28-19: Lester tosses no hitter against the Royals

Clay Buchholz got his last year, and now Jon Lester (3-2) has his. The 24-year old lefty collared the Kansas City Royals for 8 innings, earning the complete game shutout and no-hitter. I think it’s now safe to say that he’s made a full recovery from his lymphoma. He had to use 130 pitches, which is not ideal, but he threw a lot of strikes tonight, walking only two and striking out nine Royals. They really need to figure him out; Lester threw most of a one-hitter against Kansas last July. For a lefty to throw a no-hitter in Fenway is even more impressive, as much as righties like to use the Monster to play wall ball with relatively medium-distance fly balls. A wind blowing in from the outfield likely helped tonight, but it’s still a great, great moment for the young pitcher.

27-19: Sox sweep Milwaukee at home

The Red Sox swept the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend in a three game series, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Seems like it’s feast or famine with this 2008 team, as they go on winning streaks directly after losing streaks. Ah, gotta love that inter-league play, right? Sox fans have been treated to a record the past three years against the NL, and 2008 doesn’t look to be too much different. It was good to have Terry Francona back in the dugout; he inspires so much confidence just by his presence there.