The Red Sox (40-35) wasted little time giving Jon Lester a cushion yesterday, ripping off six runs in the first inning and ultimately earning an easy 10-4 victory at Fenway Park.
Toronto’s Ricky Romero lasted just three innings while giving up eight earned runs on seven hits.
Dustin Pedroia got things rolling for Boston with an RBI double and Adrian Gonzalez, Will Middlebrooks, Mike Aviles and Darnell McDonald also drove in runs in the Sox’ hot start.
Lester improved to 5-5 on the year, working seven innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
The Red Sox now begin a West Coast swing, starting tonight in Seattle (10:10 p.m., NESN) when Franklin Morales faces Felix Hernandez.
In somewhat surprising news, Sox manager Bobby Valentine suggested that pitcher John Lackey could start pitching before the end of 2012. Lackey is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Western union
Boston is playing its best baseball of the season and will look to extend its winning ways on the West Coast over the July 4 holiday.
The Red Sox face Seattle this weekend, followed by Oakland before returning home to host the Yankees a week from Friday.
Boston is 6.5 games out of first place in the AL East but are just 1.5 out of the Wild Card lead.
