31 Jon Lester, SP

Red Sox starter Jon Lester won the battle of the aces on Wednesday in Tampa Bay. With David Price allowing four runs and leaving after 2 1/3 innings due to injury, Lester cruised to victory.

The Boston starter moved into fifth place on the franchise all-time strikeout list with his 1,109th strikeout. That moved him past Josh Beckett. Lester's win pushed his record to 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA, and he seemed to improve as the game went on.

Lester, who received eight runs of support in the third inning, allowed just two earned runs (in the bottom of the third) over his entire outing. He gave up eight hits and didn't walk a batter with five strikeouts over 107 pitches.

The 29-year-old has given up just two runs over his last 16 innings with 10 Ks over that stretch. With 50 Ks over 59 2/3 innings, Lester has continues to be one of the best starters in the American League.

He'll make his next appearance Monday in Chicago.

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester put together his best performance of the season as he pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Blue Jays Friday night.

Lester, who made his eighth start of the season, had his bid for a perfect game broken up by a Maicer Izturis double in the sixth inning. It was the only baserunner he allowed all night. The left-hander went the distance as he pitched nine innings, surrendered one hit and struck out five, including two in the ninth to secure a 5-0 victory. He threw 118 pitches, 79 strikes.

Lester improved to 5-0 with a 2.73 ERA after Friday's win. He has allowed three runs and struck out 12 in his last 16 innings of work. Lester is scheduled to start Wednesday at Tampa Bay. He went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts against the Rays last season.

After getting tagged for five runs his last time out, Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester put together a quality start in Sunday's series finale against the Rangers. He allowed three runs on five hits over six innings of work.

Lester surrendered a solo home run to Mitch Moreland in the third for the only damage over his first five frames. Then in the sixth, Nelson Cruz launched a two-run homer off the left-hander. He was done after throwing 115 pitches, 70 for strikes, and left with the game tied at 3-3.

The 29-year-old also struck out seven and walked three in the no-decision.

His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Blue Jays. In two starts against Toronto this season, Lester has gone 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA.