Daniel Jones wasn’t going to filter his feelings.
The Red Sox fan had come to Boston with his girlfriend, Katie Heiman, just to watch Jon Lester pitch Wednesday night against the Blue Jays.
Then on Tuesday night, his favorite ace was scratched from his scheduled start amid the possibility he would be traded before Thursday’s deadline.
“I’m pretty [upset],” Jones said of the possible trade and Lester not starting. “I mean, we came from a long way. We’re from Birmingham, Alabama. I love him because he fought cancer, he beat it, he’s Big Game Jon. I’m not too happy.”
Jones placed blame on the Red Sox’ front office and general manager Ben Cherington for Lester’s possible exit, so he let them know in a single tweet Tuesday night.
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“I said, ‘because I’ve always wanted to see Jon Lester pitch at Fenway and he’s scratched when I’m coming up. Thanks for nothing,’” Jones said.
The displeasure of Red Sox fans over a possible deal became palpable at Fenway during the top of the sixth inning. Brandon Workman, pitching instead of Lester, had thrown five innings, allowing four hits, five runs, and four walks while striking out only two. He had also committed an error.
Craig Breslow was called on to pitch the sixth, and he gave up three hits and a run before a call for Lester broke out in the stands on the third base side.
“We want Les-ter! We want Les-ter! We want Les-ter!”
As Fenway began to empty in the ninth inning, steadfast fans behind home plate kept up a “Jon-ny Les-ter!” chant as the Red Sox neared their sixth straight loss to the Blue Jays.
There was a typical number of David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Shane Victorino jerseys and t-shirts on the backs of fans, but those wearing Lester gear did it out of solidarity, like Jones and Heiman.
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Jones, who will be back at Fenway with Heiman for Saturday’s game against the Yankees, won’t be able to fulfill what he called a “lifelong dream” of watching Lester at Fenway.
“He’s pitching the best season of his life,” he said.
More coverage:
• Red Sox still dangling Jon Lester, others
• On baseball: Red Sox will rebuild, and compete in 2015
• Red Sox trade Felix Doubront to Cubs
Follow Rachel G. Bowers on Twitter @rachelgbowers.