A POWERFUL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

May 24, 2007 ... No game scheduled ... Jon Lester took another significant step toward a return to Boston, allowing just one run on five hits in five innings in Pawtucket last night.  Lester retired the first 11 batters of the game and left with the score tied at 1. He walked one and struck out one while throwing 65 pitches, 39 for strikes. The PawSox defeated Ottawa, 3-2.

It was Lester's second start in a second 30-day rehab assignment. The Sox have the option of recalling him at any time in that period, but are expected to use the full 30 days to let him build arm strength. The team's intention at the end of his last rehab stint, before he sustained cramping in his forearm, was to option him to Pawtucket. In four starts for Pawtucket, two in each rehab assignment, Lester has a 1.62 ERA, having allowed just three earned runs in 16 2/3 innings.

First baseman Kevin Youkilis goes into Texas with a career-best 16-game hitting streak, the second-longest active streak in the majors behind Derek Jeter's 18-game streak. Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners also has a 16-game hitting streak. Youkilis is ranked fourth in the American League in hitting with a .347 average, behind two Yankees, Jorge Posada and Jeter, who are tied for the league lead at .367, and Detroit's Magglio Ordonez (.361). Youkilis has hit in 19 of 20 games he has played this month, the only exception being an 0 for 4 in Minnesota May 4.  During his streak, Youkilis is batting .443 (31 for 70), with 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 13 runs, and 16 RBIs.