May 20, 2008 - 12:08 AM
5 shoutsBy Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
BOSTON (Ticker) - Jon Lester became the first pitcher this season to throw a no-hitter on Monday.
Jacoby Ellsbury tripled and scored in a five-run third inning and saved the no-hitter with a spectacular diving grab as the Boston Red Sox posted a 7-0 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Fenway Park.
A cancer survivor, Lester (3-2) allowed just two baserunners - a walk to Billy Butler in the second inning and Esteban German in the ninth - as he threw Boston's fourth no-hitter since 2001, joining Hideo Nomo (2001), Derek Lowe (2002) and Clay Buchholz (2007).
"It was tough," Lester said of his journey back from cancer to Monday's no-hitter. "It was a long road back. When I did get back, I wanted to be at a certain level and I wasn't at that level and it took a while. It was tough mentally and tough physically to go out and pitch every five days. It was a long road.
"I'm just glad that I'm here at this moment right now - and in five days, I'll go and pitch again."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona made it back from his son's graduation at the University of Pennsylvania in time to manage the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history.
"This probably isn't fair to say but I feel like my son graduated today and my (other) son threw a no-hitter. It couldn't have happened to a better kid."
Francona and pitching coach John Farrell allowed Lester to throw 130 pitches to get into the record books.
"I looked up in the ninth and you're trying to keep your emotions in check, and I went to say something to John Farrell and he was being a big baby next to me," Francona said. "It made me feel a little bit better."
In addition, Jason Varitek set a major league record by catching his fourth no-hitter.
"This was a weird one," Varitek said. "I didn't really know he had a no-hitter until the eighth. I looked up in the seventh and saw that he was around 100 pitches and he did his job. I glanced in the bullpen and saw nobody warming up and thought that was weird."
As for Lester, he capped off the night by recording his ninth strikeout by tossing a fastball by Alberto Callaspo struck out swinging.
"It really hasn't sunk in," Lester said. "Right now, it feels like I pitched and we won the game. I think it's the World Series. It takes a while for this to set in and give you time to reflect on it. I guess it's one of those things you get to enjoy later."
Immediately after the game, Francona embraced Lester - a gesture that meant a great deal to the young pitcher.
"He just said he's proud of me and that we've been through a lot these past couple years ... it's a special moment right there," Lester said.
The 24-year-old lefthander walked two in crafting the third no-no at Fenway in the last seven seasons. With one out in the fourth, the Royals made their strongest bid for a hit.
Jose Guillen drove a sinking liner to right-center. Ellsbury dove head-first and made a backhanded stab just before the ball hit the turf.
"After the catch, actually I realized he had a no-hitter going," Ellsbury said. "It was nice having that (five-run) cushion, knowing if there's anything around, you could lay out. I knew I could go for it and looking back on it, I'm really glad I made that catch."
The Royals managed to get only one runner in scoring position and couldn't take advantage of Lester's high pitch count.
"He threw a no-hitter, nothing more I can say," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "I'd like to see us make better adjustments than that. But after the second inning, third through the ninth, he had command of all his pitches and they had a good game plan.
"They made us chase and we chased too much and they got us behind in the count," Hillman added. "When you get behind in the count in a situation like that, and a guy has that much going, it makes it all the more difficult."
Luke Hochevar (3-3) also started out strong for the Royals, not allowing a hit until J.D. Drew opened the third with a single to right. Varitek followed with a hit-and-run single to left, putting Drew at third with none out.
The Royals caught a break when Julio Lugo grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Drew with the first run. But Ellsbury tripled to center to ignite the rally.
Three straight walks to Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez put Boston ahead, 2-0. Hochevar appeared to get out of further trouble when Mike Lowell skied a pop-up behind the pitcher's mound.
Mark Grudzielanek was fooled by the 17 mile-per-hour winds blowing out to right and had the ball glance off his glove for a two-run error.
Kevin Youkilis capped off the rally with a double to right-center.
From the Bleachers
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Royals 0, Red Sox 7 Final
SuketoKetchi
What a great story John Lester is, I can think of nobody more deserving.
May 19 9:56 PM -
Royals 0, Red Sox 7 Final
bones
awesome! Thanks ruwtbot! (Didn't want to post earlier for fear of jinxing Lester)
May 19 9:46 PM -
Royals 0, Red Sox 7 Final
Scott
Thanks Mark. Without RUWT? I would never have been aware of this. Congrats John Lester, beats cancer and now a no-hitter. Sweet !
May 19 9:46 PM -
KANSAS CITY: 0
BOSTON: 7
Final
May 19 9:36 PM -
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AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JASON VARITEK (5) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 6TH OFF LUKE HOCHEVAR SCORED J.D. DREW.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0, BOSTON 7
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.282, 0-FOR-2)
May 19 8:54 PM -
AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY KEVIN YOUKILIS SCORED MANNY RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, K YOUKILIS ON SECOND, M LOWELL ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
BOSTON 5 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.287, 1-FOR-1)
May 19 8:11 PM -
AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY MARK GRUDZIELANEK ALLOWED DUSTIN PEDROIA AND DAVID
ORTIZ TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, M LOWELL ON FIRST, M RAMIREZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
BOSTON 4 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.327, 0-FOR-1)
May 19 8:10 PM -
AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO MANNY RAMIREZ SCORED JACOBY ELLSBURY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M RAMIREZ ON FIRST, D ORTIZ ON SECOND, D
PEDROIA ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
BOSTON 2 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.280, 0-FOR-0, BB)
May 19 8:08 PM -
AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
JULIO LUGO HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING J.D. DREW.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J ELLSBURY (.273, 0-FOR-1)
May 19 7:53 PM
