Game 31: A's at Red Sox - Lester looks to sustain momentum vs. A's

Jim Monaghan
Contributing Writer

The Boston Red Sox stopped the bleeding from Thursday's doubleheader loss to the Tampa Bay Rays with a resounding 7-1 win over the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Dustin Pedroia helped power the offense with his 6th-inning grand slam, the 100th home run of his career.

Photo courtesy of RedSox.com
Jon Lester, coming off a 7-inning loss to Toronto in his last start, is 2-4 on the season but with the Boston offense only supplying him with a team-low 2.43 runs per game, the 4 losses can be a bit deceiving. He'll be opposed by Oakland lefthander Tommy Milone.

In his career against the Athletics (12 starts), Lester is 4-4 with a 4.21 ERA.

Here's the Red Sox (14-16) lineup for this afternoon's game (first pitch - 1:35 pm ET):

1) Pedroia, 2B
2) Bogaerts, SS
3) Ortiz, DH
4) Napoli, 1B
5) Gomes, LF
6) Sizemore, CF
7) Middlebrooks, 3B
8) Bradley, RF
9) Ross, C

Lester, P

Shane Victorino has the day off with Jackie Bradley Jr. moving to right field and Grady Sizemore in center. Xander Bogaerts moves to the 2nd spot in the batting order, the highest spot he's hit since mid-April.

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