Red Sox hurler Jon Lester isn’t worried about pitching back-to-back no-hitters, nor is he worried about being fatigued after throwing 130 pitches in his last outing.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jon Lester isn’t much worried about becoming the next Johnny Vander Meer, the only pitcher to toss back-to-back no-hitters. He’ll be happy enough just to get his between-start routine back to normal.

Since no-hitting the Kansas City Royals last Monday at Fenway Park, Lester has been subjected to innumerable interview requests. Other than that, as he prepares to make his next start today, it’s been business as usual.

“It really hasn’t been too different for me,” he said. “I can’t wait for all the attention to die down.”

The lefty needed 130 pitches to complete his masterpiece, but neither he nor the Red Sox seem overly concerned with the workload or how it might impact today’s outing.

“We train all off-season and in the spring to be able to do that,” he said. “I don’t feel any effects from it.”

The magnitude of the accomplishment last week has yet to settle in fully. He suspects that won’t happen until after the season is complete, since a starting pitcher’s life is built around putting the last start behind you and preparing for the next.

Beyond the historical significance of the feat, Lester hopes he can take something else from the no-hitter experience: the ability to consistently throw first-pitch strikes.

“That’s the biggest thing,” he said. “It’s been my big problem since I was called up [from the minor leagues]. If you can do that, you can dictate the at-bats. It makes it so much easier on yourself, on [catcher Jason Varitek], on the guys behind you.”

A break for Manny

Manny Ramirez, who was hitless (0-for-4) Friday night and has just two hits in his last 23 at-bats, was given the night off last night.

Terry Francona had Coco Crisp in center and Jacoby Ellsbury in center, with Ramirez on the bench for the middle game of the series.

“He’s had a tough stretch,” said Francona, “and I want him in there [today] against [Oakland starter Joe] Blanton. Maybe he’s feeling [frustrated] even though outwardly he’s not showing it. This could really help him. Sometimes, [a night off] is in his best interest.”

Francona said that having Crisp and Francona has given him more flexibility when it comes to resting either Ramirez or J.D. Drew, knowing that he has capable replacements for either.

“In the past,” he said, “I probably made mistakes [in playing regulars too much because of a lack of alternatives]. It’s lost easier when you have more good players.”

These things happen

Francona absolved Jacoby Ellsbury of any blame for getting thrown out attempting to steal in the seventh inning Friday night, with the Sox trailing by five runs at the time, noting that the outfielder wasn’t running on his own.

Ellsbury was thrown out when he overslid the second-base bag and an alert Mark Ellis slapped the tag on him.

“It was a little unconventional [to run when trailing by five],” said Francona, “but we knew he could steal it, and, he did, easily. He just came off the bag.”

It was the second time in the span of six games that Ellsbury had been thrown out, but both were under unique circumstance. Last Sunday, he was thrown out for the first time in his major league career, but it came on a pitch-out. Then came the caught-stealing here Friday night when he was ruled safe, but then came of the bag.

Around the bases

Through their first 25 road games before last night, the Sox are off to their worst start away from home since 1997, when they also began 10-15. … Third base coach DeMarlo Hale rejoined the team after spending some time with his wife in Orlando, Fla., as she underwent some tests. … Alex Cora got the start at shortstop over Julio Lugo. … After back-to-back games off, Varitek was back behind the plate. Over his last 11 games, Varitek was hitting .417 (15-for-36) with three homers and seven RBI. … Tim Wakefield’s loss in the series opener was the first for a Red Sox starter since May 8, a span of 13 games.

smcadam@projo.com