Cancer survivor Jon Lester thanks the fans last night. “It will be nice,” he says,”[to]… be treated like every other starter.”

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON — He’s never been interested in your pity, and doesn’t care much for your charity, either.

You see him as a survivor; he’d rather be considered a pitcher.

But that’s not going to happen, not anytime soon. Jon Lester’s story is too compelling, too gripping, for him to be thought of as just another athlete. Lester didn’t recover from a mere torn elbow ligament or a simple frayed rotator cuff.

No, Lester dealt with something from the real world, a disease that doesn’t distinguish between pitchers or plumbers, between athletes and accountants. And whether he likes it or not, it will be some time before Lester’s name is mentioned without the word “cancer.”

Which is why, of course, that the usual sellout crowd at Fenway last night stood and offered their support for a pitcher with a 6.43 ERA — extenuating circumstances, and all.

This was Lester’s first start at home in almost a year, his first start at Fenway since recording the biggest decision against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last winter. That it came just days before the Red Sox and their flagship radio network host their annual radiothon to benefit the Jimmy Fund was just too perfect.

As he walked in from the bullpen prior to the start, the fans showered him with affection — a warm hug, a welcome home. He stopped along the right-field box seats and handed a ball to a small child, part of his routine now.

His comeback has been under way for almost a month now, and yet, thanks to the vagaries of the schedule, each of his first four starts had come on the road.

His first start, a smart winning effort in Cleveland, attracted national attention, and his third, coming as it did in his hometown of Seattle, attracted family and friends. The home debut, in front of a full house of Red Sox fans, was delayed until last night.

“Preparation-wise,” said Lester, “it felt like any other day and coming in and pitching. Walking in from the bullpen was pretty exciting, but other than that, it was fairly normal.”

Lester rose to the occasion and made this his best start. He limited the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to just one run on two hits through seven innings.

Best of all, he was efficient in the process. After walking Akinori Iwamura, the first batter of the game, he didn’t issue another walk all night.

“He pitched like he can pitch,” said manager Terry Francona succinctly, noting the improved location of his fastball and the effectiveness of the rest of his pitches.

He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth. Following the leadoff walk, he retired the next nine Rays in order, then finished by setting down the final dozen hitters he faced.

“From the first pitch,” said Francona, “even though it was a ball, he was aggressive. He was down [in the strike zone] with his fastball and he looked like he was in charge.”

Lester looked sharp, appeared poised. If a bout with cancer doesn’t shake you, there’s not much that will.

When the Sox rallied in the ninth for their first walk-off win since Mother’s Day, Lester didn’t factor in the decision, but was a big part of the win.

Ultimately, it’s the scoreboard and the standings that matter. That’s why they play the games — for the competition, for the satisfaction that comes from a victory.

“He’s a pretty smart kid,” said Francona. “He understands his job.”

Best of all, the milestones are behind him — first start, first start in Seattle, first start at Fenway.

“Yeah,” said a smiling Lester, the relief evident. “It will be nice just to not have to answer the ‘first’ questions anymore and just be treated like every other starter. That’s all I’ve asked from the beginning — just to be treated normal and nothing special. I just want to go out and pitch every fifth day and hopefully do well.”

Normalcy. Given all he’s been through, that doesn’t seem like a lot to ask.

smcadam@projo.com