Baseballer breaks no hit drought record

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester earned a rousing reception from fans after ending baseball’s longest ever streak without a hit.

Playing against St Louis, Lester broke his 66-game drought when he hit a single off Cardinals opposite John Lackey with his shot ricocheting off the pitcher's leg, allowing him to scamper to safety.

The hit was met with a standing ovation from the Wrigley Stadium crowd, prompting Lester to point at the sky like many batters do when they reach a base.

Lester was thrilled to finally break his duck, but the hit was tempered by the fact the Cubs lost 6-0.

"(I was) just making light of it," Lester said. "I know Lackey, I played a long time with him.

"We had some bets going into the game, a little trash talk involved.

"It's been a long time coming. It's nice but it's not something you can really enjoy right now."

Lester's 66-match run without a hit is a Major League Baseball record to begin a career, eclipsing former San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Hamilton, who went 57 games without a hit to begin his career in 1994/95.