BOSTONAfter his last outinghis ninth quality start in 15 outings, but the Red Sox third loss in his last four startsJon Lesters frustration with himself was obvious.
"I'm getting tired of the same old stuff," Lester said. "I'm making good pitches and they're getting hit. I don't know what else to do. The process is there. I'm still not getting results. It's the same book, different chapter for me."
Lester changed books Wednesday afternoon in the homestand finale against the Blue Jays. He went seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with no walks, four strikeouts, and two home runs. He earned the win as the Sox trounced the Jays, 10-4, to even his record at 5-5. This, despite snapping his string of four consecutive starts, and seeing his ERA creep up from 4.48 to 4.53.I wouldnt say I was searching for answers. I think its just more or less when it comes down to making a pitch when I have to they hit it, Lester said. And a win always takes away the questioning in the back of your mind. A wins a win. Im not going to overanalyze anything, just get ready to go in five days.Lester gave up a lead-off double to Brett Lawrie, who scored Colby Rasmus single. After that, he retired the next nine batters, before Jose Bautistas 25th home run of the season leading off the fourth. He then retired the next eight batters before Bautistas two-out double in the sixth and Edwin Encarnacions 22nd home run of the season, followed by a Ben Francisco single, before getting Yunel Escobar to fly out, ending the inning.I thought he was very good, did exactly what we need to win a ballgame, said manager Bobby Valentine. His 100 pitches were all quality. I think he might have got to the middle of the plate on a couple of pitches where he had a big lead, gave up some home runs. But you got to like what you saw today.Six runs from the Sox offense in the first inning, erasing a one-run deficit, also helped. Lester entered the game with an average run support of 4.29, the lowest among the eight starters used this season, other than Daisuke Matsuzakas 1.23.Absolutely. Run support takes the pressure of you, especially after they come out in the first and put one on the board, Lester said. Its big to have our offense go out there and do that for you. You cant ask from more from those guys.Lester threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes. It was his third outing this season, and first since a May 30 win over the Tigers, in which he has not allowed a walk.Throwing strikes, not giving in. I think its more or less just trusting the fact that Ive got better stuff and see what happens, he said. Id rather give up a hit and make him earn it than walk him.He was pleased with his changeup.I was getting outs with it, he said. You can always second-guess when something bad happens, but I may have thrown one too many to Edwin Encarnacion. We had gotten him out a couple of times with it before but we were ahead in the count so we figured behind in the count, give it a try. It wasnt a bad pitch, just put a good swing on it, got the good part of the bat on it and hit it out. So but yeah getting early outs with it, early contact and thats all you can ask for with that pitch for me.Lester, though, didnt want to get too deep about the win. Asked if he was more satisfied with the win or his performance, he replied:I think were overanalyzing now. A wins a win no matter how you look at it.