Yankees clinch playoff berth, Sabathia wins #21

The "Ace" has struck again.

CC Sabathia led the Yankees to Clinch and Conquer over the Toronto Blue Jays tonight in a 6-1 win, resulting in a captured playoff berth, as well as his 21st win of the season.

The win ensures that the Yankees will make the playoffs as either the division champions or wild card champions, am ultimatum fans must be happy to hear after a tough stretch over the final few weeks of September. Tonight's win was just the eighth in the last 22 games.

But even better news to Yankee fans?

It eliminates the Boston Red Sox.

Tonight being his last start of the regular season, Sabathia, who is making a case to be the Cy Young award winner in the American League, pitched 8 1/3 innings of one run baseball, striking out eight as he sent the Yankees to the playoffs for the 15th time in 16 years. His season line finishes at 21-7 with a 3.18 ERA. Thought of to be the front runner for the Cy Young, Sabathia has been pitching like the eventual winner all season, with his biggest starts coming in September with the Yankees struggling down the stretch.

"CC has been our ace all year long," Girardi said before the game. "He's pitched extremely well, so we expect him to go out and do it every time." (Mark Feinsand)

However while all is good in "Yankee Land," two other teams captured playoff berths tonight.

The Tampa Bay Rays clinched a berth with a win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays are battling with the Yankees for the division in the AL East, but the playoff berth guarantees they will either be the wild card or division winner.

In dramatic walk-off fashion, Jay Bruce sent the Cincinnati Reds to the playoffs for the first time since 1995 with a walk-off home run in a win over the Houston Astros. The Reds' win eliminates the St. Louis Cardinals and makes them the NL Central Division Champions.

The Yankees, Rays and Reds join the AL Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins, AL West Division Champion Texas Rangers and NL East Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies as the teams who have made the postseason. Two spots remain: The NL West and NL Wild Card.

The West and the Wildcard has been a back and forth dog-fight between the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves the last few weeks. It'll be interesting to see who wins both berths. I'm sticking with my belief that the Giants will win the West, but I do think (and would love to see) a one-game playoff between Atlanta and San Diego. I'd pay to see that.

Well, that's all for tonight. If you haven't heard, the Carmelo-Anthony-to-the-Nets-trade got called off, other than that it's been a quiet night.

It's good to be back and I'm sorry I've been absent. I've been busy like nobody's business with apps, homework, essays and my job. Hopefully this is just the start to getting back on track.

Rays' Matt Garza throws no-hitter, Dan Haren leaves start early due to injury in Angels' debut

It's truly been the "Year of the Pitcher."

Yesterday, Matt Garza, a right handed starting pitcher from the Tampa Bay Rays, no-hit the Detroit Tigers and helped his team to a 5-0 win.

It was the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays/Devil Rays history.

The no-hitter was also the 5th (!) no-hit game this season, alongside Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay's perfect games, and Ubaldo Jimenez and Edwin Jackson's no-hitters. It's the first time five no-hitters have been thrown since there were seven no-hitters in 1991. I would say Armando Galarraga had a perfect game, but we all know how that ended up...

In front of a crowd of just 17,000 at Tropicana Field in Tampa, the 26 year-old Garza only faced 27 batters, the minimum, and allowed just one walk to Brennan Boesch that would break up the perfect game bid in the second inning. He also struck out six and improved his record to 11-5 wit ha 4.06 ERA.

''It was one of those days where everything lined up,'' Garza said. ''The defense made great plays. I really can't say enough about them.''

The Rays have been involved in three of the five no-hit games this year: Edwin Jackson's no-hitter vs the Rays, Dallas Braden's perfect game vs the Rays, and now Garza's perfect game. They were also the team that Mark Buehrle defeated last season for his perfect game.

Garza's no-hitter is surely just one of possibly a few more no-hitters to come.

HAREN EXITS GAME EARLY WITH INJURY

Dan Haren made his Angels' debut Monday night, his first start since being acquired on Sunday in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, Haren's debut didn't go as expected.

