Jon Lester's Perfect Game Bid (2013)

Lore & Background

On May 19, 2008, Lester threw a no-hitter in a 7–0 win against the Kansas City Royals. It was the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history. Lester threw 130 pitches, allowing two walks and striking out nine batters, and was charged with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the second inning. It was the first no-hitter thrown by a Red Sox left-handed pitcher since Mel Parnell in 1956, the first in MLB since teammate Clay Buchholz in September 2007, and the MLB-record fourth no-hitter caught by Jason Varitek. It was also only the second no-hitter ever pitched against the Royals; Nolan Ryan pitched the other in 1973.

In Their Own Story

The Fenway Park night air was thick with anticipation as Jon Lester wiped his brow, staring down at the pitcher's rubber. Thirteen strikeouts later, the silence in the stadium felt heavy, almost sacred. He nodded to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, wound up, and delivered a cutter that snapped back inside. The batter swung and missed; two outs now stood between history and reality. A ground ball rolled toward the hole at shortstop, a routine play in any other game, but here, under the weight of eight perfect innings, it became the axis on which destiny turned.

Reader's Guide

Lester's no-hitter on May 19, 2008, is a key highlight of his career with the Red Sox. He also helped lead the team to World Series championships in 2007 and 2013.

Did You Know?

• Lester started and won the final game of the 2007 World Series for the Red Sox less than two years after being diagnosed with lymphoma.
• Lester started the opening game of a playoff series 12 times, a record for the most in baseball history until Justin Verlander passed him in 2023.
• Lester was named the 2007 Tony Conigliaro Award winner for his comeback from lymphoma.