BOSTON --- When left-hander Jon Lester next takes the mound, as he is scheduled Sunday in the series finale against the Blue Jays, he will bring a record of 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA with him. In his last outing, July 17 against the White Sox, he lasted just four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, one home run, and three walks, with four strikeouts. He needed 91 pitches to get through his outing.
He has given up at least one run, and six total, in each of the first innings of his last four starts. He has allowed six or more runs in three starts this season, all three were his shortest outings of the season.
Lester was not interested in talking about his pitching today, though.
Manager Bobby Valentine was asked if there is anything Lester has done differently in his routine since his last outing.
He went out there last time with pitching coach Bob McClure and worked a little on a mechanical situation and I think hes going out to build on that.
I stay out of thinking about it but watching him its always consistently good stuff and I keep thinking theres a lot of balls that are batted and they arent hit at the fielder. When he gets in the seventh inning its because they are hit at fielders. Maybe hell miss some more bats and have some of the batted balls go right at some people.
Valentine said there is nothing physically wrong with Lester.
Boston Red Sox
Been totally reassured that physically he is tip-top shape, Valentine said.