Lester better again as Sox top O's

For the Orioles, spotting Jon Lester a 4-0 lead in the first inning on Saturday made it look like it would be a long night. This time, looks were not deceiving. They got whipped 9-3 by Boston which has taken the first two games in this series and now leads the season series, 6 to 5. Lester gave up just five hits and one run over seven innings. He beat the Orioles again. He is 2-0 in three starts on the season vs. Baltimore and has given up just one run over 19 innings. Lester improved to 12-0, 2.00 in 15 career starts vs. the Orioles.

J.D Drew had a two-run double in Boston's four-run first and later Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer as the Sox improved to 17-2 in their past 19 home games vs. the Orioles. During Boston's three-run last of the eighth, Juan Samuel got tired of seeing seemingly every close pitch at the plate go against his pitchers and was ejected by home plate ump Mike Everitt. Losing pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had his shortest outing of the year, giving up six runs in four innings. He is now 3-10, 4.64. In 14 career starts vs. Boston, Guthrie is 1-7, 4.95. Corey Patterson went 2 for 4 with an RBI and is now batting .469 (15 for 32) during an eight-game batting streak. Jake Fox hit a two-run homer in the ninth, his first as an Oriole. The umpires went to the video review to be sure, after not using the video last night when Drew hit a shot that went for a homer, but looked on replay like it was not a longball. In the series finale on Sunday at 1:35, it's Brian Matusz (2-9, 4.90) facing John Lackey (9-3, 4.46).