Wed Apr 2 19:13:15 2008

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Lester stifles A's as BoSox take series finale

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Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester scattered three hits over 6 2/3 shutout frames to lead Boston over Oakland, 5-0, in the finale of an inter- continental four-game set from McAfee Coliseum.

Lester (1-1), who bravely beat a rare form of lymphoma and returned to pitch last season, fanned three and walked three en route to becoming the first Red Sox left-hander to register a win in Oakland since Zane Smith on May 29, 1995.

David Ortiz slammed a two-run homer and Jason Varitek added a solo shot for the Red Sox, who took three of four in the series, including both games in North America. The clubs began the regular season by splitting a pair in Tokyo last week.

Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis also drove in a run each for Boston.

Daric Barton doubled for the Athletics, who have scored just one run in their last two setbacks and collected only four hits in the contest.

Former Red Sox reliever Alan Embree (0-1) took the loss, charged with two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Rich Harden allowed four hits over five shutout innings in the start, fanning six and walking four.

Following six scoreless innings, the Red Sox took control with a pair of runs in the seventh.

Youkilis led off with a double to the gap in left-center. Ortiz turned on a middle-in Embree fastball, depositing it in the right field seats for his first of the season to put Boston up 2-0. Manny Ramirez nearly gave the Sox a 3-0 edge, but Chris Denorfia made a leaping grab at the wall in dead center.

Lester retired 10 consecutive batters before Emil Brown's single forced him from the game with two outs in the seventh. Bryan Corey then retired Bobby Crosby on a foul out.

Boston loaded the bases with none out in the eighth and padded their advantage. Pedroia's RBI single pushed the Sox lead to three, and Youkilis followed with another run-scoring base hit. Further trouble was averted when Ortiz went down swinging and Ramirez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Varitek roped his first home run of the year just over the fence in right to make it 5-0 in the ninth. Manny Delcarmen finished the game with a perfect bottom half.

The Sox loaded the bases with none out in their first at-bat, but Harden recovered to fan Ramirez and Mike Lowell in succession and induced a weak grounder to first from J.D. Drew to escape the inning.

Lester was the beneficiary of three double-plays over his first four frames, while Harden worked out of trouble in the fifth as he got Ramirez swinging with two men on and two outs.

Oakland skirted disaster once more in the sixth. Andrew Brown began by plunking Lowell, but he was wiped out on a pick-off move to first when Drew struck out. Varitek walked and Coco Crisp singled, and Brown exited for Embree, who hit Alex Cora to lead the bases. However, Pedroia's rocket shot to short turned into a force out to end the threat.

Game Notes

The teams do not meet again until May 23-25 for a three-game set in Oakland...Red Sox batters struck out nine times against four Oakland pitchers...Boston continues its early-season road trip with a trio of games in Toronto beginning Friday, while Oakland hosts Cleveland for three also starting Friday.