BOSTON - We are seeing the emergence of Jon Lester as a great pitcher.

Last night was just the latest example.

The stats say he went seven shutout innings, only giving up four hits. The stats say he threw 109 pitches, had four strikeouts and only walked two.

The stats say he had a great game.

The stats say that he did not allow an earned run in 14 innings in this series, the most innings for a pitcher in any Division Series.

The stats only tell part of the story.

They don't tell how he came out and put his stamp all over the Angels, how he pitched his second great game in this series. The stats don't tell how he silenced the Angels all night long, and that in a more just baseball world he would have had the win.

The stats only tell part of the story.

``I thought Jon Lester was tremendous,'' Terry Francona said. ``He was strong with his pitches. He was poised. He attacked the strike zone. The ballclub we just played is some kind of ballclub. I mean, we had our hands full. We needed to have a strong starting performance, and he gave us all of that.''

There was some second-guessing of decision to end Lester's night after the seventh inning, even though he was cruising along and seemed in total control.

``When the inning was over, in my mind, he was going back out at least for two or three more hitters 'til we could get back to the right-handers,'' Francona said. ``But if you watch his reaction after the last out, in his mind he thought that was his last hitter.''

Lester praised Jason Varitek, saying how the veteran catcher guided him through everything.

``I think I could have gone back out there,'' he said, ``but they made the call.''

He paused a bit, and when he spoke again, it was about the upcoming series with the Rays.

``I feel good,'' he said. ``My mind-set is good. My focus is good.''

Who can argue?