(AP) -- JUPITER, Fla.- Jon Lester pitched two scoreless innings in his first start of spring training, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
Lester retired all six batters he faced, striking out one.
He needed 24 pitches - 17 strikes - to get through the two innings, six in the second inning.
All but one of Lester's pitches were fastballs.
Rafael Furcal was the designated hitter for St. Louis.
He went 0 for 2 as he is working to return from a strained ligament in his throwing elbow that cut short his season.
He recently received a cortisone shot in that elbow to help with a painful bone spur.
Daniel Descalso homered to right in the fifth inning for the Cardinals.
(Copyright ©2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)