Lester struggling

BALTIMORE - Jon Lester hasn't been very good since throwing his 7-0 no-hitter against the Royals May 19. He allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) in a 6-3 loss to Oakland in his last start and last night trailed, 2-0, in the second inning.

Lester retired the side in the first, but got himself in trouble with a walk of Kevin Millar in the second. A passed ball by Jason Varitek (which easily could have been scored a wild pitch) advanced the runner. After a strikeout of Aubrey Huff, Ramon Hernandez singled to left and Jay Payton knocked in the first run with a broken-bat infield single. That was followed by Adam Jones's single up the middle, scoring the second run.

Lester got out of further harm when he threw a 5-3 double-play grounder to Alex Cintron, who is playing shortstop tonight.