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No-hit notes

Tidbits in the wake of Jon Lester's no-hitter . . .

No-hit flood
After going 35 1/2 years between no-hitters -- from Dave Morehead against the Indians at Fenway Park on Sept. 16, 1965, to Hideo Nomo against the Orioles in Baltimore on April 4, 2001 -- the Red Sox have now thrown four in the last eight seasons:

-- Nomo vs. the Orioles
-- Derek Lowe vs. the Devil Rays (and, yes, they were still devilish back then) at Fenway Park in a 10-0 win on April 27, 2002
-- Clay Buchholz vs. the Orioles at Fenway in a 10-0 win on Sept. 1, 2007
-- Jon Lester vs. the Royals at Fenway in a 7-0 win on May 19, 2008

Even more history
Jason Varitek was behind the plate for all four no-hitters and has tied Ray Schalk of the White Sox for most no-hitters caught by a catcher. Schalk -- one of the clean members of the Black Sox team that threw the 1919 World Series -- caught two in 1914 and one each in 1917 and 1922.

They're number one
The Red Sox now have 19 no-hitters in their history, the most of any American League franchise.

Same same
Both Buchholz and Lester closed out their no-hitters with strikeouts. Buchholz' was called, Lester's was swinging.

Game night
Get the box score here and the play-by-play here. (Both via Projo Stats)

Posted by Art Martone  at 10:31 PM | Permalink

Lester no-hitter photos

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:22 PM | Permalink

Lester does it

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Jon Lester deals in the first inning of his historic start tonight.

He did it!

Jon Lester has fired a no-hitter as the Red Sox have beaten Kansas City, 7-0, tonight at Fenway.

With the crowd of 37,746 roaring, Lester walked Esteban German to lead off the ninth. He retired Tony Pena on a high bouncer to third, with German moving to second. He went to 2-2 before getting Tony Pena on a grounder to first that Kevin Youkilis handled alone.

Lester got ahead of Alberto Callaspo with two quick strikes. He threw one ball, got a foul ball and then, on his 130th pitch of the night, fired a fastball. Callaspo swung and missed.

As so often happens with a no-hitter, the game included an outstanding defensive play to keep it going. This one was provided by Jacoby Ellsbury, who raced in and toward right, dove and caught a fly ball by Jose Guillen in the fourth.

Lester struck out nine, a season high.

It is the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history. Lester is the first lefty to get a no-hitter since Mel Parnell on July 14, 1956.

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 9:27 PM to Projo Sox Crawl | Permalink

Three outs away

Jon Lester has turned a cold night in May into the most exciting game of the Red Sox season thus far.

The lefty has a no-hitter through eight innings as the Red Sox lead Kansas City, 7 -0. Lester has allowed only one base runner, a walk to Billy Butler in the second. He has struck out a season high eight.

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 9:23 PM to Projo Sox Crawl | Permalink

Pregame Notes, May 19

-- Manager Terry Francona saw his son, Nick, graduate from the University of Pennsylvania this morning at Franklin Field. He made it back to Fenway Park around 3:30.

-- Clay Buchholz, on the disabled list because of a torn fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand, has been limited in what he has been able to do. The Sox want to make sure the nail heals before they will allow him to get serious about throwing.

-- Justin Masterson, scheduled to be called up from Portland to start tomorrow night's game against Kansas City, likely will watch tonight's game in his hotel room. Regulations prohibit him from being at the field until the day he is activated.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:33 PM | Permalink

Same Youkilis; More Power

Kevin Youkilis already has bashed nine homers this season, including seven in his last 13 games.

Youkilis, known for his patience at the plate and for seeing plenty of pitches per at-bat, has been more aggressive this season. It's not a case of Youkilis swinging for the fences, however, said manager Terry Francona.

"He has been consistent. He hasn't sold out his swing to hit home runs," said Francona. "When they make some mistakes he has hit home runs. But he's still getting hits to right field and right-center, trying to hit the ball the other way.

