I have, hopefully it will pay off.”

– Gomes chips in to help A’s win

The former Sox outfielder made his presence felt immediately in Oakland where he had two hits, drove in two runs, and scored a run in the win against the 8-3 win against the Royals.

“Every once in a while some new blood, some new energy can help out,” Gomes said after the victory.

Gomes had a little trouble in left field on Saturday, allowing the Royals Nori Aoki to advance to second base on an RBI single in the seventh inning when he tried to throw out Lorenzo Cain out at the plate. Aoki later scored on a base hit.

– Peavy flirts with perfect game for Giants

Old friend Jake Peavy retired the first 19 Mets’ batters he faced Saturday night, but lost the perfect game in the seventh inning when Daniel Murphy doubled to left field with one out as Giants left fielder Michael Morse appeared to misjudge the fly ball to the opposite field. The game featured dueling no-hitters as the Mets’ Jacob deGrom held the Giants hitless through six innings. The Mets went on to score four runs helping the rookie deGrom to his fifth straight win.

“At the end of the day, you are trying to put up zeroes and their guy did an outstanding job. I did not do enough,” Peavy said after his excellent outing.

Despite the effort by Peavy, the result was his 11th straight loss in 2014. In two starts with the Giants, Peavy is 0-2 with nine strikeouts and two walks to go with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings pitched.

– Pierzynski picking up a few hits in St. Louis

Former Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski — who caught John Lackey’s first 18 starts for the Red Sox — was behind the plate when Lackey picked up the win for the Cardinals Sunday.

“We kind of speak the same language,” Pierzynski said after Sunday’s win. “So it’s easy for us to talk. When we go out there, I know what he wants to do most of the time. It’s nice, it’s an advantage.”

Pierzynski hit a game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning to help Lackey pick up the victory. In his new stint with the Cardinals, Pierzynski is 6-for-22 for the Cards so far, with one extra base hit, three strikeouts, and a walk.

– Doubront gets ready to join Cubs’ rotation

Felix Doubront, who is battling a calf issue, threw a bullpen session for the Cubs on Sunday as he works toward joining the Cubs’ rotation.

“I’m going to start a new journey right here,” Doubront said. “And I’m happy to be here and excited to join the team.”

Doubront was 2-4 with 6.07 ERA in 17 games with the Red Sox before being shipped to the Cubs last week.

– Miller time in Baltimore

In his first relief outing for the Orioles Friday night, former Sox lefty Andrew Miller retired two of the first three batters he faced in Baltimore’s 2-1 win over Seattle. He followed that up with two strikeouts in one inning of work on Sunday.

“Pretty cool reception,” Miller said after his Orioles debut on Friday. “I don’t think I ever dreamed of having anything like that. I don’t necessarily expect it again. But it was pretty neat.”

– Carp joins Rangers

The Rangers claimed first baseman Mike Carp off waivers from the Red Sox after Boston designated him for assignment last week. Carp batting .198 for the Sox in 42 games this season. He could be in the Rangers lineup as early as tonight against the White Sox.