A ballpark that has been known to bring left-handers to their knees brought out the very best in Joe Saunders, who stood tall in Sunday's 3-1 decision over the Red Sox.

Ignoring the perils of the Green Monster and other Fenway Park features favoring hitters, Saunders shut down a Red Sox attack that had produced 23 runs in three previous games.

Justin Speier and Francisco Rodriguez provided vital relief, but this was Saunders' game, his challenge -- and he delivered just as handsomely as Ervin Santana had in the second game of Friday's day-night doubleheader.

Manager Mike Scioscia suddenly is feeling much better about the back of his rotation with the stretch run on the horizon.

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