Jon Lester

The Red Sox rookies departed Fenway Park yesterday dressed in "High School Musical" costumes (lots of dresses, skirts, and lipstick) as part of the ageless rookie hazing ritual after the Sox had choreographed a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox are hoping to be more pit bull than lipstick tonight as they attempt to pull even with Tampa Bay, which holds a one-game lead in the American League East as the teams open a three-game set in St. Petersburg, Fla. Last week, the Sox dropped two out of three to the Rays at Fenway and now the Sox must prove they can win at The Trop, where they are 0-6...

PHILADELPHIA - The Red Sox had their first baseman in right field Saturday night and their designated hitter took a rare turn at first base despite a case of stomach flu. The catcher played a day after he got knocked in the side of the head with a ball and needed 12 stitches to piece together his left ear. There was a rookie at third base, an independent league discovery in left field, and the bench was short a player because of an...

Game over Hunter Pence reached on a bunt single, but he was doubled off first on a liner from Carlos Ruiz to Mike Aviles making life easier for Alfredo Aceves, who earned his ninth save. Aceves also allowed a single to Ty Wigginton after the double, but he struck out Hector Luna to end the game. There were 45,656 on hand. Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5 Sox unable to add on to their lead and will hand it over to Aceves, seeking his ninth save. Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5 Just as the night was tough for Jon Lester, it was tedious for Vicente Padilla as...

PHILADELPHIA — David Ortiz homered, singled and drove in two runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 win over Philadelphia, snapping the Phillies' six-game winning streak Saturday night. Mike Aviles, Will Middlebrooks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia also homered for Boston, which won for the seventh time in nine games. Saltalamacchia went 3 for 4, needing a triple for the cycle. Jon Lester (3-3) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Phillies despite matching a season high for hits allowed with eight and giving up four runs in six innings.

PHILADELPHIA - The Red Sox had their first baseman in right field Saturday night and their designated hitter took a rare turn at first base despite a case of stomach flu. The catcher played a day after he got knocked in the side of the head with a ball and needed 12 stitches to piece together his left ear. There was a rookie at third base, an independent league discovery in left field, and the bench was short a player because of an injury....

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Ortiz said he expects to play at least one game at first base in Philadelphia this weekend. Ortiz played 13 innings in the field over two games last season with Adrian Gonzalez going to right field for those 13 innings. Ortiz laughed and said, "No!" when asked if playing a few games at first base in spring training had prepared him for the interleague road games. "I'm fine," he said. "No fear. ... Wish me good luck.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Quite a few fans have e-mailed to ask where JetBlue Park is before they go down to Florida. So here you go: From the North:  Take I-75 South to Exit 131 (Daniels Parkway). Make a left off the exit and go east for approximately two miles. Fenway South will be on your left. From the South:  Take I-75 North to Exit 131 (Daniels Parkway).Make a right off exit and go east for approximately two miles. Fenway South will be on your left.

Josh Beckett's three wins this season have come against teams that are a combined 49-52. Take away the April victory against the Tampa Bay Rays, and that record is 26-48 (Minnesota, Seattle). That's one way to look at Beckett's bumpy season thus far. It's something else to point out that after yesterday's stellar outing against the Quadruple A Seattle Mariners, Beckett now has five quality starts on the season. That's the same amount as Jon Lester, James Shields, and David Price.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine announced Monday that Jon Lester will start on Opening Day against Detroit on April 5. Lester will face defending American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in the 1:05 p.m. game. Josh Beckett will start the home opener against the Rays on April 13. Lester was 15-9 with a 3.47 earned run average last season. This will be his second consecutive Opening Day start. He allowed five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings against Texas last season but was not involved in...

TORONTO - Jon Lester has pitched 15 innings this season and allowed four runs. That hasn't been good enough to get a victory for the Red Sox. On Wednesday, Lester went eight innings against the Blue Jays, a team he almost always pitches well against, but took the loss in a 3-1 game. The lefthander gave up three runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. "He was great," said teammate David Ortiz. "We just didn't help him. " Lester didn't get a decision on Opening Day, when he matched pitches with Detroit ace Justin Verlander in a game the Sox lost, 3-2. On Wednesday,...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — The Red Sox had their first baseman in right field on Saturday night and their designated hitter took a rare turn at first base despite a case of stomach flu. The catcher played a day after he got knocked in the side of the head with a ball and needed 12 stitches to piece together his left ear. There was a rookie at third base, an independent league discovery in left field and the bench...

Game over Hunter Pence reached on a bunt single, but he was doubled off first on a liner from Carlos Ruiz to Mike Aviles making life easier for Alfredo Aceves, who earned his ninth save. Aceves also allowed a single to Ty Wigginton after the double, but he struck out Hector Luna to end the game. There were 45,656 on hand. Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5 Sox unable to add on to their lead and will hand it over to Aceves, seeking his ninth save. Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5 Just as the night was tough for Jon Lester, it was...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Ortiz said he expects to play at least one game at first base in Philadelphia this weekend. Ortiz played 13 innings in the field over two games last season with Adrian Gonzalez going to right field for those 13 innings. Ortiz laughed and said, "No!" when asked if playing a few games at first base in spring training had prepared him for the interleague road games. "I'm fine," he said. "No fear. ... Wish me good luck.

Josh Beckett's three wins this season have come against teams that are a combined 49-52. Take away the April victory against the Tampa Bay Rays, and that record is 26-48 (Minnesota, Seattle). That's one way to look at Beckett's bumpy season thus far. It's something else to point out that after yesterday's stellar outing against the Quadruple A Seattle Mariners, Beckett now has five quality starts on the season. That's the same amount as Jon Lester, James Shields, and David Price.

BOSTON (AP) — Jon Lester pitched his second complete game of the season and Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach each homered, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday. David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez added consecutive RBI doubles for the Red Sox, who won their fourth straight at home. Boston is on its longest home winning streak since capturing nine straight last July. The Red Sox opened just 4-11 at Fenway Park. The Mariners, on the second stop of a four city, 11-game trip, have dropped four of six. Seattle entered the...

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff Their confidence brimming after Jon Lester's complete-game effort in a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Monday night at Fenway Park, the Red Sox will now turn their wary eyes toward Josh Beckett. It will be up to Beckett, the recalcitrant righthander who after absorbing an 8-3 loss against the Indians in his most recent outing managed to cast himself as the most reviled sports figure in Boston for his unapologetic stance on his off-day golf outing, to make it five in a row for the Red Sox in Tuesday's game against the...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla. —Here's Jon Lester's interview with the media from earlier today: How long has he been looking forward to spring training? "It's been a while. I think with the way everything ended, since that day. Obviously it leaves a bitter taste in everybody's mouth and I'm definitely ready to get back and ready to go. It's been a long winter. I'm excited to be here. Can't beat being here.

Jon Lester pitched four no-hit innings tonight against the Blue Jays, but was hampered by a strained lat muscle and had to leave the game, the Red Sox announced. The muscle is located behind the shoulder and could pose problems for the left-handed pitcher. He tossed 50 pitches (35 strikes) before the Red Sox opted to bring in Matt Albers in relief. Lester is 10-4 in 17 starts this season and has a 3.43 ERA. The injury could be significant enough that he could end up on the DL. The severity of the injury has not been revealed.

Jon Lester felt he was in a perfect frame of mind. Now his teammates are feeling better about themselves at Fenway Park, too. Lester held Seattle scoreless until the ninth inning en route to his second complete game of the season, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Monday. Lester (2-3) coasted through the first eighth innings, holding the Mariners to six singles and going to a three-ball count just twice. "When you're working fast, it's a good thing to be able to pitch and not think about anything," he said.