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Celtics honor Jon Lester

BOSTON -- All season long the Celtics have honored local community heroes with a program it calls "Heros Among Us." These people have "an overwhelming impact on those around us."

Sunday night's honoree at Game Two of the NBA Finals is Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. He overcame six rounds of chemotherapy in his bout with cancer to not only return to the mound, but throw a no-hotter earlier this season. Lester was given a standing ovation by the appreciative Celtics' crowd.

Teammate Curt Schilling and his family cheered Lester on from the best seats in the house . . . right next to the Laker bench.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Art Martone  at 10:29 PM | Permalink

Pregame Notes, June 8

-- Jacoby Ellsbury, who strained his right wrist Thursday night, is going to take some batting practice today.

If all goes well, it's possible he could return to the lineup on Tuesday night.

Terry Francona said that Ellsbury underwent a few tests on Saturday, and one of them showed that the strength he has in his right wrist is only slightly less than the strength in his left wrist, which is a good sign, said the manager.

Ellsbury gingerly fielded some short grounders being hit by coach DeMarlo Hale during batting practice.

-- Manny Ramirez still is experiencing soreness in his right knee/hamstring so he isn't ready to return to left field. Francona said when Ramirez tells him he's healthy enough to play the outfield, he'll put him out there. In the meantime, with the DH spot open because David Ortiz (wrist) is on the DL, Ramirez still can help the team with his bat.

Francona said he is hoping Ramirez will be able to play the outfield at the very latest by the end of next week when the Red Sox visit a couple of National League parks, where the DH is not used. Boston will play three games in Cincinnati this coming weekend and then will move to Philadelphia for a three-game series.

-- The starting pitchers are taking batting practice this morning in preparation for the N.L. games on the road. Bartolo Colon, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett took their hacks. Justin Masterson is not hitting this morning because he is starting today's game. Today marked the third day in a row the pitchers have hit.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:52 AM | Permalink

Starting Lineups, June 8

RED SOX

Lugo ss
Pedroia 2b
Drew rf
Ramirez dh
Lowell 3b
Youkilis 1b
Varitek c
Crisp cf
Moss lf

Masterson p

MARINERS

Ichiro cf
Lopez dh
Ibanez lf
Beltre 3b
Reed rf
Sexson 1b
Betancourt ss
Burke c
Bloomquist 2b

Bedard p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:50 AM | Permalink