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Lester, Garza on mound in Game Three

Oct 13, 2008 - 1:12 PM American League Championship Series Series tied 1-1

Tampa Bay at Boston, 4:37 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- With the team's ace lacking his best stuff for the playoffs, Jon Lester has stepped up pretty nicely for the Boston Red Sox.

Lester will look to continue his strong postseason when he takes the hill as Boston hosts the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Three of the American League Championship Series on Monday afternoon.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven scoreless innings in Boston's 2-0 victory in Game One but Josh Beckett was roughed up for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings during Tampa Bay's 9-8, 11-inning victory on Saturday, knotting the series at one game apiece.

B.J. Upton had the walkoff sacrifice fly in the 11th but the story for the Red Sox was Beckett, who went 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA to lead Boston to the World Series last season. The righthander has an 11.57 ERA in two postseason starts this year.

Lester (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitched tremendously in the divisional series and will be counted on again to play the role of staff ace.

"Like I said from the beginning, it doesn't matter to me who's the No. 1 starter and who's the No. 5 starter. We all have equal importance to this team when it comes to winning," Lester said. "I just try to go out and execute pitches. Hopefully I can go deep in the game and give the bullpen a rest."

The lefthander went seven innings in each of his two starts against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, giving up one unearned run and 10 hits. The 24-year-old also enjoyed success against the Rays this season, winning all three starts while allowing two runs in 20 innings.

Tampa Bay will counter with 24-year-old Matt Garza (0-1, 7.50).

Garza allowed five runs over six innings in his first career postseason start, suffering the setback in the Rays' Game Three loss to the Chicago White Sox.

The righthander went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts against Boston this season.

Boston won seven of nine regular season meetings between the teams at Fenway Park.