masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBOSTON – Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester has a 2.92 ERA in 17 starts this season.

Lester has a career 2.92 ERA in 26 starts against the Orioles.

Does anyone else find that odd? What about coincidental?

I’m not going with ironic.

Lester is 15-4 lifetime against the Orioles and held them to two runs over seven innings on opening day, walking one and striking out eight. However, he went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts in 2013 and 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts in 2012.

Nelson Cruz is…BOSTON – Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester has a 2.92 ERA in 17 starts this season.

Lester has a career 2.92 ERA in 26 starts against the Orioles.

Does anyone else find that odd? What about coincidental?

I’m not going with ironic.

Lester is 15-4 lifetime against the Orioles and held them to two runs over seven innings on opening day, walking one and striking out eight. However, he went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts in 2013 and 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts in 2012.

Nelson Cruz is 11-for-24 (.458) lifetime against Lester, with two doubles, a triple and three home runs. He wasn’t going to sit today, no matter the opposing pitcher. He may stand in the on-deck circle even when he’s not due up.

Adam Jones is 18-for-56 (.321) with three doubles against Lester.

Chris Davis is 3-for-27 (.111) with two doubles and a home run. If you’re thinking this would be a good time to sit him against a left-hander and start Delmon Young, it could happen if manager Buck Showalter overlooks how Young is 7-for-37 (.189).

Nick Markakis is 16-for-69 (.232) with six doubles.

Miguel Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA in five games (three starts) against Boston. He’s 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in three appearances at Fenway Park.

In his only start in Boston on Sept. 21, 2012, Gonzalez allowed two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and was credited with the win.

Never hurts to remind everyone that David Ortiz is 1-for-21 with 13 strikeouts lifetime against left-hander Brian Matusz. They shall meet again in this series.

According to STATS, the Orioles won their first game last night without hitting a home run since April 26 against Kansas City.

Need to get your Steve Pearce on this morning? OK, here you go:

Pearce has reached base in seven straight games and 14 of his last 15. He collected his 15th multi-hit game of the season and his seventh go-ahead RBI. He also set a new single-season career-high with 14 doubles.

Nick Hundley has scored a run in a career-high five straight games.

Zach Britton hasn’t allowed a run in 21 straight relief appearances at Camden Yards.

Down on the farm, Dylan Bundy’s rehab start at Single-A Frederick was rained out last night and rescheduled for tonight in Lynchburg.

Triple-A Norfolk and Charlotte combined for 24 hits – all singles.