Justin Verlander pitches the second no-hitter in the majors in less than a week, following Francisco Liriano’s gem on May 1st, when the Tigers shut down the Blue Jays, 9 – 0. Only an 8th-inning walk to J.P. Arencibia, who is then erased in a double play, keeps Verlander from a perfect game. Verlander becomes the 28th pitcher in major league history with two no-hitters.
Appearing in his familiar chef’s whites, the Soup Nazi, played by actor Larry Thomas, makes an appearance at Citi Field. Although he mouths the infamous phrase, “No soup for you!”, when shown on the scoreboard screen, the character from the Seinfeld show generously gives away DVD prizes to Met fans who correctly answer trivia questions about the sitcom.
The Royals sell ten thousand walk-up tickets on the day Royals’ rookie Eric Hosmer makes his much-anticipated major league debut at Kauffman Stadium. The 21 year-old first baseman, who received the largest signing bonus in franchise history, goes hitless in his two official at-bats in a 3-2 loss to the A’s, but he is walked twice and steals a base.
The Braves’ Derek Lowe also flirts with a no-hitter in a 5 – 0 win over the Phillies and Cliff Lee, who strikes out a career-high 16 batters in 7 innings in taking the loss. Lowe is bothered by a blister on his foot starting in the 3rd inning, but keeps the Phillies hitless until the 7th, when he allows a lead-off single to Shane Victorino and a double to Placido Polanco. Lowe departs in favor of Eric O’Flaherty, who also has awesome stuff on the night, striking out Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez in the span of 15 pitches to preserve the shutout.
Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals has a perfect game until the 8th inning before issuing a one-out walk and then settling for a two-hit shutout of the Brewers. Yuniesky Betancourt hits a single on the first pitch following the walk to Casey McGehee to break up the no-hit bid. Albert Pujols drives in three runs in the 6 – 0 win.
The Indians pull out a 4 – 3 victory in 12 innings over the A’s to improve to 21-9, the best 30-game start in team history. The Tribe needs to use its entire bullpen to secure the win, obtained when Jack Hannahan hits a bases-loaded single off Craig Breslow in the top of the 12th. Cleveland adds another run, which will be needed, as its 7th pitcher of the night, Chris Perez, gives up a run in picking up the save in the bottom of the 12th.
Tim Lincecum has a good night in shutting out the Mets, 2 – 0, at Citi Field. He fans 12 batters in 7 innings for the 29th double-digit strikeout game of his career. That total is the most ever by a Giants pitcher, overtaking Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson who set the previous mark back in the days the franchise played in New York.
Zack Greinke finally makes his debut with the Brewers after being sidelined by a broken rib sustained in the off-season, but his opponent on the mound, Tim Hudson, steals the show in the Braves’ 8 – 0 win, pitching a one-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader. The Braves also win the first game, 8 – 3, as Nate McLouth reaches bases in all 8 of his plate appearances on the day, going 5 for 5 with three walks and a homer in the two games.
Francisco Liriano’s first complete game in his six-year major league career is a no-hitter, a 1-0 gem thrown against the White Sox at a chilly U.S. Cellular Field. The Twins’ 27 year-old southpaw entered the game with a 2-4 record along with a 9.13 ERA, fueling speculation that he was in danger of losing his spot in the Minnesota rotation.
Indians OF Shin Soo Choo is arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Sheffield Lake, OH. He is already the sixth major leaguer caught in such circumstances since the start of spring training, after Miguel Cabrera, Adam Kennedy, Austin Kearns, Derek Lowe and Coco Crisp. A number of players comment that it is not right that players caught in this activity face no sanction from Major League Baseball.
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