"How long before Jon Lester has absolutely no recollection of last night's start in Pittsburgh? Three months? Six months? A year?

It was that kind of night for the Red Sox ace, who was certainly good enough to win but not great in a 3-1 loss to the Pirates.

"I kept the ball down," Lester said. "Other than two hits tonight, everything else was not squared up. I'll take my chances with that every time."

Lester went six innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs. He walked one, struck out five and threw 107 pitches.

The one walk was a bit of a killer, since it came against pitcher Paul Maholm during Pittsburgh's two-run third. The frame started with a Ronny Cedeno bunt single in front of the plate and a Michael McKenry double to right before he walked Maholm to load the bases.

"That didn't change anything," Lester said. "We had a base open. Obviously with the pitcher you're not trying to walk him, but I'm just trying to make him hit my pitch."

The Pirates pushed a run across when Jose Tabata hit one off the third base bag, just out of the reach of a diving Kevin Youkilis, who kept the ball in the infield while a run scored.

Chase d'Arnaud grounded into what would have been an inning-ending double play if Lester had retired Maholm, but instead plated another run."