Sox turn to Lester tonight
ALCS Game 3Upton’s Sacrifice Fly in the 11th helps Tampa Bay even series 1-1

BY JIMMY GOLEN

Published: October 13, 2008

BOSTON — This is Jon Lester unleashed: unhittable in May, a stopper in October, the emerging ace of the Boston Red Sox.

The 24-year-old lefty will start Game 3 of the AL championship series against Tampa Bay tonight, facing Matt Garza at Fenway Park under the championship banner Lester helped raise with a World Series-clinching victory just months after he was cured of cancer.

"We’re one of four teams left right now. You’re playing for the ultimate prize. You’re playing for another ring, a chance to be world champions again,” Lester said Sunday before Boston’s off-day workout. All Lester has known lately is success — especially at Fenway.

He went 11-1 at home this season, including a May 19 no-hitter against Kansas City. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 2-3 postseason innings, including the Game 4 victory in the World Series as the Red Sox swept Colorado to win their second title in four seasons.

"He’s pitching unbelievable right now, and I think he’s become our ace,” Kevin Youkilis said. "Coming here at home he always pitches pretty well, so we’ve just got to have him pitch a good game and jump on Garza early.”

The Red Sox took the opener of the best-of-seven series in Florida, but the Rays tied it Saturday night when B.J. Upton lofted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to shallow right field in the 11th inning to give Tampa Bay a 9-8 victory. Josh Beckett, dominant in Boston’s ‘07 title run, allowed eight runs in 4 1-3 innings, taxing the bullpen and leaving the Red Sox in need of a Game 3 rescue from Lester.

"He’s the guy you want to give the ball to,” Boston reliever Manny Delcarmen said. "With what he’s done, he’s the guy everybody feels comfortable in after a tough loss that he’s going to throw well.”

A touted prospect who was routinely requested in trade talks, Lester was developing into a star when he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare cancer of the lymph nodes, as a rookie in 2006. He was pronounced cancer-free after chemotherapy in December and cleared to return to the mound in the spring of ’07.

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