In the fifth inning, with the Boston Red Sox leading 2-1, first baseman Kevin Youkilis hit a sharp line drive that hit Haren square on his right forearm, his pitching arm. Haren tried to field the ball, but it ended up being an infield single as Haren fell to his knees in obvious pain.

Haren has what seems to be a right forearm contusion and will go for an additional examination by Angels' team orthopedist Lewis Yocum. Haren pitched 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. As of now, he has been listed as day-to-day. Or as Yankees' radio announcer John Sterling would say "He's listed as day-to-day...aren't we all?"

Yankees honor Steinbrenner and Sheppard in walk-off fashion

You could say that now George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard have joined the ghosts of New York Yankees past and are part of the mystique and aura of Yankee faith.

If they truly joined the other ghosts of mystique and aura, it showed tonight.

One of George Steinbrenner's wishes was that the Yankees would never lose to the Tampa Bay Rays, who play in his home town of Tampa, Florida. Steinbrenner always wanted bragging rights for beating the Rays, or then Devil Rays, and would be embarrassed when the Yankees would lose to Tampa. Ironically enough, the Yankees were playing those very same Rays tonight, and if George truly joined the ghosts, he worked some magic tonight.

The Yankees, after having a pregame ceremony for "The Boss" and Sheppard which included a speech from captain Derek Jeter, a placing of flowers at home plate by Mariano Rivera, the revealing of the Yankees' new patches, and an emotional two minute moment of silence, pulled off a walk-off win in dramatic fashion against the division rival Rays thanks to right fielder Nick Swisher.

"We gather here tonight to honor two men who were both shining stars in the Yankee universe," Jeter said from behind home plate. "Both men, Mr. George Steinbrenner and Mr. Bob Sheppard, cared deeply about their responsibilities to this organization and to our fans, and for that, will be forever remembered in baseball history and in our hearts."

And boy, was there a game.

With 2 outs and the score tied 4-4 in the 9th inning, Nick Swisher stepped to the plate, this coming after he had hit a game tying home run in his previous at-bat. With Curtis Granderson on second base and Brett Gardner on first, it seemed as though Swish was the perfect man for the occasion. He proved he was. Swish laced a sharp single into right field, allowing Curtis Granderson to race all the way from second base and score on a close tag at home plate giving the Yankees the 5-4 victory. As customary, Swisher received his pie in the face from A.J. Burnett, a fitting ending to an emotional night. Swisher went 3-5 on the night.

"It was such a somber attitude," said Swisher after the game. "You didn't know what to think. There's so many things you can say about him. You just wanted to go out and win it for him."

"Today was George Steinbrenner's day. He's the reason we have this. I was happy to send him out on this note."

In an even more fitting tribute for Sheppard, Paul Olden, the Yankees' current PA announcer, was silent tonight. There were no batter introductions, no pitching change announcements, and no PA announcements tonight in a tribute to Sheppard who had been the Yankees' voice for over 50 years. At the end of the game, Sheppard's voice was heard saying: "Thank you for coming to the game." The Bleacher Creatures were also silent tonight in tribute to Sheppard.

The Yankees did it tonight on the field, but I know that somewhere up there, The Boss and Mr. Sheppard helped out a little.

Swisher's home run tonight was his 16th of the season, while Jorge Posada (10) and Robinson Cano (17) also homered.

A great game and a great win for the Boss and Sheppard, but it was also a big game as the Yankees defeated their division rival. The Yankees now have a 3 game lead over Tampa in the AL East standings. The Yankees now improve to 57-32.

NL Colorado Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez and AL Tampa Bay Rays' David Price to start All-Star Game

The long awaited All-Star starting pitcher decision has been made.

National League Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez RHP, Colorado Rockies
Charlie Manuel, Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and the National League for the All-Star Game, selected right handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies to start for the National League All-Stars. Jimenez, who has made for one of the best stories of the first half of the season so far, is 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA this season, and has thrown a no-hitter that came on April 17th against the Atlanta Braves. Jimenez, 26, leads the major leagues in wins, and is fifth in the league in ERA. A somewhat surprising decision, many believed that Manuel would select Josh Johnson, a right handed pitcher from the Florida Marlins to start the game, due to his 9-3 record and major league leading 1.70 ERA.

