G12: Red Sox 2, Orioles 1

Orioles - 000 000 001 - 1  6  0
Red Sox - 010 010 00x - 2  6  0

Lester pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Kevin Youkilis got the Sox offense going with a leadoff double in the second. He scored two outs later on Mike Lowell's single to right. In the fifth, Nick Green doubled and scored on Dustin Pedroia's single.

Since Jonathan Papelbon had worked Friday and Saturday, Takashi Saito was called in for the ninth, after Ramon Ramirez retired the Orioles in order in the eighth. It was the second consecutive day of work for Saito, something Terry Francona said he was determined not to do.

Saito allowed singles to Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff to begin the inning. Ty Wigginton's groundout to third scored Markakis, cutting the lead to 2-1. With the tying run at second, Saito got Luke Scott to line out to right and then struck out pinch-hitter Gregg Zaun.

***

Koji Uehara (7.20, 72 ERA+) / Jon Lester (9.00, 58 ERA+)

Uehara, a 34-year-old right-hander, pitched for 10 years in Japan before signing with the Orioles as a free agent. In two starts, against the Rangers and Yankees, he has a combined 10-12-8-5-3 line. ... Which is actually better than Lester's 11-18-11-2-10 showing so far.

Uehara, on Fenway Park:

I know it's a very historic venue. The Green Monster itself is really famous in Japan, but obviously I've only seen it on television. ... Maybe Ortiz is bigger.