llcoolvad | NoNo... Don't Say It!!

So there's this thing some announcers do in baseball when there's a no-hitter going on. They're all superstitious (as are the players) so they won't actually use the words "no hitter". They instead liberally drip hints all over the place. Any way they can let the fans know what's happening (if you're surfing by, for example) without actually saying the words.

Here's what I heard from Don and Jerry when Jon Lester pitched a NoNo on May 19:

Top Half of 7th (Lester Pitching):

There have only been 2 baserunners: a walk in the second, and Olivo reached on a fielder's choice also in the second
The scoreboard will tell you the rest of the story
Here's the story (camera pans across 0s on the scoreboard, stop on 0 under the H column)
Prior to this, Lester's best performance this year was 8 innings, one hit...
92 pitches thrown by Lester, retired the last 16 batters in a row...
Still a 5 strikeout night for Jon Lester so far
Struck him out! Sixth strikeout for Lester!

Bottom Half of 7th:

And there was Ellsbury's catch, part of the great defense that's been played tonight behind Jon Lester
Jon Lester by himself in the dugout with NOBODY in conversation with him... (and a shot of Lester sitting a little separate from everyone else)
Lester has retired 17 batters in a row. There have only been 2 baserunners for KC: a walk and a fielder's choice, and that's it!
Jon Lester alone in his thoughts, ready to take the mound in the 8th

Top Half of 8th (Lester pitching):

Changes in the Red Sox... we've got plenty of speed now in that outfield
It's an even 100 now for Lester — most he's thrown this season is 112 in Tampa Bay
Six strikeout night for Jon Lester — make it seven Ks for Lester! One down in the 8th! (sounding excited)
(Fan noise builds with each strike)
Right now there are nerves everywhere, the fans sense things, the players behind Lester sense things, they wanna make sure they're in the perfect spot
Talk about the importance of getting ahead, 17 of 23 first pitch strikes tonight
Strike 3, back-to-back Ks! 8 now!
Fenway stands as one with 2 outs in the 8th!
There have only been 2 baserunners for KC: Butler walked and Olivo reached on a fielder's choice — KC has not had a baserunner since the second...
Fly ball, to Coco Crisp, just in the game... 8th inning over! Time for Lester to think and agonize as he gets ready for the ninth... (closeup of scoreboard with 0 under the H...)

Bottom Half of 8th:

What could be a historic night in Fenway Park (closeup of Lester drinking some water in the dugout), with the Red Sox on top 7-0...
We talked about the theory of giving up your at-bats late in the game, this could be one of those situations... (chuckles) — it could catch on! Red Sox just giving up their outs to get Lester back on the hill...
Due up in the 9th, the 8, 9 and 1 spot
A quick 8th inning. Lester will make his way to the mound, we'll keep it right here at Fenway Park as he does.

Top Half of 9th, the crucial final moments:

(While Lester warms up; they're not going to commercial so they've got time to killl)
Most pitches he's thrown at any point this season...
(Shot of owner John Henry down in the stands rather than in the owner's box)
(Footage of Clay Buchholz NoNo last Sept)
(More footage of Ellsbury making impressive diving catch in this game)
And that's where we stand as we go to the top of the 9th
(fans cheering, on feet) Fenway Park is standing
(shot of cute girl fan with hands clasped in prayer)
(Another girl fan shaking her head as there is 3-0 to the batter)
(Other fans praying)
There's action in the Red Sox bullpen in case...
Ball four, second walk surrendered tonight. First baserunner since the second inning, breaks up the streak of 20 in a row for Lester...
Swing and a miss! I'm a little bit surprised to see Youk holding the runner on first...7-0 game...it's a shot! the throw, 1 down in the ninth!!
You think about this Jon Lester story, a guy who battled back from cancer, then was on the mound for the clinching game for the world series for the Red Sox, for Game 4 in Colorado, and now has one out in the 9th inning in what could be a historic game for Lester...
(shot of Buchholz in dugout) Young Clay Buchholz knows what this is all about.
Yeah, he probably knows exactly what's going through Lester's mind right now.
(constant crowd noise now)
There's two down in the ninth! Lester is one out away!
Fenway park stands as one with two outs — 0-2 to Polasko -- Lester's a strike away!
(a ball — a crappy foul — tension — )(and finally....)

JON LESTER'S THROWN A NO-HITTER AT FENWAY! HE NO-HITS THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS!!

I love the bit where Jerry says "the fans sense things, the players sense things..." like everyone's Lassie, and little Timmy's down the well. And the action in the bullpen "in case" — meaning that he won't stay in one pitch beyond giving up a hit. And how many times they mention the two baserunners in the second inning. And the bit where the hitters just fly and strike out in the 8th, so Lester can get back on the mound, that's hilarious.

I love baseball!