 May 25, 2010 -- The Boston Red Sox continued to get strong performances from their pitching staff Tuesday night as starter Jon Lester blanked the league's best Tampa Bay Rays, 2-0.
Lester (5-2) remained unbeaten in his last seven starts, striking out nine and only allowing one baserunner past second before turning the game over to the bullpen. Manny Delcarmen, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon finished the combined one-hitter with three scoreless innings.
The victory was the seventh in eight games for the Red Sox, who've rebounded from a poor April to climb a season-best five games over .500 (26-21).
As if to keep in line with the pitching staff, the resurgence of David Ortiz continued to be the story of the Sox offense. Ortiz, who homered during Monday night's 6-1 win over Tampa Bay, gave Lester all the support he needed with his third-inning double off James Shields (5-2), who limited the Red Sox to four hits over eight innings -- none after the third.
Papelbon allowed a one-out walk in the ninth, but retired Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton to earn his 11th save in 12 opportunities.
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