A Dominant Jon Lester Blanks The Blue Jays...Red Sox 2 Jays 0

I guess Boston Red Sox lefty Jon Lester realizes May is just around the corner and April is fading into history. He is a notoriously slow starter with little success in April but after that, watch out AL! His performance last night makes two tremendous starting pitcher outings in a row. Is this a sign of things to come? I certainly hope so.

Lester went an overpowering seven innings, giving up zero runs on only one (!) hit while walking two and striking out 11 (!!). Red Sox manager Terry Francona gives you his take on it...

“He pounded the zone,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “He got a feel for his changeup early, especially against those righties. Slowed them down a little bit. Had power to his pitches. He was good. He was very good."

Daniel Bard took over and zipped through the eighth and the ninth belonged to Papelbon. Paps threw a couple "impossible to hit" pitches and looked great after minor back discomfort the day before. That's the primary reason he did not pitch. Here he is, modest as always...

"I felt good last night. I went through my delivery well. My direction to the plate was good. I can’t complain at all.”

After on off day today we go to Baltimore for a three game set. Our pitchers, in order, will be John Lackey on Friday, Matsuzaka, in his 2010 debut, on Saturday and Josh Beckett on Sunday. Looks like a sweep? You never know but the team is playing well except for a few too many errors, no production from Big Papi and a sometimes porous bullpen except for Bard and Paps. I could go on a little more but that's another post. I'l be more critical after this month of April is finis.

Have a great Friday and a terrific weekend. You can click on this post's title for more on the Sox and as always, BE WELL. See ya.