"He has come a long way, grown up a lot as a hitter and a player," added Francona. "He's a professional hitter. The first spring he didn't have many at-bats, but he pulled only one ball hard. Now if he sees a pitch he likes he has been aggressive. He's getting his pitch and whacking it."

Youkilis enters tonight's game second in the league in batting, at .329.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:26 PM | Permalink

Okajima Playing Catch

Hideki Okajima, who hasn't thrown since last Wednesday, when he surrendered a game-losing grand slam to the Orioles' Jay Payton, was given permission to play catch this afternoon.

Okajima was shut down after that outing in Baltimore, with the team saying the left-hander has been suffering from soreness in his left wrist.

He started off gingerly tossing from about 20 feet, but felt well enough to play catch from 60 or so feet, and he had some zip on his tosses. Manager Terry Francona said a bit earlier that if he does feel well after throwing, the Sox' staff would have to decide if, having not thrown in a game for four days, Okajima would be able to help them tonight in his normal late-inning set-up role.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:19 PM | Permalink

Starting Lineups, May 19

RED SOX

Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
Ortiz dh
Ramirez lf
Lowell 3b
Youkilis 1b
Drew rf
Varitek c
Lugo ss

Lester p

ROYALS

DeJesus cf
Grudzielanek 2b
Gordon 3b
Guillen dh
Butler 1b
Olivo c
Teahen rf
German lf
Pena ss

Hochevar p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:16 PM | Permalink

Sox Streakers for May 19

Streaks on the line tonight

-The Red Sox have won six straight at home.

-Kevin Youkilis has played a major-league record 224 consecutive games at first base without committing an error.

-David Aardsma has worked 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings.

-Kansas City's Joakim Soria is a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities, tying Al Hrabosky (in 1978) for the club record.

-Jose Guillen has hit in 10 consecutive games for Kansas City. During the streak, he is 19 for 38 (.500) with two home runs and 15 RBI.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:54 PM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink

Rosenthal: Teammates in awe of Manny's work ethic

Many people don't equate Manny Ramirez with hard work, but those people would not be teammates of the Red Sox' slugging left fielder. Ken Rosenthal had an interesting piece this weekend on the Fox Sports site that says Red Sox teammates are almost in awe of Ramirez's dedication and approach to hitting.

The story contains quotes from Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Mike Timlin, Kevin Youkilis, Alex Cora, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz and Sean Casey. All these guys praise Ramirez's seriousness of purpose. The story also includes a poll that seems pretty out of place: What do you think of Manny Ramirez? The choices: Knucklehead, too laid back, misunderstood, still not sure. I'd take "all-time great player," but it's not an option.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:30 PM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink | Comments 1

Player to Watch: Royals believe young closer is one to count on for years to come

MIAMI (AP) - The curve from Joakim Soria lacked its usual bite and stayed a little higher than he wanted, which is why it came to rest beyond the center-field wall.

Jeremy Hermida's two-run homer cut the Kansas City Royals' lead over Florida to 7-6. The runs were the first allowed by Soria this season.

"It was coming someday," the young closer said later Friday night. "Someday someone was going to hit me. It's OK. It's no big deal."

If Soria didn't sound flustered, he didn't pitch that way, either. He struck out the next two batters, both on curves, for his 11th save in as many chances.

The performance showed why the Royals want Soria to remain with them for years to come.

"He's very calm," Royals pitching coach Bob McClure said. "He doesn't panic. He's just an old-time baseball player playing a game. You feel confident that when he comes in, the game is going to be over."

Soria's hiccup sent his ERA skyrocketing to 1.04. The Royals weren't exactly alarmed - on Saturday they gave him an $8.75 million, three-year contract extension, a deal that includes three club options that could raise the value to at least $30.75 million.

Soria has come a long way from the winter league in his native Mexico, where he pitched after the 2006 season. At that point he had yet to climb above Class A.

