(My Sportsbook) - Jon Lester gave the Fenway Park faithful a night to remember on Monday. The Boston Red Sox hope to give their fans another special moment when they continue their four-game set with the Kansas City Royals this evening.

Lester threw the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history in last night's series opener as Boston extended its home win streak to seven games with a 7-0 decision over the Royals.

The 24-year-old Lester (3-2), previously best known for a battle with lymphoma that caused him to miss portions of the 2006 and 2007 seasons, issued only two walks and struck out nine batters in a dominating 130-pitch outing.

The left-hander became the second Red Sox hurler in eight months to achieve the feat, and the first Boston southpaw to do so since Mel Parnell no-hit the White Sox on July 14, 1956. Lester's current teammate, Clay Buchholz, no-hit Baltimore in his second major league start on September 1 of last season.

Jason Varitek caught his major-league record fourth no-hitter on Monday and helped Lester's cause at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer. J.D. Drew went 1-for-3 with two runs scored for Boston, which has won four in a row overall and improved to 18-5 at Fenway this year.

Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (3-3) was roughed up for seven runs - four earned - on five hits and six walks over six innings. The loss was only the second in the Royals' last eight contests.

Lester's performance certainly gives Justin Masterson a tough act to follow when the rookie makes his second start in the big leagues tonight. The Red Sox will call up the prospect from Double-A Portland to make a spot start that was necessitated due to the club having to play a doubleheader on Saturday and the recent injury to Buchholz.

Masterson was promoted in a similar situation earlier this season and was quite impressive in his major league debut. The young right-hander held the Angels to just one run and two hits over six innings on April 24, and left the contest with Boston holding a 3-1 lead. The Red Sox bullpen then proceeded to give up four runs in the top of the seventh and deny Masterson a chance at a win.

The 23-year-old was sent back to Portland immediately following that outing but has struggled since returning to the minors. In four starts for the Sea Dogs after the demotion, Masterson has gone 0-3 with a 7.45 earned run average and issued 11 walks in 19 1/3 innings.

His mound opponent tonight will be veteran Gil Meche, who will be attempting to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season. The 2007 free-agent acquisition appears to have turned things around after a rough beginning to the year, as Meche has gone 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA during his last three starts after recording a subpar 7.22 ERA over his previous six trips to the hill.

The former Seattle Mariner delivered a solid seven innings to defeat Detroit on Thursday, holding the Tigers to six hits and matching a season best with six strikeouts.

Meche has enjoyed good career success when facing the Red Sox as well, having amassed a 4-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in seven lifetime starts against Boston. However, the Louisiana native has a career 6.75 ERA over three previous appearances at Fenway Park.

Kansas City had won eight of its last 12 meetings with Boston prior to last night's loss. The Royals have won two of three matchups against the Sox at Fenway in each of the last two years.