• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Angels-Red Sox Preview

May 4, 2010 - 4:42 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (12-14) at Boston (11-14), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Jon Lester is typically a slow starter. Fortunately for the Boston Red Sox, he appears to already be done with this year's poor opening.

Lester will try to extend his string of 12 2-3 scoreless innings Tuesday night when the Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels continue their four-game series at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox (12-14) have grown accustomed to poor beginnings from Lester (1-2, 4.71 ERA), who is 3-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 49 starts in March and April. He owns a winning record in every other month.

Lester went 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three starts this April - all Boston losses - but has not allowed a run in two outings since while striking out 18. The left-hander recorded 11 strikeouts and his first win last Wednesday, giving up one hit in seven innings of a 2-0 victory at Toronto.

"He ought to feel good about himself," manager Terry Francona said. "He looks great."

Lester who hasn't faced the Angels (12-15) in the regular season since April 23, 2008, is 1-1 with a 7.78 ERA in four outings against them. He's faced them three times in the playoffs since then with better results, going 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA.

Los Angeles starter Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.59) has similarly settled down to pitch effectively after some early struggles. He posted a 6.94 ERA while losing his first two outings, but has a 3.32 ERA in his last three starts - each of which has lasted at least six innings.

The right-hander yielded three runs over 6 2-3 innings Wednesday but did not get credit for the Angels' 4-3 win over Cleveland.

Santana is 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in four regular-season starts at Fenway.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is 5 for 15 with seven strikeouts in his career against Santana. It's unclear if the struggling Ortiz will be in the lineup after Boston had another big effort without him in a 17-8 victory Monday.

It was a big confidence booster for the Red Sox, who were coming off a weekend sweep at major league-worst Baltimore.

"We changed our mindset," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who had one of Boston's four homers. "We needed to play well. We didn't play well in Baltimore. We expected things to happen."

Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and Bill Hall also homered, while J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell each had four hits.

Boston improved to 6-3 without Ortiz in the lineup, averaging 6.2 runs. The Red Sox are 6-11 and averaging 4.4 runs without the former All-Star slugger, who's batting .159.

It also helped to have Youkilis back in the lineup. The first baseman, who had missed Sunday's game due to a groin strain, went 2 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored.

Los Angeles fell to 0-4 on its 10-game road trip. Joe Saunders was done after four-plus innings, becoming the third Angel starter during the slide to fail to pitch at least five.

"This wasn't pretty tonight," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Some of the guys on our team are going to have to get into the game and make some adjustments."