BOS 11, BAL 5: Less than Lester, Still Good Enough

Even an uninspiring performance by Jon Lester was enough to get the job done against an Orioles team that has all but thrown in the orange towel, as Boston beat Baltimore, 11-5, on Saturday.

It was the Red Sox bats that locked up the 12th consecutive series win against the Orioles, behind a shaky outing six inning stretch where Lester gave up ten hits. But as he continued to miss his spots (only 62 strikes over 102 pitches), the offense was busy at work against an already depleted Orioles pitching staff.

9/19: Lester looks to clip some wings

GAME NOTES: Lester starts on one extra day of rest. Lester is inching up on 200 innings pitched on the year, so I see no reason why they shouldn’t be a little cautious this late in the season. David Hernandez? Fah! Lester eats David Hernandez for lunch.

9/8: Buchholz meets his old friend/foe

Clay Buchholz tangles with the Baltimore Orioles, who he handcuffed two years ago for a no-hitter… and whom handcuffed him the last time the two dueled on Aug. 2 when Clay gave up seven runs over four innings.

8/1: Beckett takes the hill.