"I don't want to think about that," Soria said with a smile. "That was a long time ago."
Actually, his emergence as one of the game's top relievers happened quickly, and before he turned 24 Sunday.

Acquired when the San Diego Padres left him unprotected in the 2006 winter meeting draft, Soria won a job last season in the Royals' bullpen and pitched so well closer Octavio Dotel became expendable. Soria went 17-for-21 in save chances and had an ERA of 2.48, third among major league rookies.

This year he has been even better. He began the week with 20 strikeouts while allowing only five hits and two walks in 17 1-3 innings. Opponents were batting .088 against the right-hander.

He threw 16 2-3 scoreless innings to start the season, one-third of an inning shy of the Royals record. His 11-for-11 start in saves matches Al Hrabosky's 1978 team record to begin a season.
The Royals have finished last in the AL Central the past four years, but they began this week within a game of .500 and in the thick of this year's race thanks in large part to the contribution of their closer.

"No matter how much I say, it's still going to understate it," manager Trey Hillman said. "I like the calmness with which he goes about his business. For the comfort level of the club, with our youth, I think it helps to have a guy who takes the mound in that situation be a calm guy, rather than a guy who has a lot of moving parts and 'Wild Thing' playing on the speaker system when he comes in."

At home Soria enters games to "Welcome to the Jungle." He grew a beard before this season but still looks boyish, especially when he smiles and flashes his braces.

But to hitters he's plenty intimidating, throwing four pitches with excellent command.

"The guy's amazing," teammate Jose Guillen said. "He's not going to blow you away with a 95-mph fastball, but he's a smart guy who knows what he's doing."

Soria's hero growing up was Greg Maddux, and like his idol, he gets hitters out by keeping them off balance and staying ahead in the count.

Soria throws a curve, slider, fastball and changeup - a large repertoire for a closer. He was a starter in the Mexican winter league and said he would be happy to join the Royals rotation.

"If the Royals need as a starter, I don't have any problem with that," he said. "I have fun being a closer, so maybe I would have fun being a starter, too."

His new contract was structured to account for such a change.

Soria, who's making $426,500 this season, will be paid $1 million in 2009, $3 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011. The club options are $6 million for 2012, $8 million for 2013 and $8.75 million for 2014, with a $750,000 buyout for each. "It's a big deal for me, for my career and my family," Soria said.

Starting or closing, the Royals figure he'll be worth it.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:29 PM | Permalink

Red Sox install solar heaters at Fenway

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox have installed solar water heaters at Fenway Park, as part of an effort to make the ballpark more environmentally friendly.

The Red Sox formally unveiled the rooftop system Monday. They say the heaters will generate enough heat to replace 37 percent of the gas traditionally used to heat water at Fenway Park.

The nonprofit Bonneville Environmental Foundation says the system will help avoid 18 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. That's the equivalent of planting 4.86 acres of trees or not driving a car for 43,611 miles.

The club is working on other "green" initiatives, including installing solar-powered trash compactors and collecting plastic soda and water bottles from fans during games.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:08 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: A sweep of Milwaukee

Click the play button below to hear Sean's comments, recorded this morning. Today's topics: the Red Sox' interleague dominance, Josh Beckett's recent problems, Manny Delcarmen's increased responsibilities in the bullpen, and the coming starts by Justin Masterson and Bartolo Colon.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:53 AM to Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Monday, May 19

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

STANDING TALL ONCE AGAIN: When last we spoke, the Red Sox had lost four in a row and fallen behind Tampa Bay into second place in the A.L. East. But then along came the Brewers . . . or, perhaps more to the point, along came interleague play. Sean McAdam tells us that's been a boon to Boston in recent years and this weekend was no different, as the poor Brew Crew soon discovered. The Sox beat them Saturday afternoon, they pretty much beat themselves Saturday night, and the Sox overpowered them yesterday. (All stories projo.com.) So now it's Monday morning, the four-game losing streak has turned into a three-game winning streak, and the Red Sox once again lead the division. Hate interleague play (which, I'm ashamed to admit, was our stance last Friday)? Forget that. We're counting the days until June 13, when it resumes.

