Red Sox's Lester no-hits Royals  —  BOSTON (AP)—Jon Lester has survived cancer and pitched a World Series clincher for the Boston Red Sox.  —  Now he can add a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments.  —  The 24-year-old lefty shut down Kansas City 7- Monday night …

Support for Girardi, a Bit Less for Cashman  —  Not long ago, a humbling weekend for a stumbling Yankees team could have provoked the principal owner, George Steinbrenner, into criticizing the manager.  Times have changed, but only to a point.  —  Hank Steinbrenner, who is co-chairman …

Peavy to be placed on disabled list  —  Righty to miss at least two starts with elbow soreness  —  SAN DIEGO — The pain in Jake Peavy's right elbow had gotten so bad this week that he winced even when he did things that did not involve throwing a baseball 95 mph.

Melvin has no problem with Braun's comments  —  I just spoke via telephone with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who is in Nashville scouting the Brewers' Class AAA affiliate.  I wanted to know if he had any problem with what Ryan Braun said after the Brewers lost, 11-7, Sunday in Boston to get swept in that interleague series.

Pedro looks good, could return soon … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez threw so well in an extended spring game on Monday that he's been summoned to Atlanta for a bullpen session in front of club officials Wednesday.  —  If all goes well, Martinez hopes to be pitching in the majors not long after that.

Blalock's return to shift lineup around  —  Move to first base has implications for Catalanotto, Shelton  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Two questions arise from Hank Blalock's move to first base:  —  First, what happens to Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton when Blalock returns?

Longoria's HR in 13th gets Rays by A's  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays overcame a pair of home runs by Frank Thomas to beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 Monday night.  —  Eric Hinske also hit a two-run homer and Jason Hammel …

DeWitt's RBI single in 9th lifts Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Dodgers had the right hitter up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.  —  Blake DeWitt's second RBI single of the game lifted the Dodgers to a 6-5 comeback win over Cincinnati on Monday night, snapping the Reds' six-game winning streak.

Victorino bothered by benching  —  Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino rode the bench for the second day in a row Sunday and would like an explanation from manager Charlie Manuel.  —  “I'm very disappointed,” Victorino said.  “I'll talk to him at some point and see what's going on.  I'm going to have to.”

Redding, Zimmerman's defense lead Nats  —  WASHINGTON (AP)—Tim Redding ran his scoreless streak this season to 13 1-3 innings against the big-hitting Philadelphia Phillies.  How many pitchers can say that?  —  Lastings Milledge revealed he had lost his cockiness and swagger, but now it's on the way back after a pair of doubles.

A Q&A with new Pirates farm director Kyle Stark  —  When the Pirates completely overhauled their front office in the offseason, they tabbed 29-year-old Kyle Stark, a do-it-all member of the Cleveland Indians' organization, to be their farm director, replacing veteran minor league manager/evaluator Brian Graham.

Umpire admits blowing call on Delgado home run  —  After losing out on a clear home run ball Sunday for the second time this season, the New York Mets might become the newest proponents of Major League Baseball instituting instant replay.  —  In Sunday's Subway Series finale …

Astros top Texas Rangers, 5-4, to avoid sweep  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - The Texas Rangers have figured out one thing over the course of winning seven consecutive series: It's not easy to sweep a team.  —  For the fourth time this month, the Rangers had a chance to wave …