Lester Bounces Back

After stinking up the Tokyo Dome last week, Jon Lester pulled a Dice-K-like turnaround and tossed a gem, shutting out the A's over 6 2/3 innings.

More great news: Jason Varitek, who had struck out so many times in Japan that on Tuesday Francona had to call for an unnecessary hit-and-run play just to have him put his bat on the ball, hit a home run to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile David Ortiz who went 0-for-Japan, also blasted his first homer of the year.

Next stop on the World Champs' World Tour? Tomorrow night in Toronto. Tim Wakefield at Rogers Centre making his '08 debut--his 14th season with the Sox.