PAPI KNOWS BEST: Yesterday's double-and-two-homers afternoon would seem to indicate that David Ortiz (above) is finally, definitively, back on the beam (as they might have said in the 1940s). Steven Krasner goes Inside The Game to examine Ortiz' at-bats yesterday, and Joe Haggerty talks with Red Sox hitting instructor Dave Magadan, who tells how Ortiz has worked his way out of his early season slump. (hackswithhaggs.com)

WELL, THAT EXPLAINS IT: We all know the Red Sox have won two World Series in the last four seasons and we all know the roles Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have played in hanging those two flags. Makes sense, then, that SI.com's Jon Heyman would rank the signings of Ortiz and Ramirez as two of the five greatest free-agent acquisitions of all time -- Ortiz at No. 1 and Ramirez No. 5. And how I wish I could somehow travel back in time and show the piece to all the folks back in December 2000 who thought the free agent the Sox should should have signed back then was not Ramirez, but Mike Mussina.

THE WAITING GAME: The Boston Globe's Gordon Edes points out that Ramirez has stalled -- at least in terms of hitting home runs -- as he approaches No. 500.

STRAIGHTENING IT OUT: Friday's rainout threw a monkey wrench in the Red Sox' pitching plans, and McAdam, Krasner and Paul Kenyon report the fallout: Justin Masterson starts Tuesday and Bartolo Colon starts Wednesday.

THE BAD NEWS: The weekend wasn't all peaches and cream. Jacoby Ellsbury was caught stealing for the first time in his major-league career. (Boston Globe)

WELCOME ALWAYS: Kenyon chronicles the return of old friend Gabe Kapler.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The Bleacher Bar inside Fenway Park, a year-round operation that you can enter on Ted Williams Way, opened Friday. Just don't drive your car there. (Both stories Boston Herald)

HERE THEY COME: MLB.com's Dick Kaegel takes a close-up look at the Royals, who'll be in town for the next four days.

UP IS DOWN, BLACK IS WHITE . . . and a journalist -- in this case, the St. Petersburg Times' Gary Shelton -- is actually writing that the Rays are better than the Yankees . . . a reasonable assertion, actually, if you look at the standings. (Projo Stats) Or is it? Bugs and Cranks says "it is way too soon for chest-thumping [and] gloating" and goes over Shelton's position-by-position comparison, agreeing with all the ones that favor the Yankees and disagreeing with several that favor the Rays. The Bronx Block puts it out there for its readers to discuss. But the Red Sox-oriented blog Wicked Clevah is, in its own words, terrified of Tampa.

PROOF POSITIVE: Shelton's argument -- while not necessarily advanced by the Rays' 5-4 loss in St. Louis (Tampa Tribune) -- was certainly bolstered in the Bronx, where the Mets completed a rain-shortened weekend sweep with an 11-2 pounding of the Yanks last night. (New York Daily News) And in the change-a-minute world of New York baseball, that means Willie Randolph is off the hot seat and Joe Girardi's on. (New York Daily News)

JOE COOL: That's Girardi, even though the Yanks are floundering. (New York Post) Still, he's blaming the Yanks' struggles on himself. (New York Daily News)

LATE TO THE PARTY: The Jason Giambi/thong story, which has gotten play far beyond its importance, is explained by Peter Abraham. (LoHud Yankees Blog) As is true of most hot items of this type, it's much ado about nothing.

'HEY': That Phil Hughes' greeting on his blog after three weeks of silence. He doesn't say much beyond that, either.