When asked about his decision, Manuel responded that Johnson "is a real talented guy, but this guy," Manuel said while seated next to Jimenez at the news conference today, "has won 15 games and threw a no-hitter. It was a tough decision, but he's my guy." (USA Today)

"It's a huge honor for me just to be here," said Jimenez. "I'm going to cherish the moment tomorrow. It's an honor to be in the clubhouse with all these stars."

American League Starting Pitcher: David Price LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Opposing Jimenez and the NL team will be the young ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, left handed pitcher David Price. Price, 24, has also made for quite the story of the first half, helping lead a young Rays team to second place in the fearsome AL East, just two games behind the New York Yankees. While many thought that Yankees and American Leauge All-Star Manager Joe Girardi would select his own pitcher, lefty Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.70), Girardi went with Price. Price, who is 12-4 with a 2.42 ERA on the season, has pitched himself to be the long searched for ace of the Tampa Bay Rays. The first overall pick in the 2007 draft, Price pitched his way through the minor leagues in one season, making his long awaited debut in 2008 and helping the Rays to the World Series. Price ranks third in wins and is seventh in ERA among major leaguers. Price is the youngest pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Dwight Gooden of the Mets started for the NL at age 23 in 1988. Price is also the youngest pitcher to start for the AL since Bret Saberhagen of the Royals, who was also 23 in 1987. He's also the first #1 overall pick to start an All-Star Game.

"It's a definitely an honor," Price stated. "It hasn't set in yet. I'm very happy to be here."
(Seattle Post Intelligencer)

The Latest on Cliff Lee, Updates

With only a few weeks to go until the July 31st trading deadline, trade talk is poised to heat up. Cliff Lee, the most prized and sought after trade target, is on the block and has been coveted by every team. The rumors about a Lee trade are starting to heat up. We'll be monitoring how it goes today and we'll provide all rumors heard.

• Yesterday, the Twins offered the Mariners a package of prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and 2008 first-rounder, outfielder Aaron Hicks. Ramos, who debuted this year and was hitting .296 in the majors, is hitting .208 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI at Triple-AAA Rochester through 52 games. Hicks is hitting .260 with 5 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases at Single-A Beloit. Both Hicks and Ramos were ranked one and two respectively, on Baseball America's Twins' Top 10 Prospects List. Various reports have said that both sides are still far from a deal. It's very unorthodox for the Twins to trade their top prospects, especially since their team is made up of homegrown players. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Reds are among other teams interested in acquiring the ace left-hander.

• Via MLBTradeRumors and Twitter, Peter Gammons is reporting that rumors of a B.J. Upton - Cliff Lee deal are going around and that a third team could be involved with the Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners.

• More from MLBTradeRumors: Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.

• Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter)
  

• B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."

• The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

• The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.

• The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.

• The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Yankees Trade Target 2010: Ty Wigginton

Ty Wigginton, INF/OF Baltimore Orioles
2010 season: 74 G, .254/.338/.458, 14 HR, 42 RBI

When any baseball fan hears the name Ty Wigginton, they think one word: versatility. A 17th round draft pick in the 1998 draft by the New York Mets out of UNC Asheville, "Wiggy" has had a very solid major league career. Wiggy made his major league debut in 2002 for the Mets at age 25, posting a line of .302/.354/.526 with 6 HR, and 18 RBI in 116 AB, making his future look bright. Wiggy started at third base for the Mets for the 2003 season, and while he struggled early, finished with a .255 average with 11 HR and 71 RBI in 156 games. However, he struck out 124 times, a career high for Wiggy. The following season, Wiggy started 2004 on a tear. Wigginton hit .285/.334/.487 to go with 12 HR and 23 doubles with 42 RBI through his first 312 at-bats. His hot streak made his stock higher, and the Mets traded Wigginton on June 30, 2004 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a six-player trade for RHP Kris Benson. The trade of Wigginton opened the door for current Mets' third baseman and All-Star, David Wright. For the rest of 2004, Wiggy would cool down, finishing at .266 with just 17 HR, after hitting 12 in his first 312 AB, with 66 RBI. Wigginton was again the starting third baseman for the Pirates in 2005, but, after early struggles, was demoted to the Minor League Triple-AAA team. Wiggy was recalled on August 22, 2005. Despite going on a tear, hitting .365 the final few weeks of the season, the Pirates released Wiggy at the end of the season.

