When the team's road trip to San Francisco turned the Red Sox into the walking wounded, Lester once again gave his teammates a lift, easily outdueling presumed NL ace Tim Lincecum and giving Boston a series win. Lester threw a complete game five-hitter, allowing just one run and striking out nine to shut down the Giants on Sunday.
"We knew coming into this game this guy could pitch, and he was tough today, and he shuts down a lot of teams," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told MLB.com after the game. "We did what we wanted that first inning, we manufactured runs, but after that we just didn't do much against him."
Few have been able to. The southpaw is 9-3 and ranks third in the AL with 111 strikeouts, eighth in innings pitched with 107 and owns a 2.86 ERA — 11th-best among starting pitchers.
Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia and Clay Buchholz all went from starting lineup to disabled list while in the Bay Area, but Lester kept doing what he has all year: win games and befuddle batters. That's why he has earned this week’s Amica Pitcher of the Week award.