John Lester was dominant once again last night as he no hit the Royals here at fenway . He was sterling vs. the Blue Jay’s in his one hitter last month .
Well last night he outdid himself, as he dominated the Royals enroute to his first career no hitter , that’s right he went nine complete and struck out nine , as he walked just 2 and no hit the Royals as the sox won 7-0 , Lester was untouchable and after throwing over 126 pitches was still hitting +94 on the gun, his final pitch was his hardest of the night at 96
And this wasn’t even the biggest victory of his young life. Only 24 years old he’s had his share of adversity, and has learned to fight through it and persevere. Diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma in 2006 , he beat it into remission , then he came back to start over and regain the strength he lost at the hands of his illness, last year at this time he was toiling in triple A, working his way back to Boston. He made it all the way back and now is on top of his game !
The red sox offense did its part , as they put up seven unanswered runs on five hits, including a 2 run homer by Jason Varitek , but on this night Lester was the story, after beating cancer and clinching the world series for the sox last year, this was the next logical step for the young man who does not know the word quit . Lester turned the royals bats into fly swatters as he confused and befuddled them into submission.
Although Lester was spot on , one thing that should not be overlooked is the influence of his battery mate Red sox captain Jason Varitek, Tek set the major league record for no hitters caught last night, he has four and it could have been five had Curt Schilling not waved him off in his one hitter last year, the runner up to Tek in no hitters caught is Alan Ashby who had three and caught for Houston in the 1980’s , his battery mate ? A guy named Nolan Ryan,. In my opinion no one handles a pitching staff better than Tek!!
Darkhalf~RSM~
minister of Red Sox Faith
