Red Sox pitcher thrilled with spring debut

Jon Lester pitched in a baseball game Monday.

Simple? Perhaps.

Special? Absolutely.

Barely six months after learning he had cancer and just 2 1/2 months after his final chemotherapy session, the Red Sox starter stood on the rubber again. He looked at the catcher, threw a called strike and reclaimed his role — pitcher, not cancer survivor.

"Just to get back and be normal again is awesome," the 23-year-old said.

Lester was pleased with his mechanics and the location of his pitches. He retired the three batters he faced on eight pitches. So what if he threw only the first inning of a "B" game against the Minnesota Twins? Like his teammates, he was progressing toward opening day.

He will take today off, throw a bullpen session Wednesday then pitch two innings against his teammates in a simulated game Saturday. Then he'll pitch in a minor league game March 16.

"I've been around him enough that I know that he wants to be treated like all the other pitchers," Boston manager Terry Francona said, "not every time he goes out there have a parade for him. He wants to be a normal pitcher."

Lester was better than normal after his major league debut last June 10 at Fenway Park. He became the first Red Sox left-hander to win his first five decisions, starting June 16 with a 4-1 win over Atlanta's Tim Hudson.

On July 18, he allowed one hit through eight innings before Jonathan Papelbon wrapped up a 1-0 win over Kansas City. Lester won his last start on Aug. 23 then went on the disabled list Aug. 28 with a 7-2 record and 4.76 ERA. He was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a type of cancer in the body's lymph system.

Before the fifth of his six chemotherapy sessions, Lester received the good news: A CT scan showed he was cancer free. He began throwing Dec. 4, received his final treatment Dec. 21 and was in camp in early February, about two weeks before pitchers and catchers were due.

"I'm not sure he's real into us patting him on the back for just pitching," Francona said.

Lester has kept up with the other starters in his bullpen sessions and thinks he's ready for more than the one inning the Red Sox limited him to Monday. But they're being conservative with their promising pitcher.

SHEFFIELD MAKES PREDICTION: Gary Sheffield brought his strong opinions back to Legends Field on Monday, predicting a big year for former New York Yankees teammate Alex Rodriguez.