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BY KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald 10/13/2008

BOSTON -- Left-hander Jon Lester played down his importance on the eve of Game 3 in the American League Championship Series today.

Lester starts this afternoon's 4:37 game. And while Boston and Tampa Bay are tied 1-1 in this best-of-seven series, it is darn near a must win for the Red Sox.

"I don't see the sense of urgency right now," he argued.

Oh Jon, we beg to differ. All it takes is a little deductive reasoning. Let's go over some facts:

A. Without Josh Beckett dominating the 2007 postseason, Boston would not reach the World Series.

B. Josh Beckett is not dominating anyone right now.

C. Boston needs Jon Lester to be the new Josh Beckett, the ace for these 2008 playoffs.

A plus B equals C.

Then add one more factor: Aces are counted on to win their games. That makes today's game urgent.

If Tampa Bay beats the Red Sox and Lester today, then they can win the ALCS with two more wins. And in Boston's next three games, it will throw the unpredictable Tim Wakefield; the wild man himself, Daisuke Matsuzaka; and the man who keeps saying he's fine, Beckett.

None compare to Lester. He went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in the season. He carried a 2.01 ERA over his last six starts and, in his two divisional playoff games, Lester threw 14 scoreless innings, striking out 11 and walking three.

"Jon's been like this all year," Beckett said. "He's obviously on a different stage now. He's taken everything he did all year and rolled it into this last month."

With Beckett shrinking from the stage, it is Lester's time. He has gone from the skinny kid who pitched in Portland (2005) to the emotional pitcher making is major league debut and then battling cancer (2006), to winner of Game 4 in the 2007 World Series.

And now, with a fastball that touches the corners, a cut fastball that jams right-handers, and an improving off-speed stuff, Lester can take over a game * like an ace.

"You guys can put the labels on it any way you want," Lester told the media Sunday. "I don't worry about that stuff. I just try to pitch my game. "Hopefully, I can go deep in the game, give the bullpen a rest and give it to (closer Jonathan Papelbon)."

Lester's new-found specialty is going deep into a game. Walks and high pitch counts were once a worry. Now Lester is in control.

"Fastball command," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, when asked to describe Lester. "I thought, when I first saw him, whether it was last year or before, (he) really pulled off on a lot of pitches * up and away from a righty a lot."

And now?

"I really believe this guy knows how good he is," Maddon said. "He's got a good feel for what he's doing out there, and he's pitching with a lot of confidence."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona would agree: "His confidence has grown. He's got a delivery built for endurance. He's turned into a phenomenal Major League pitcher."

He's the ace. And Boston needs a win from him today.

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