"Manager Terry Francona posted what was surely his most unusual lineup of the season on the clubhouse wall yesterday before the Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dustin Pedroia was the cleanup hitter for the fifth time in his career and was followed by Jason Varitek, who last hit fifth in 2007. Darnell McDonald, a .122 hitter, was in the No. 2 spot.

Several players looked at the lineup, walked a few steps, and then came back to look at it again to make sure.

But the name that mattered most was last on the list. Jon Lester lifted the Sox out of their slump, throwing seven shutout innings in a 5-2 victory.

"He was really good,'' Francona said. "We needed to find a way to win that game.''

Lester (10-4) allowed two hits, both singles, and struck out five with two walks. With the Sox having lost six of seven, it was a perfect remedy before they traveled to Houston.

"We weren't able to blow this one away, but that was big. It was a really good start by Jonny,'' said Varitek, who hit two home runs."