Boston Red Sox win behind Lowe's no-hit, no-run game

Sunday, April 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ Derek Lowe, who couldn't keep his job as a closer, pitched the first no-hitter at Fenway Park since 1965, leading the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-0 Saturday.

Lowe, who was six outs short of a no-hitter in his first start of the season April 5 at Baltimore, allowed only one runner _ a walk leading off the third inning.

Lowe finished off the first no-hitter in the majors this season by getting Jason Tyner on an easy grounder.

``I was trying to reflect on how I felt in Baltimore and how nervous I was then,'' Lowe said. ``Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen.''

The Devil Rays were held hitless for the first time in their five-season history. The closest they came to a hit was on Steve Cox's liner that right fielder Trot Nixon caught on the run in the fourth.

The last no-hitter at Fenway was by Red Sox right-hander Dave Morehead on Sept. 16, 1965. Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees was one strike away from a perfect game at Fenway last Sept. 2 before pinch-hitter Carl Everett singled.

Lowe struck out six in pitching the first no-hitter in the majors since St. Louis rookie Bud Smith did it last Sept. 3 at San Diego.