Jon Lester, who battled back from cancer last year, celebrates his no-hitter Monday night at Boston's Fenway Park. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester tossed his first career no-hitter Monday night at Fenway Park, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in a 7-0 Boston win.
Lester's no-hitter comes less than nine months after fellow Red Sox hurler Clay Buchholz accomplished the feat in just his second big-league start in a 10-0 rout of Baltimore at Fenway.
"Really, words can't describe it right now," said Lester, who joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to no-hit the Royals.
Lester, a 24-year-old lefty who battled back from cancer to pitch the clincher of Boston's 2007 World Series victory, struck out nine batters Monday while walking two — Billy Butler in the second inning and Esteban German to open the ninth.
The next Kansas City batter, Tony Pena Jr., grounded out to third before David DeJesus bounced to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Lester then fanned defensive replacement Alberto Callaspo with his 130th pitch to complete the no-hitter.
Lester (3-2) pumped both fists in the air after Callaspo reached for a high and outside 1-2 fastball. The pitcher jumped into catcher Jason Varitek's arms before they were both mobbed by teammates running out of the dugout.
Lester and manager Terry Francona then met for a long, hard embrace before the pitcher tipped his cap to the cheering Fenway fans.
"He just said he was proud of me," Lester said. "I've been through a lot the last couple of years. He's been like a second dad to me. It was just a special moment right there."
As in most no-hitters, Lester's teammates made some sparkling defensive plays behind him. Centre-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury made a diving catch on Jose Guillen's line drive to end the fourth, and Youkilis made a nice scoop on shortstop Julio Lugo's throw after DeJesus hit a grounder in the third.
Royals starter Luke Hochevar (3-3) allowed seven runs on five hits and six walks in six innings.
Boston hit it big in the third inning, racking up five runs. Varitek supplied the rest of the scoring with a two-run homer to right in the sixth.
With files from the Associated Press
