A True Inspiration!--Peter

Well, the story from here is a bit different than the norm. Yes, the Sox won for the fourth time in a row, expanding their lead by a half game over the rest of the AL East in the process. But, for once, the victory is incidental. Two seasons ago one of the Sox young pitchers, someone who everyone thought was a 'star of the future' got lit up by something other than the opposing team's lumber. He found himself staring down a much more sinister opponent with the count already at 3-0. The opponent he was facing was CANCER--The Big C. But he fought it down just like it was another tough hitter sitting on a hanging curve. He showed his first K against the C by coming back last year and being the winning hurler in the fourth and final game in the World Series. Then came tonight. So far this season, Lester's had mixed results. His record was 2-2 entering the game, with an ERA in the high 3's. Good, but could things get better?

Could they EVER! Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter! Giving up only two walks and his own error, he basically waltzed through the Royals' lineup. Only one ball was hit well enough to be a threat to the no-no. Ellsbury made sure that wouldn't break up the no-no with a sterling diving catch in the fourth. Everything else seemed to be easy for Jon. He got 9 K's for the night, as well. This is the second no-no from one of the Sox' young 'stars of the future' in 8 months. But tonight was so much more! This is what the folks mean when they say someone gave an inspiring performance. It shows that no matter how bad things appear to be, there's always hope. In case there was any doubt, Lester's back--ALL THE WAY! Congrats, Jon!

From a personal point of view, it's kind of funny. While no-hitters aren't as scarce as hen's teeth, they are still rare enough that the ball is shipped to Cooperstown, even if the pitcher never wins another game in the Bigs. Yet for all the itme I've been following the Sox, prior to last year's gem by Buchholz, I'd never seen a no-hitter, either in person, on the tube or on the computer where I usually 'watch' the games nowadays. Now in just over eight months, I've 'seen' two of them--and I'm more than ready for a third--maybe a perfect game this time.

As for the rest of the game, the Sox bats weren't exactly exploding, but they got timely hits when the opportunity to score presented itself. Though only getting five hits total, three were for extra bases, including a homer by Tek and a triple by Ellsbury--to go with his pair of stolen bases.