By Danny Picard
CSNNE.comFollow @dannypicard
BOSTON -- @font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; a:link, span.MsoHyperlinkcolor: blue; text-decoration: underline; a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowedcolor: purple; text-decoration: underline; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1; The good news was that Jon Lester had some of his best stuffin a while, and he didnt allow a single hit because of it against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
The bad news was that he only lasted four innings.
Lester was removed from Tuesday's game with a lower-left latstrain.He said the injury didnt occur on any one pitch, but was crampingon him as he worked through the top of the fourth.
It was that fourth inning, said Lester after Bostons 3-2win over the Blue Jays. It wasnt one particular pitch. It was just prettymuch the whole inning.
Theres no point in going out there and pushing it rightnow, he added. Its going to be sore tomorrow, but I think if I would havegone out there in the fifth, I could have really possibly done some worsedamage.
While saying he would "never take myself out of a game if it wasnt somethingsignificant, Lester also said he doesn't believe the injury will cause a long-term problem.
Wemay alter one start, but . . . weve got the All-Star breakbuilt in," said Lester. "Like I said, I dont imagine this being a long-term deal.Well re-evaluate everything Wednesday. Hopefully it was just more of aprecautionary-type deal and just a fluke thing and move on.
Boston Red Sox
Lester came out of the game with a 3-0 lead, and struck outfive while walking one. Needless to say, he was on top of his game.
I thought I threw the ball pretty well, said Lester. Itsprobably the best fastball location and just pure stuff and fastball that Ivehad in a while. Its a shame I had to waste it tonight.
I think it was pretty obvious he felt good on the mound,the way he was throwing the ball, said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Butwell get him checked out Wednesday and get more information.
He was in charge of the game, and we had a three-run lead,Francona said. The way he was throwing, it seems like more.
Francona said that Lester will be checked out extensivelyon Wednesday. Lester's scheduled to pitch Sunday afternoon at Fenway against the Baltimore Orioles. But with the All-Star break from Monday to Thursday, Lestersounded as if skipping that next start would give them a chance to use the break to their best advantage.
"Luckily, weve got the All-Star break built in," he said. "So hopefully we dont have todo anything drastic around here."
Danny Picard is on twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard.