Boston Red Sox: Top 3 performances of Jon Lester’s Boston career
World Series hero for Boston Red Sox
There were some interesting years after Boston’s 2007 World Series title until their next appearance in 2013. This included a playoff dry spell that last three years.
The team needed to rebound in 2013 and they did exactly that, Lester included. He won 15 games and helped lead the Red Sox back to the promised land.
It was in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals where Lester gave two of the best playoff performances of his Boston career.
In Game 1, Lester was in top form, tossing 7.2 innings without allowing a run in 8-1 Boston victory. Lester struck out eight and allowed five hits, four of which were in the fourth and fifth innings, giving up two singles in each.
Lester ended that game retiring nine straight before exiting.
A Game 5 appearance was just as important, and perhaps even more valuable. The series was tied at two games apiece and the Red Sox truly needed a victory to swing the tide back in their direction.
Lester did exactly that, pitching Boston to a 3-1 victory.
He again lasted 7.2 innings, giving up only four hits and one run, a fourth-inning home run by Matt Holliday. After Holliday’s blast, Lester retired the next 12 Cardinals he faced before allowing a double to David Freese in the bottom of the eighth.
Lester struck out seven in what turned out to be his last playoff appearance with the Red Sox, which won the series with a Game 6 victory.
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Despite not getting the chance to shine one more time for the Boston Red after being traded in 2014, Lester will always hold a special place in the hearts of Red Sox fans. Even while with other teams, his success was always rooted for. Lester’s presence will be missed in this game but it is a retirement that is well-earned and doubly deserved.