FORT MYERS, Fla.Left-hander Jon Lester made his second start of the spring, facing the Twins in a B game Wednesday morning at Hammond Stadium.
Lester pitched 2 23 scoreless innings, as the Sox beat the Twins, 4-1 in eight innings. He allowed one hit and two walks with one strikeout. Lester threw 44 pitches, 20 for strikes.
Pitching coach Bob McClure was satisfied with Lesters outing.
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Im not really looking for a whole lot as far as picking out certain things, McClure said. Were just trying to, in a controlled manner is get the ups and downs -- pitch an inning, sit down, pitch an inning sit down, that kind of thing. So its more of a controlled up and down. You look for the same things you always do as far as repeating the delivery and all that. But he does it very well.
A morning game can be a difficult adjustment.
The adrenalines tough but I think as far as you still have to execute pitches, you still have to throw the ball downhill," Lester said. I was able to do that today. Mixed in all my pitches, and threw them in some different counts that I normally wouldnt. So I thought today was good just getting some of those pitches that I normally dont throw in those situations in the game.
I threw a lot of changeups today, which was good. Any time Im able to do that it always helps me in the future. So it was good. There were a couple of good sinkers, down and away from righties.
Lester expects to pitch four innings in his next start.
Right-handers Matt Albers and Scott Atchison and left Drake Britton followed Lester to the mound. Albers pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Atchison threw one perfect inning. Britton went two innings, giving up a run on three hits with a strikeout.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias opened the game with a first-pitch single, and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Will Middlebrooks and Daniel Nava each had a two-run double.