(Sports Network) - Jon Lester tries to follow up a brilliant performance his last time out when the Boston Red Sox play the middle contest of their three- game series with the Minnesota Twins tonight at Fenway Park.
Lester won his fourth straight decision on Thursday against the New York Yankees, as he tossed a five-hit shutout to run his record to 7-3 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 3.12.
The 24-year-old right-hander, who is 4-1 in his nine home starts this season, has now surrendered three earned runs or less in 12 of his last 13 outings (6-1).
Lester has faced the Twins twice and has yet to record a decision against them, but has pitched to a 3.68 ERA in those appearances. He surrendered five runs (three earned) and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings against them back on May 9.
Minnesota will counter with 26-year-old righty Nick Blackburn, who is 7-4 with a 3.78 ERA. Blackburn won his third straight decision on Wednesday against Detroit, as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings.
Blackburn also defeated the Red Sox earlier in the season and is 1-1 lifetime against them, despite a 10.29 ERA in seven innings.
In Monday's opener, Manny Ramirez's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner as Boston escaped with a 1-0 win.
Daisuke Matsuzaka did not factor in the decision despite keeping the Twins off the board through a season-high 7 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits and three walks to go with five strikeouts, and has surrendered just one run in his last three starts.
Hideki Okajima (2-2) came on in a tough situation in the eighth, recording the final two outs to get the win for Boston, which was coming off a mediocre 3-7 road trip.
Scott Baker, who had won his previous three outings, matched his counterpart in his seven-inning start, fanning seven and allowing just five hits and two walks. Brian Bass (3-3) absorbed the loss.
Justin Morneau singled, doubled and drew a walk for the Twins, who had a five- game winning streak stopped and lost for only the third time in their last 19 contests.
After Okajima worked out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth, Dustin Pedroia began the bottom half with a ground-rule double off the Green Monster on a fan interference call. Pedroia moved up 90 feet on a groundout by J.D. Drew and came across for the game's only run when Ramirez, stymied in a 2-for-19 slump, singled to right past a drawn-in infield.
Boston is an AL-best 32-10 at home this season.
The Twins took three of four from the Red Sox earlier in the season after Boston won four of seven in the season series a year ago.
