Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Left-hander Jon Lester pitched the 18th no- hitter in Red Sox history, as Boston beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-0. Lester (3-2), a cancer survivor, struck out nine and issued only two walks - in the second inning to Billy Butler and in the ninth to Esteban German. After walking German to start the ninth, Tony Pena hit a chopper to third base and was thrown out. David DeJesus then grounded out to first and Alberto Callaspo struck out swinging at a high fastball for the final out. The Red Sox mobbed Lester at the mound after he threw 130 pitches, 86 for strikes. The Red Sox have been responsible for the last two no-hitters in the majors. Clay Buchholz turned the trick September 1, 2007 against Baltimore, also at Fenway Park. Lester is the first Red Sox lefty to toss a no-hitter since Mel Parnell against the White Sox on July 14, 1956. It's been a dramatic turnaround in the last couple of years for Lester. His 2006 rookie season was cut short due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but the hurler returned in July of 2007 and went 4-0 with a 4.57 earned run average in 12 games, 11 of which were starts. He was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the World Series against Colorado, as the Red Sox completed a sweep to capture the Fall Classic for a second time in four years. The 24-year-old, a second-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2002, also logged his first career complete game. This is just the second time the Royals have been no-hit. The Angels' Nolan Ryan turned the trick on May 15, 1973 in Kansas City. Jason Varitek was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, scoring twice and J.D. Drew was 1-for-3, scoring twice. Boston won its fourth straight coming off an interleague three-game sweep of the Brewers. Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (3-3) was roughed up over six innings for seven runs - four earned - on five hits and six walks . Kansas City has won six of its last eight despite the setback in the opener of the four-game set.

Final Score: Minnesota 7, Texas 6 (12 innings)

Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - Howie Clark ripped a game-winning hit over Josh Hamilton's head in the 12th inning, giving the Minnesota Twins a 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a four-game series at the Metrodome. Alexi Casilla drove in three runs with his first career home run and Joe Mauer was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a walk for the Twins. It was only Minnesota's second win in its last seven games. Bobby Korecky (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 perfect innings for Minnesota to earn his first major league win. He also recorded his first major league hit in the 11th. Minnesota starter Boof Bonser threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - on six hits without issuing a walk. He struck out five. Milton Bradley was 2-for-6, scoring twice with an RBI and Hamilton was 2-for-6 with his 11th home run of the season for the Rangers, who dropped their second straight game after taking 13 of 17 overall. Texas starter Scott Feldman surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks through six innings.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Oakland 6 (13 innings)

Oakland, CA (My Sportsbook) - Evan Longoria blasted a two-run homer in the 13th inning, catapulting the Rays to a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series. Longoria had three hits and drove in three runs, and Eric Hinske belted a two-run homer for Tampa Bay, which snapped a two-game skid but has captured nine of its last 12. Jason Hammel (3-2), in his first appearance since May 7, allowed a hit over three innings to get the victory. Troy Percival held on for his 12th save despite giving up an RBI triple. Frank Thomas had three hits, including a pair of homers, and knocked in three runs for the Athletics, losers in six of their last seven contests. Emil Brown also homered in defeat. Chad Gaudin (3-3) threw two innings and suffered the loss. James Shields was charged with eight hits and five runs through 7 2/3 innings in the start for the Rays, while Joe Blanton surrendered six hits and four runs over six frames for the A's.