Monday night, at Fenway Park, was another example why the Boston Red Sox didn't acquire the prize of the past off-season, Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.

Jon Lester, the 24-year-old left-hander who just 20 months ago was diagnosed with cancer — a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — and seven months ago earned the win in the World Series clincher in Colorado, was simply too good to let go.

Lester wowed them again Monday night, pitching a no-hitter in a 7-0 win against the Kansas City Royals. His record is now 3-2.

Other than two baserunners — walks in the second inning and in the ninth — Lester was perfect. He struck out nine batters, one short of his career high of 10 (his third career start on June 21, 2006 versus the Washington Nationals).

Monday night was not an anomaly. Three weeks ago Lester allowed only one hit over eight innings in a 1-0 thriller against the Toronto Blue Jays, besting Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

"Jon is just beginning," said Sox catcher Jason Varitek after that Toronto win. "We don't even know how good he can be. I'm just telling you this kid has so much heart. He's a winner."

The Red Sox literally offered the Minnesota Twins carte blanche in their talent-laden farm system to land Santana this past winter.

But Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, to his credit, wouldn't give them Lester. The Twins waited weeks, eventually saying "no deal." The Red Sox, to their credit, didn't flinch.