Another "Historic Night" at Fenway - Jenn

You may ask why I'm using quotes in my title today. It's because that's how Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy started to refer to last night's game in about the 7th inning.

See, the NESN commentators refuse to call a game a no-hitter until the last pitch has been thrown. They did it last year when Buchholz threw his gem and they did it again last night. As the game goes on, Don and Rem Dawg will start to comment on the crowd, the tension, the fact that no one is sitting anywhere near the pitcher in the dugout... they'll make every implication possible but they will never ever call the game exactly what it is. Fans know what they're implying, but the idea of calling a game a no-hitter before it's over is like putting an automatic jinx on the pitcher and the game. And while Don and Remy didn't jinx last night's game, they did come pretty close.

Before the 9th inning started, they flashed back to last year's "historic night" that Buchholz threw against the Orioles. It was cool, but uncomfortable at the same time. I was watching that flashback thinking, "what are you doing? It's the top of the 9th. The game ain't over yet." See, Lester still has three batters to face. And these are the Red Sox. If it can go wrong, it will. And surprise, surprise, Lester walked the first batter he faced in the 9th. After retiring the last 18. Here we go, I thought. But luckily that walk didn't amount to anything. The next three batters ground out to Lowell, ground out to Youkilis and struck out. How fitting that the final out was a K, Lester's ninth of the night. That's not only a season high for the lefty, but a career high as well.


Another history was made last night. Varitek was behind the plate. And the lefty's no-no made Varitek the only catcher in major league history to catch four no-hitters. Varitek's first came in 2001 when he was catching Hideo Nomo. The second came one year later while catching Derek Lowe. He'd have to wait five years for his third, which came last year with Buchholz and then last night was the fourth.

While Lester makes the 18th time the Red Sox have pitched no-hitters, he's only the fifth south-paw in the team's history to pitch a no-hitter. The last one was July 14, 1956 when Mel Parnell beat Chicago.

Last night's "historic night" had a lot of great moments from Ellsbury's web gemming catch in the 4th to Varitek handing over the game winning ball to Lester. But for me, the best moment of the night had to be when Francona hugged Lester after the win. The pride on the manager's face was overwhelming. He's seen this kid go through so much, Francona said he felt just like a proud parent. Which makes sense since Lester said Francona's been like a second father to him. That moment, along with all the others, make the long road back all worth it.