Boston Red Sox: Top 3 performances of Jon Lester’s Boston career

Lester dealing for Boston Red Sox in ALDS

The 2008 edition of the Boston Red Sox went into the playoffs as the Wildcard team after finishing in second-place to Tampa Bay in AL East.

That meant a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, winners of 100 games and the AL West. And it was a series where the playoff-lore of Lester really took hold.

Game 1 was an impressive outing for Lester, picking up the win in a 4-1 Boston victory.

Five days later, he didn’t pick up the win but helped the Red Sox towards a series-clinching 3-2 victory.

The bullpen prevented Lester from the win that day. He again tossed seven innings, like he did in Game 1. And while he struck out only four – -compared to seven in Game 1 — Lester allowed only four hits and kept the Angels off the scoreboard.

Outside piecing back-to-back singles in the fifth inning of Game 4, the Angels never truly threatened to score. Lester left the game by retiring eight straight, capping two performances in the series that would be nearly duplicated years later.