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Jon Lester kicks off his spring training with two perfect innings 02.24.13 at 5:38 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Jon Lester started his spring training with a strong two innings. (AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jon Lester turned in a solid performance in his first spring training outing of 2013, retiring all six batters he faced in what resulted in a 5-3 Red Sox win over the Cardinals in Jupiter.

Lester threw 17 of his 24 pitches for strikes, relying solely on fastballs with the exception of one changeup.

“It’s nice to have that calendar year where you can just turn the page onto a new season and everyone starts fresh again,” he told reporters. “The last three months [of the season], I pounded away on myself to find out what was going on — trying different things in workouts, trying different things between starts. So once we got away, I took those first couple weeks off and it really helped mentally and physically to, you know, hit the reset button, blank page, the whole deal. Get back to being me.”

Lester, who is coming off a season in which he went 9-14 with a 4.82 ERA, has been working to stay consistent in the delivery that resulted in so much success prior to 2012.

The lefty is keying on allowing his front leg to drive toward the plate rather than swinging open, thereby allowing hitters less of an opportunity to get a view of the pitcher’s offerings. It also allows Lester to get on top of the ball, limiting the chances of pitches running out over the plate.

“You obviously learn a lot from things that don’t go your way. You learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about your teammates,” said Lester, who totaled a 3.50 ERA in his four Grapefruit League outings last spring training striking out 14 in 18 innings. “I don’t like going out every five days and getting my [butt] kicked. I like to win.

“I don’t know if sucking sets you up for a good season; if it does, great. I don’t want to do it again. It humbles you. For me, the biggest thing was the embarrassment of not being me and getting back to the basics in the offseason, getting back to doing the stupid stuff that you forget about when you’re in the minor leagues.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell also came away encouraged by the outing.

“He’s made some tangible adjustments in camp, and I think those started last season, and they’ve carried over into spring training,” Farrell said.

Helping key the Red Sox’ offense against St. Louis were Daniel Nava and Mauro Gomez, who each had a pair of hits, with Pedro Ciriaco managing a two-run single.

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  • Pedro,Tito,Nomar et all

    He sucks, seasons over…..

  • Great Expectations

    Pedro figured it out. CY YOUNG! Lackey 18 wins.

  • Sicko

     et al…..

  • San Diego Dreamer

    Good News. Coaching change didn’t hurt either.

  • combatwombat

    Keep up the good work, Jon!

  • http://twitter.com/Zj_6 Zack Jones

    repeat that delivery and dont worry about the umps and he’ll be just fine. 

  • Fab4ever

    I bet he waited all day to post such poignant prose…..I was at the game…pulled in with my Ferrari Modena, a Monte Christo in my mouth, a bottle of Dom chilled…wait….that’s another guy…..but I was at the game…Hanrahan and Bailey looked pretty ordinary…they got smacked around a bit…I’m sure it’s just rust….I hope.

  • John Marzano

    who cares!

  • otis

    the lester pic for this article is kinda creepy

  • ChrisinDanvers

    Another “good start” moment for spring training. Hope to see more of those as the spring continues. Much better than the nonsense of last year.

  • Molly

    Watch out for Lester this year. He has a lot to prove to all you doubters. 

  • Molly

    Watch out for Lester this year. He has a lot to prove to all you doubters. 

  • Molly

    Watch out for Lester this year. He has a lot to prove to all you doubters. 

  • Molly

    Watch out for Lester this year. He has a lot to prove to all you doubters. 

  • Molly

    Watch out for Lester this year. He has a lot to prove to all you doubters. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    You suck seasons beginning.lol

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Is that all you have to do? Why waste your time if you don’t care,find something else that interests you.C’mon John pick it up.lol

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Hanrahan should be OK its Bailey .That kid will never be a set up man the 8th inning is actually the most important.The closer come’s in with a lead,its up to the setup man to make sure the closer gets there.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Would’nt that be something.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    I like these posts,Lester could pitch to 27 guys and strike them all out and still get flak.Funny stuff,lol

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    To all Yankee fans posting here.To bad about Granderson,there’s always next year.

  • Anonymous

    In theory – so what!!  In reality – so what!!!  We all know it takes hitters longer to catch up to pitching in spring training and the early weeks of the season.  All but one pitch was a fastball.  That is not “pitching”, that is “throwing”, and he isnt going to win 10 “throwing”

  • Tony

    I am not sure if there is an entire correlation here but I would really like to see Lester get ahead of batters more often.  For his career he throws a 1st pitch strike somewhere between 55-58% of the time.  The elite pitchers (Verlander, Felix, Kershaw, Price, Sabathia) all throw 1st pitch strikes somewhere around the low to mid 60s.  Cliff Lee is almost near 70%.

    For his career, hitters bat .274 against Lester after a 1-0 count, but .214 after a 0-1 count.  That’s significant.  Even during a bad 2012, hitters hit only .233 after falling to 0-1 but .310 after going up 1-0.

    Just something to keep an eye on.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • John Marzano

    I don’t care.

  • Dope Hunter

    Yes you do!

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