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ATL@BOS: Lester induces double play to end threat

It's been a difficult season for Jon Lester -- the Red Sox starter has admitted as much. He takes the mound Wednesday opposite Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero, who has an almost identical stats line but much more success in the win column.

Both lefties, Lester has thrown 95 1/3 innings while Romero has tossed 94 1/3. Lester has allowed 129 hits and walks combined; Romero has given up 128. Lester owns a 4.48 ERA against Romero's 4.34 ERA. And their strikeout totals are separated by six.

However, there's a big discrepancy in their records. Romero is 8-1 this year, whereas Lester is 4-5. The Red Sox are second in the Majors in runs scored, but the support seems to be lacking with their ace on the mound.

In the 28-year-old's last outing, he held the Braves to three runs in seven innings Friday, but the Red Sox lost, 4-1. Lester also allowed 10 hits.

"I'm making good pitches, and they're getting hit," Lester said. "I don't know what else to do. The process is there. I'm still not getting results."

Romero, on the other hand, is getting the results. Despite just one quality start in his last six outings, he is 3-0. He also hasn't lost since May 13 against the Twins.

In his last start, Romero allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks against the Marlins, but his offense backed him with 12 runs.

"I've been lucky -- the hitters have done their part every time I've pitched, it seems like," Romero said after the game. "They bailed me out of some tough games where I've left the game losing, and it's just the way baseball is."

Red Sox: Buchholz diagnosed with esophagitis
• It was revealed Tuesday that Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz has esophagitis. "Clay Buchholz has esophagitis, which led to an erosion of the esophagus and an associated gastrointestinal bleed," the club said in a statement. "He has been evaluated and observed at Mass General Hopsital. Clay is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery." Buchholz was out of the hospital and back in the clubhouse early on Wednesday.

• Jacoby Ellsbury could begin a Minor League rehab assignment as soon as Friday with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. He would join fellow injured outfielder Carl Crawford. "I'm cautious, but I think it's great that we've gotten him to the point where he's back on the field," manager Bobby Valentine said. "That means you start looking forward to the time he's on the field here."

• Lester is 10-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 19 career starts against the Blue Jays. He has also held Toronto hitters to a .191 batting average against him.

Blue Jays: Top prospect d'Arnaud sidelined
• The Blue Jays announced Tuesday that Triple-A Las Vegas catcher Travis d'Arnaud, ranked the team's top prospect by MLB.com, is expected to miss six to eight weeks after tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. "At this point everybody, everybody being Dr. [Steve] Mirabello and Dr. [Bernard] Ong, who examined him in Las Vegas, [said] it is non-surgical rehab," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.

• Henderson Alvarez was removed from Monday night's start against Boston with soreness in his right elbow. However, he is expected to make his next start.

• Romero hasn't found much success facing Boston in his career. He's 5-6 in 14 starts with a 6.45 ERA and a .308 opponents' batting average. He is 3-3 with a 5.85 ERA in seven starts at Fenway Park.

Worth noting
• The Red Sox have won eight of their past 10 games and with a 5-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday, matched their season-high of four games above .500.

• Toronto has won six of their past 10 games.

• Jose Bautista is 8-for-42 in his career against Lester with a double, three home runs and six RBIs.

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