Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Though he was saddled with a no-decision, Tuesday’s start was a leap in the right direction for 24-year-old Jon Lester.

After previously struggling to get through opposing batters during the second and third time through the order, the left-hander was able to effectively mix his cutter, fastball, curveball and changeup.

“We’ve seen stints of three or four innings where he’s been effective, but tonight he was relentless in the bottom portion of the zone all evening with strikes,” Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said. “We all want things to happen sooner than they might, but his work has been consistent, and he’s a young man that’s maturing.”

Entering Tuesday, Lester had limited hitters to a .261 batting average and surrendered four earned runs in his first trip through a lineup, but the numbers ballooned to a .316 batting average and 15 earned runs in successive trips through the lineup.

Lester seemed to change his pitching patterns Tuesday, however, as he liberally mixed in an improving changeup and utilized a sinking two-seam fastball to pile up groundball outs. Lester left after a career-high eight innings and allowed only one hit and four walks while registering six strikeouts.

“The thing that Jon did so well tonight, he threw a lot of first-pitch strikes,” manager Terry Francona said. “When he did walk somebody tonight, he came right back and got right back down in the bottom of the zone and got a double-play ball. He didn’t ever let it carry over to the next hitter.”

Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 0: Kevin Youkilis’ RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth broke open a scoreless game and gave the Red Sox their 11th come-from-behind win. Promising left-hander Jon Lester worked eight scoreless innings in his best start of the season, and Jonathan Papelbon came in for a scoreless ninth to earn his first win of the season.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Bartolo Colon threw 35 pitches in a side session at Fenway Park on Monday, and he is on pace to throw another side session Wednesday. The burly right-hander has been slowed over the last few weeks by a sore right oblique muscle but is on schedule to appear in a game May 5. Colon had an opt-out in his minor league contract with a deadline of May 1, but the Sox have reached an understanding with Colon that will keep him in a Sox uniform.

• SS Alex Cora had his right elbow examined Monday and was given a clean bill of health by the Red Sox medical staff. The utility infielder will begin a throwing program, and manager Terry Francona estimated that he could air out his arm with throws across the diamond by Friday. SS Jed Lowrie has done a solid job of filling in at all infield positions during Cora’s absence.

• OF J.D. Drew left Tuesday’s game in the third inning with tightness in his left quadriceps and was replaced by rookie OF Brandon Moss. Drew felt the muscle twinge after attempting to leg out a groundball in the bottom of the second inning. The oft-injured Drew has played in 23 out of Boston’s 28 games this season but is in the middle of a hitting slump that’s dropped his average down to .269.

• 2B Dustin Pedroia has played in each of Boston’s 28 games this season but could miss a game or two after hurting his left shoulder Tuesday. Pedroia jammed the shoulder while making a spectacular diving stop of a Vernon Wells grounder in the top of the ninth inning—a sprawling stab that helped win the game.

• RHP Bryan Corey was designated for assignment for the second time in two weeks—this time to make room for 3B Mike Lowell on Boston’s 25-man roster. Corey had pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his lone appearance since getting called up from Class AAA Pawtucket, and he is one of a major league-high 17 pitchers used by the Sox this season.

By The Numbers: 1,701—Total number of consecutive errorless defensive chances by 1B Kevin Youkilis, which broke the record for all defensive positions in the major leagues.

Quote To Note: “I just try to go out there and play the best that I can whenever they put me out there. I wish it were softball, but it’s not so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we all continue to play well and give them a tough decision on who to put out there on any given day.”—OF Coco Crisp, on his mind-set while playing the part of a fourth outfielder on the Sox this season.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

2B Dustin Pedroia (jammed left shoulder) left the April 29 game. He could miss a game or two.

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game.

3B Mike Lowell (sore left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on April 25, and he was activated April 29.

DH David Ortiz (bruised right knee) sat out April 26-27. He returned to action April 29.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (flu) missed his April 23 start. His next start was pushed back to April 30.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the disabled list retroactive to April 10. He might start making throws across the diamond on May 2.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.