April 18th-> Pitcher Mark Buehrle throws a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers to win 6-0 while posting eight strikeouts and walking only one to give himself the no-hitter while almost obtaining a perfect game. A lot of the no-hit performance is credited to the defense as they were tremendous en route to the win. Buehrle’s quoted saying “I can’t believe I did it. Perfect game would have been nice, too.” This was the first time in MLB history, one player threw a no-hitter, another in Jermaine Dye hit a grand-slam home run, and a third, Jim Thome had a multiple-homer game. This was the 16th no-hitter in ChiSox history.

SOX @ JAYS
With Tim Wakefield on the mound the Jays and John Gibbons seem to want to take advantage of their experience, starting such key veterans as Matt Stairs, John McDonald and Jason Phillips against the knuckleball hurler.

Tomo Ohka is a consummate pro that is a solid backend of the rotation starter.

Wakefield’s knuckler is dancing everywhere but over the plate, especially in the fourth inning. It was quite comical as the fans were getting on specialty catcher Doug Mirabelli, as the ball was bouncing all over, just not for strikes. At one point the ever diminished speed of DH Frank Thomas was “Big Hurting” the spirits of fans that wanted him to take a base as Mirabelli had a good number of passed balls. FYI, he did finally make it to second as the crowd gave a sarcastic cheer when the base was stolen. Wakefield walked the bases loaded, but struck out C Jason Phillips to get out of the jam.

Mike Lowell hits a solo HR on an 85 mph fastball, left up. Red Sox 1-0 in the fifth.

Two hits, both homeruns, that’s the difference so far. Doug Mirabelli takes Ohka deep to put the BoSox up 2-0 through six. With that knock the Toronto fans have subsided in their laughter of Mirabelli.

Another solo shot to left by David Ortiz, gone to make this a three-run game. After a single quickly after Big Papi’s homer, Victor Zambrano is summoned from the Jays pen to relieve Ohka in the 7th.
Mirabelli drives in a run as Boston leads 4-0 and looks for more. But Zambrano strikes out Dustin Pedroia swinging.

The Blue Jays have finally got rid of the goose egg as SS Royce Clayton doubles to left. Followed by 2B Aaron Hill’s single to Manny which scored a run, 4-1 after seven.

Third baseman, utility infielder, John McDonald impresses as he throw’s out Lugo and Youkilis in the eighth with two very nice plays.
Scott Downs brought in o face Ortiz as he is a LHP and is being used this year as a spot pitcher, for these type situations.
Papi plays against the extreme shift and grounds passed McDonald, the #B playing SS for the defensive switch.

Donnelly #53 brought in for the bottom of the eighth to face Stairs, Wells and Thomas. I notice Mirabelli using a thicker glove to decrease the impact of Donnelly’s stuff in the low 90s, I am sure. As opposed to Wakefield’s 60-70ish mph pitches.
1, 2, 3 the Jays go down in order and we are in the ninth.

Tomorrow’s game at unexpectedly 12:37 pm ET. Puts #1 VS 5 as Roy Halladay faces Julian Tavarez. I think it will still be another close contest.

RHP Jeremy Accardo comes in for the ninth. He gets the BoSox out with no harm done. Papelbon comes out for the save. His numbers are 6 k’s in 3.1 IP so far, which is significantly lower than the amount of innings he would have already received as a starter.

Overbay is up to the plate, doesn’t want anything to do with 58’s fastball as he is stuck looking at a 96mph punch-out for out number one. Light hitting with a big average, Aaron Hill steps up and lines a shot that just misses Johnny Pap’s ankle, up the middle for a single.

Gibbons pinch-hits for Phillips with Gregg Zaun, who has been rested for tomorrow’s tilt, with another sub in the on deck circle in Jason Smith for Clayton.
Papelbon comes back on Zaun but ultimately walks him. First and second now, one out, Adam Lind stepping up now as a third straight pinch hitter, he is in for McDonald,
Smith swings and misses on three straight fastball strikes from the Boston closer. Lind continues to hack at Papelbon’s heat and finally whiff’s at a bit of a split finger fastball to end the game there. Wakefield gets the win with some support, finally.

Ohka the loss and Papelbon the save as the two east rivals clash as their pitchers have been on full display in their games thus far.

Written by Scott Penny