Major League Baseball

Red Sox name Lester Opening Day starter

Published Mar. 16, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Left-hander Jon Lester will get his first opening day start when the Boston Red Sox play at Texas on April 1.

Manager Terry Francona made the announcement Wednesday before Lester pitched against the Atlanta Braves in his third Grapefruit League start.

Lester was 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 208 innings last year.

Manager Terry Francona said he thinks the 27-year-old Lester is at that point in his career with the Red Sox where ''other teams probably look at him as No. 1.''

Lester has a 61-25 career record and 3.55 ERA. He was 16-6 in 2008 and 15-8 in 2009.

Right-hander Josh Beckett started the past two openers for the Red Sox.

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