The Red Sox' lefty ace was true to his April form for much of the month, going 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his first four starts. The team went just 1-3 in those games.
Then came Wednesday night. Lester took the mound in Toronto just one day after Clay Buchholz pitched an eight-inning gem of his own. Lester had a chance to help the Sox earn their first series sweep of the season, and he didn't disappoint.
Over seven innings, Lester baffled the Blue Jays, striking out 11 batters while giving up just one hit. Though he walked the leadoff hitter in the first, he finished his night having allowed just three men to reach base.
"It was pretty obvious we felt good about him," manager Terry Francona said after the 2-0 win. "We left him out there to go through the heart of the order in the seventh, so we thought he was having a pretty good night."
While the start was good news for Lester, it's bad news for the rest of the American League. In his career, Lester is just 3-6 with a 4.76 ERA in the months of March and April. In every other month, he's 40-12. With numbers like that, chances are this won't be the last time he earns the Amica Pitcher of the Week honors.