Lester is looking good

[BS007]

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 2/70525024

Lester impressive in 4th rehab start
Friday, May 25, 2007
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) _ Jon Lester gave up a run and three hits Thursday night to Syracuse in his fourth rehab start at Pawtucket for the Boston Red Sox.

Lester, cancer-free since December after undergoing chemotherapy to treat lymphoma, walked one, struck out one and threw 49 of 65 pitches for strikes in five innings. Pawtucket won the game 3-2. He retired the first 11 Chiefs in order before Curtis Thigpen lined a single to left field in the fourth inning.

In his four rehab starts at Pawtucket, Lester is 0-1 with a 1.62 ERA, five walks and 13 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

On the advice of Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell and manager Terry Francona, Lester said, he eschewed his cut fastball and relied instead on fastballs, curveballs and changeups to avoid a repeat of a left forearm cramp that took him out early on May 19 against Ottawa.

"I don't know why it happened. Maybe I got happy with it. Whenever you do that it's never good. Obviously it did something and they want me to get away from it and use my other stuff," he said.

Lester retired the first two Chiefs in the fifth but Chad Mottola singled and scored on John Hatting's double.

Lester faced three batters over the minimum and topped out at 94 mph.

"He was pitch efficient for his five innings," manager Ron Johnson said. "The bottom line is he felt great before. He felt great afterwards.

"Jon commanded pretty good in the upper-half of the zone," Johnson said.

Johnson said Lester would remain in Pawtucket's rotation.

"Right now, four or five days from now, we're going to get him back on the mound," Johnson said. "That comes down almost after each outing from Boston. I'm sure everybody will be happy to see that and we'll just keep the progression moving along."
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