REFRESHING CANDOR: Umpire Bob Davidson admits -- in colorful terms -- he messed up in calling Carlos Delgado's shot off the left-field pole, which should have been a three-run homer, a foul ball. (New York Daily News)

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: Alex Rodriguez should return to the Yankee lineup tomorrow. (New York Daily News)

'FATALLY FLAWED': NBCsports.com's Mike Celizic takes a look at the Yankees and Mets and concludes there's much to dislike in both Queens or the Bronx.

RICH IN OTHER WAYS: They may seem weak on the field at the moment, but the New York Daily News' Juan Gonzalez examines just how strong the Yankees are financially.

FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE: The New York Post reports former Yankee pitcher Dock Ellis -- who kicked drugs and alcohol nearly 30 years ago and became a drug counselor -- has cirrhosis of the liver and is deteriorating rapidly.

MEET THE MUSINGS MAN: I link to an item or two in Baseball Musings almost daily, so you know I'd in interested in Statistically Speaking's interview with David Pinto. His choices for the players he'd build his team around: Hanley Ramirez and Cole Hamels.

UNIT OF STRENGTH: Randy Johnson may no longer resemble the Big Unit of old, but -- as he demonstrated yesterday against the Tigers -- he's still got something left in the tank. (Arizona Republic)

'WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES': Of course, beating the Tigers isn't the world's biggest trick these days, and manager Jim Leyland -- who admits he's "totally out of answers" -- plans to meet with general manager Dave Dombrowski today to discuss what can be done to fix things. (Detroit Free Press)

SUGGESTION NUMBER ONE: The Free Press' Michael Rosenberg thinks the repairs should start with a reduction in playing time for the rotting corpse that is Gary Sheffield.

THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN': Writing on his always readable Sporting News blog, Todd Jones describes the differences in clubhouse life from the time he broke into the major leagues to today.

PITCH COUNTS, MY EYE: The blog Seamheads.com says it's a lack of quality pitchers, not modern strategies by health-conscious managers, that's led to the decline in the number of 20-game winners.

YOU GOT ME: The season's now one-quarter completed, and the San Francisco Chronicle's Ray Ratto admits he still doesn't know what to make of the A's.

WHAT'S THE BIGGER ACHIEVEMENT? The fact that the Reds' Edinson Volquez has an Adjusted ERA as good as Bob Gibson's record 1.12 ERA in 1968, or the fact that a mainstream media outlet actually built a feature around Adjusted ERA? (Cincinnati Enquirer)

COLLATERAL DAMAGE: The Orioles' woes have hurt attendance not only at Camden Yards but also at the nearby Sports Legends Museum. (Maryland Daily Record)

GROWING CONCERN: More and more attention is being paid to the constant shattering of maple bats and the dangers they post. The Washington Times' Mark Zuckerman reports commissioner Bud Selig is considering banning them.

THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN: He may be 87 years old, but Stan Musial is still The Man in St. Louis. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

MEDICAL REPORT: The Astros may lose Roy Oswalt to a groin injury (Houston Chronicle) . . . The Padres' Jake Peavy has a sore elbow (mlb.com) . . . John Smoltz is still feeling shoulder pain and thinks he could be out a lot longer than he originally thought (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya will begin throwing this week for the Tigers. (Detroit Free Press)

HERE AND THERE: Hank Blalock is moving to first base (Dallas Morning News) . . . It took a while, but the Rockies' Jeff Francis finally won a game in 2008 (Denver Post) . . . The imminent return of Doug Davis means the Diamondbacks have a decision to make regarding rookie phenom Max Scherzer (Arizona Republic) . . . Jacque Jones is about to join the Marlins (Miami Herald) . . . The White Sox have fired scouting director David Wilder and two scouts amid reports they were skimming bonus payments to Latin American signees. (Chicago Tribune)

OLD FRIENDS: David Eckstein is close to returning to the Blue Jays (National Post) . . . The Marlins have signed Hanley Ramirez to a long-term deal. (espn.com)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:32 AM | Permalink