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Sep 30, 2010 - 4:34 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Boston (87-70) at Chicago (84-73), 8:10 p.m. EDT

After a rough early spring, Jon Lester made his first All-Star Game appearance this summer and will likely pick up his share of AL Cy Young Award votes this fall.

Making his final start of the season in Thursday night's series finale against the host Chicago White Sox, Lester tries to become the first Red Sox left-hander in 57 years to win 20 games.

Since going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three starts, Lester (19-8, 2.96 ERA) is 19-6 with a 2.49 ERA. He has a 1.76 ERA while winning his last six outings.

In Saturday's 7-3 victory at Yankee Stadium, Lester struck out eight and threw seven innings of two-hit shutout ball to become just the seventh Red Sox left-hander, and first since Mel Parnell won 21 in 1953, to reach 19 victories.

While the Red Sox (87-71) won't be hoisting any trophies after being eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, and Lester likely won't win the club's first Cy Young since Pedro Martinez in 2000, the 26-year-old southpaw is at least hoping for some acknowledgment for a brilliant season.

"Would it be nice to get a (Cy Young) vote, or would it be nice to be recognized for it? Sure. I'm not going to lie to you and say no," Lester said.

Lester, 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA in four career starts versus Chicago, will try to become the first Red Sox pitcher to win seven consecutive starts since Josh Beckett won his first seven outings in 2007 en route to a 20-win season. That was also Boston's last 20-game winner.

Taking his 15-inning scoreless streak into U.S. Cellular Field, Lester will face a White Sox club that has won six of seven since being eliminated from the AL Central race Sept. 21.

Chicago (85-73), winner of five of six against Boston this season following Wednesday's 5-2 victory, will give the ball to John Danks (14-11, 3.74).

The left-hander yielded two runs over eight innings of Saturday's 6-2 road win over the Angels. Danks set a career high in victories - one more than 2009 - while posting the first win by a White Sox starter in 19 games.

Chicago's starters have a 4.25 ERA in 2010.

"Coming into the year, we thought that we were one of the top three or four rotations in the league," Danks said. "But with Jake's (Peavy) injury, and the rest of us not quite pitching the way we thought we would, it's a little disappointing."

Danks, 0-2 with a 9.68 ERA in his last three starts in Chicago, struck out five and went seven innings in a 3-1 victory at Fenway Park on Sept. 4. Danks, though, is 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA in three career home starts versus Boston.

David Ortiz, 2 for 11 with a homer against Danks, is 6 for 13 with a home run and four RBIs in this series.

Paul Konerko will likely return to the lineup Thursday after getting a day off. Konerko, an MVP candidate batting .310 with 38 homers and 107 RBIs, has two hits in 10 at-bats versus Lester.

Chicago has won nine of 11 against Boston.