Rookie Materson masterful in Red Sox victory against Royals

Rookie Justin Masterson pitched 6 1-3 strong innings one day after Jon Lester’s no-hitter against Kansas City and the Boston Red Sox silenced the Royals bats again in a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.
    The 23-year-old Masterson (1-0) allowed one run on three hits in his second major league start. Jonathan Papelbon ended a bases-loaded threat in the eighth by striking out Billy Butler and pitched a perfect ninth — with two more strikeouts — for his 13th save in 15 opportunities.
    The Red Sox needed Masterson after a rainout Friday night forced them to play a doubleheader on Saturday. He was recalled Tuesday from Double-A Portland. In his only other start, he allowed one run and two hits in six innings in a 7-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on April 24, also at Fenway Park.
    Boston won its fifth straight game, while Kansas City lost only the third of its last nine.
    The Royals were scoreless for 17 straight innings before John Buck singled in a run against reliever Manny Delcarmen in the seventh, cutting the lead to 2-1.
    But they wasted an excellent chance in the eighth when they loaded the bases with two outs against Hideki Okajima on a ground-rule double by David DeJesus and walks to Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen. Papelbon then came in and got Butler to swing and miss at a third strike. The closer pumped his fist several times as he walked from the mound.
    Kansas City also got a strong performance from its starter.
    Gil Meche (3-6) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings and retired 16 of his last 18 batters after Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second.
    Meche retired the leadoff batter in the inning before four of the next five runners reached base.
    The Red Sox loaded the bases on singles by Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew and a walk to Jason Varitek. Julio Lugo sent home the first run with a sacrifice fly and Coco Crisp drove in the second with a double.
    Then Meche set down the next 10 batters before David Ortiz started the sixth with a single. But the next three Red Sox were retired, two on strikeouts, stranding Ortiz at second.
    Kansas City scored in the seventh, which started with Masterson’s leadoff walk to Teahen. Masterson then threw out Butler on a grounder to the mound as Teahen took second. Masterson left to loud applause after throwing 91 pitches and Javier Lopez struck out Ross Gload.
    Then right-hander Delcarmen came in to face righty Buck, who singled in Teahen. But Delcarmen ended the threat by striking out Alberto Callaspo, who made the final out of Lester’s no-hitter with another strikeout.