BOSTON
Maybe John Lackey's season finally is starting to make sense.
Not only was Lackey hampered by elbow issues early in the year, but he also was trying to help his wife, Krista, in her fight against breast cancer.
Lackey refuses to use his wife's illness as an excuse, but he alluded to a personal issue after his ERA rose to 8.01 in Toronto on May 11, telling reporters, "Everything in my life sucks right now."
On Friday, Lackey explained to me what had happened.
"We thought the chemo this offseason was going to do it," he said. "Right around the start of the season, we found out she needed more."
Krista finished her latest treatment a few weeks ago and is doing "great," Lackey said. And Lackey, after receiving a cortisone shot in his elbow and spending nearly a month on the DL, is looking more like the pitcher who received a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent contract after the 2009 season.
His performance Saturday wasn't pretty, but Lackey survived major jams in the fourth and fifth innings to produce a quality start in the Red Sox's 10-4 victory over CC Sabathia and the Yankees.
Believe it or not, Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.58 ERA in his past six starts, averaging 7.4 strikeouts and 1.2 walks per nine innings. Prior to that, he was 5-8 with a 7.47 ERA, averaging 5.6 strikeouts and 3.4 walks per nine.
"It's a lot more fun to contribute," Lackey said.
And no doubt, a lot easier having peace of mind.
Fox Sports
Maybe John Lackey's season finally is starting to make sense.
Not only was Lackey hampered by elbow issues early in the year, but he also was trying to help his wife, Krista, in her fight against breast cancer.
Lackey refuses to use his wife's illness as an excuse, but he alluded to a personal issue after his ERA rose to 8.01 in Toronto on May 11, telling reporters, "Everything in my life sucks right now."
On Friday, Lackey explained to me what had happened.
"We thought the chemo this offseason was going to do it," he said. "Right around the start of the season, we found out she needed more."
Krista finished her latest treatment a few weeks ago and is doing "great," Lackey said. And Lackey, after receiving a cortisone shot in his elbow and spending nearly a month on the DL, is looking more like the pitcher who received a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent contract after the 2009 season.
His performance Saturday wasn't pretty, but Lackey survived major jams in the fourth and fifth innings to produce a quality start in the Red Sox's 10-4 victory over CC Sabathia and the Yankees.
Believe it or not, Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.58 ERA in his past six starts, averaging 7.4 strikeouts and 1.2 walks per nine innings. Prior to that, he was 5-8 with a 7.47 ERA, averaging 5.6 strikeouts and 3.4 walks per nine.
"It's a lot more fun to contribute," Lackey said.
And no doubt, a lot easier having peace of mind.
Fox Sports