"Jon Lester was waiting for the red-hot Red Sox offense to kick in.

He'd given up four runs in three innings, three on solo home runs, but the Sox weren't out of last night's game. An early two-run deficit? They had come back from worse during their recent hot streak.

"Obviously, with the way we've been swinging the bat lately, I thought for sure if I just kept them where they were at, we'd have a chance,'' Lester said after the 4-2 loss to the Brewers."