MLB. In a season where many great expectations have been heaped on 24-year-old Jon Lester, the young southpaw delivered on all of them and then some last night.
o-hits Royals
en Lester heroically defeat cancer, and then stand gloriously victorious on Coors Field after earning the decisive Game Four win in last season’s World Series Championship.

Boston, MA (AHN) - Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester pitched the first no-hitter in the majors this season when he demolished the Kansas City Royals 7-0 Monday night at Fenway Park.
Lester didn't allow a base hit in nine superb innings, walking two and striking out nine including defensive replacement Alberto Callaspo in the ninth to seal his victory. With flashbulbs popping from the crowd, the 24-year-old southpaw whiffed Callaspo to end the inning and the game, sending the Red Sox to a frenzied celebration on the field.
hit from David DeJesus, thanks also to a perfect throw from shortstop Julio Lugo.

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com BOSTON - David DeJesus, the first batter that Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester faced on Monday night, thought he'd started the game with a hit.
Honest. DeJesus whacked a fly ball to left field and thought that it would be a double off the Green Monster.
in. Grudzielank was pulled after striking out twice and tapping back to the mound.

By Jeff Horrigan The remarkable life of Jon Lester [stats] might have reached an apex last night at Fenway Park [map], where the former cancer patient

By MIKE LIPKA The last time a pitcher made his second major league start for the Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz pitched a no-hitter last September.

BOSTON - There are not many places in the world that are quieter than the losing clubhouse after a no-hitter. Everyone speaks in whispers. Televisions are dark. The stereo is mute. Kansas City’s Billy Butler, the 22-year-old kid from Florida who loves nothing more than talking and swinging bats at incoming fastballs, shakes his head.

“He didn’t make any mistakes,” he murmurs.

And to the next question: “He didn’t make any mistakes,” he murmurs again.

He is Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox, who on a cold and windy Monday night against the Royals became the first left-hander in more than 50 years to throw a no-hitter

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Left-hander Jon Lester pitched the 18th - hitter in Red Sox history, as Boston beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-0.
Lester (3-2), a cancer survivor, struck out nine and issued only two walks - in the second inning to Billy Butler and in the ninth to Esteban German.
he first Red Sox lefty to toss a no-hitter since Mel Parnell against the White Sox on July 14, 1956.

It was the top of the fourth inning, and Jon Lester was pitching to Kansas City designated hitter Jose Guillen with two outs.
Guillen hit a ball to center field that was dropping fast and appeared destined to be a base hit - but speedy Jacoby Ellsbury raced in and made a diving catch that ended the inning. It was a terrific play, but Ellsbury wouldn't realize just how important it was until Lester struck out Alberto Callaspo to end the ninth and complete his no-hitter Monday night at Fenway Park.
alized he had a no-hitter going," said Ellsbury. "I was just thinking, 'Go get it.' J.D. [Drew], I knew he was backing me up there, so in that situation, I can lay out and go for it, knowing he's going to back me up.

BY PAUL KENYON The Red Sox’ Jon Lester is about to jump into the waiting arms of catcher Jason Varitek after the final out of last night’s no-hitter against

So, first off - Jon Lester was one of my preseason buys, along with Troy Percival. This is turning out ok.
I almost missed Jon Lester's no-hitter. There I was with my softball team, relishing another victory, not really paying attention to much, largely due to some slightly inconvenient tv locations. The meal and beers were seemingly at an end when my buddy Derek piped up:
ne last year on what he said was the only time he shook Varitek off).

Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox became the second player in baseball history to catch 4 no-hitters tonight as Jon Lester threw a no-no against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park.
Hall of Famer Ray Schalk caught 4 for the White Sox in the 1910s and 20s. Yogi Berra and sever al others had caught three.

BOSTON (AP) - Jon Lester can now add pitching a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments. The 24-year-old lefty, who survived cancer to pitch the World Series clincher for the Boston Red Sox last fall, shut down Kansas City 7-0 Monday night for the first no-hitter in the majors this season.
"Really, words can't describe it right now," Lester said.
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."

by Molly Gray - The Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0 Monday night as 24-year-old left hander Jon Lester threw his first no-hitter.
Lester walked two and struck out nine.
006 with blood cancer and has now crowned his triumphant return to major league baseball.

By Ian Browne / MLB.com BOSTON -- There was never a question about Jon Lester's poise or his promising arsenal of pitches. It's just that he never put it

BOSTON - MAY 19: Jon Lester #31 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after throwing a no hitter against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on May 19, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Story Created: May 19, 2008 at 9:12 PM CDT
ox history.

BOSTON - Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who a year ago was making a comeback from cancer, pitched a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals Monday night.
Game Photos
lly between me and Terry. After everything Ive been through, hes been like a second dad to me. He cares a lot about his players," Lester said.

2. Joe Kerrigan will be filing Neglect charges against the Red Sox for allowing Jon Lester to go over 86.7 pitches
3. Red Sox last four no hitters:
f 1,247 on the same day Pinky Higgins was fired (mlb.com)

(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox take aim at a seventh consecutive victory at Fenway Park when the defending world champions entertain the improving

It only took one weekend series for the Boston Red Sox to end their struggles. They also hope it helps them start building momentum this week.

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com MIAMI - For the Royals and Luke Hochevar, it's on to Boston and Fenway Park, where Kansas City will open a three-game series on Monday. That's where the rookie will pitch for the first time in his brief career, and he's excited about it.
"No doubt it -- playing in historic ballparks is something that you grew up dreaming about and I'm looking forward to playing in [Fenway]," Hochevar said.
h start since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on April 20. In all but his first outing, Hochevar has pitched six or seven solid innings. With an effective sinker, he's been good at inducing ground balls, getting eight outs that way against the Tigers along with five strikeouts.

By GARRY BROWN As scouts and cross-checkers prepare for Major League Baseball's draft, scheduled for June 5-6, they all have the same goal: Don't make a