(5-19-08)

Lester throws first no-hitter of the season

BOSTON (AP) - Boston Red Sox lefty Jon Lester has thrown the
first no-hitter in the majors this season, doing it in tonight's
7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Lester struck out nine and
walked just two in the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history.
Jacoby Ellsbury helped preserve the no-hitter with a diving
catch in the outfield to end the fourth inning.
Lester walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth before Tony Pena
Junior ground to third for the first out of the inning. David
DeJesus grounded out to first before Alberto Callaspo (ky-AS'-poh)
struck out to end the game.
Lester had never thrown a major league complete game before. It
comes less than two years after he was diagnosed with anaplastic
large cell lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymph system.
Boston's previous no-hitter was only 8 1-2 months ago, when Clay
Buchholz did it in a 10-0 rout of Baltimore last September 1st at
Fenway Park. The Royals have been no-hit just one other time, by
Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan on May 15th, 1973.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)