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Lester: ''As far as I know, I’m throwing Friday."

BY DAN HICKLING
Special to the Journal

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Jon Lester has taken some impressive and important steps on his road back from cancer and to the Boston Red Sox.

However, the next one, the biggest one yet, will have to wait a few days.

Lester had been scheduled to make the first of two rehab starts with the Pawtucket Red Sox, this afternoon against the Rochester Red Wings. Instead, the prized young left-handed starter was forced to put those plans on hold, as rains washed out the contest before it ever got underway.

The game will be made up on July 6, as part of a doubleheader (first pitch 6:05 p.m.), during Pawtucket’s next visit to Frontier Field.

As for Lester, it is expected, but had yet to be decided, that he’ll make his next start on Friday against Buffalo, when the PawSox begin an eight-game stand at McCoy Stadium.

“Jonny’s program is set through our major-league people,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “But my guess would be for sure. I would think that that would happen, but I’m still waiting for a call from Mike Hazen (Boston’s director of player development).”

Lester, who had pitched effectively in three previous rehab starts with Class A Greenville, was non-plussed by the waylaying of his pitching plans.

“As far as I know, I’m throwing Friday,” he said. “That’s all I know. (From there) I’ll play it by ear.”

Lester, who received treatment after being diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma last August, was pronounced by his doctors to be cancer free in December. Since then, he’s undergone a series of checkups every three months, with the next one of those scheduled for today in Boston.

So far, all signs have been glowingly optimistic.

“I’m just trying to make it through the first year,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”

Lester’s progress on the mound has been just as heartening. He gave up just three earned runs in 13.0 innings with Greenville, and came away from those starts feeling very satisfied.

“The best thing was just getting that consistency back,” he said. “Getting to face hitters, and throw, and to feel stronger and better. Try to get built back up to where (I) need to be.”

If Lester doesn’t pitch tomorrow, RHP David Pauley (0-0, 1.00) will get the start against Buffalo LHP Rafael Perez (1-1, 2.87).

Posted by Art Martone  at 2:18 PM | Permalink