Lester, Drew carry Red Sox over Orioles 4-0

[June 30, 2009]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Jon Lester pitched seven shutout innings, J.D. Drew came within a double of hitting for the cycle, and the Boston Red Sox cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 4-0 on Monday night.

Jonathan Papelbon got the final out with two on to earn his 132nd career save, tying Bob Stanley for the most in Red Sox history. Papelbon has 19 saves this season in 20 opportunities.

Lester (7-6) gave up five hits, struck out eight and walked none. The left-hander allowed only one runner past first base, but even then he proved to be overpowering: In the fifth inning, despite yielding a pair of two-out singles, Lester struck out the side.

Lester is 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA against Baltimore in 10 career starts. The only other pitcher to win his first eight decisions against the Orioles was Todd Stottlemyre (1988-93).

Drew tripled and scored in the first inning, hit a two-run homer in the fourth and singled in the sixth. Needing a double in the eighth inning to become the first Red Sox player since John Valentin (1996) to hit for the cycle, Drew grounded out to second.

But that was perhaps the only disappointing moment of the night for the Red Sox, who have won eight straight against Baltimore -- including five this season. Boston is 22-9 at Camden Yards since Sept. 23, 2005.

Orioles rookie Jason Berken (1-5) gave up four runs and eight hits, walked two and hit two batters in five innings. The right-hander is winless in six starts since his successful debut against Toronto on May 26.

After going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings, Boston used a three-run fourth to go up 4-0. Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single by Jason Varitek before Drew hit a drive into the center-field bleachers.

One out later, Kevin Youkilis hit a drive to center that appeared headed over the wall before Adam Jones reached over the 7-foot barrier to make a leaping grab.

Regardless, the Red Sox already had more than enough runs at that point to secure another win for Lester against the Orioles.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Drew tripled on Berken's third pitch and scored on a single by Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox left the bases loaded in the second and failed to score in the third after Pedroia led off with a walk and stole second with no outs.

NOTES: Boston went 3 for 3 in stolen base attempts. Baltimore rookie catcher Matt Wieters has caught only two of 17 runners attempting to steal. ... Baltimore has been blanked four times. ... Lester has allowed three runs or less in his last six starts. ... Boston is 11-3 in its last 14 road games.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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