By definition, Jon Lester had a quality start on Saturday night against the Rangers - he worked 6-1/3 innings and was charged with just three earned runs. which gives him one-third of an inning more than is needed.

On the other hand, Lester allowed 10 hits and walked two, which would indicate that his "quality start" was more, or at least as much a product of the Rangers' offensive incompetency than his own performance. Texas stranded 13 runners Saturday night and went into today's game leading the AL with 156 LOBs in 18 games.

The two walks indicates that Lester stayed in the strike zone more than he did in his first three starts, in which he walked 12 in 16-1/3 innings.

As Terry Francona says, it is important to remember that Lester, while it may seem like he has been around for awhile, remains "a work in prorgess."

- Alan Greenwood