On January 10, 2006 Wiggy signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. 2006 would prove to be the San Diego native's best season, as he batted .275 with 24 HR, a career high, and 79 RBI, also a career high, in 122 games. It would also be the first year that fans would get to see the versatility that is Ty Wigginton. In 2006, Wiggy spent time at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield. His breakout 2006 prompted Tampa to sign him for the 2007 season. Wiggy, 30 at the time, started for the Devil Rays in 98 games, hitting .275 with 16 HR and 49 RBI before being traded to the Houston Astros for RHP Dan Wheeler on July 28, 2007. For the Astros, Wiggy hit .284 with 6 HR and 18 RBI in 50 games as the starting third baseman after Houston designated Morgan Ensberg for assignment. Wiggy finished 2007 at .278 with 22 HR and 67 RBI. Houston would sign Wiggy to another contract at the end of the season, as he would again be the Astros' starting third baseman. However, in August, after LF Carlos Lee broke a finger, Wiggy made a majority of his starts for the season in left field. Wiggy made Astros feel as though Lee was still on the team, posting a .379 BA after Lee's injury. He finished the season hitting .285, a career high, with 23 HR and 58 RBI while playing in 111 games in the infield and outfield. Despite his strong 2008, the Astros did not tender Wiggy a contract, making him a free agent. This upset many Astros' fans.

On February 10, 2009 Wiggy signed two-year for $7 million. In 2009, Wiggy had major drop-offs in home runs and runs batted in, despite playing in 11 more games. He finished 2009 at .273 with 11 HR and 41 RBI. 2010 however, has been a different story. Named a bench player for 2010, Wiggy came into spring training with low expectations since not being named a starter. However, Roberts missed much of spring training with a herniated disk in his back. Regardless, Roberts started the season as Baltimore's starting 2B, before being put on the 15-day DL with a abdominal strain stealing second base. After being placed on the DL, Wiggy became the starting 2B for the O's. Suffice to say, Wiggy has surpassed expectations. Through the first 60 games of this season, Wiggy hit .272 with 13 HR. He currently has 14 HR in his first 264 AB, his third highest career home run rate per at bat ratio in his career, hitting a home run every 18.8 at bats this season, since hitting a home run every 16.7 at bats in 2008 with Houston. Currently, Wiggy's hitting .254/.338/.458, 14 HR, 42 RBI through 74 games at second base, short stop, third base, and the outfield. Wiggy's strong season, as well as his versatility, along with Baltimore's league worst record at 24-55 and doomed last-place finish, has prompted the Orioles to make him available in trade.

Yesterday, via MLBTradeRumors, we heard that the Yankees are interested in acquiring Wiggy. Today we heard that the Yankees want to solidify their bench. A trade for Wigginton would be the best way to improve the bench. The current Yankees' bench consists of all home-grown inexperienced players in Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Chad Huffman, and Colin Curtis. The Yankees are still waiting for Marcus Thames to return from injury. Not a very threatening or powerful bench for Joe Girardi to use. If Wigginton, 32, were acquired, he could play all the positions to give the starters days off, and wouldn't be a typical 0-3 bench player. He's had a strong 2010 season, so he'd be treated like a starting player. Doug Rush over at The Bleacher Report, says that "The Yankees need a guy who can play multiple positions and be able to give guys like Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez days off when needed. Wigginton can play all of the infield positions, the DH, and even the outfield if needed."

However, the one issue with acquiring Wigginton is Baltimore's demand: one young shortstop. From The Beacher Report: "Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports called the demand by Baltimore a self-defeating one because any team like the Yankees would be unlikely to deal away a young shortstop to rent Wigginton for a few months." Wiggy is making $3.5 million this season, and is a free agent to-be at the end of the season. No team would want to give up a young shortstop for a guy who will be a bench player on a contending team. Baltimore would most likely ask for top shortstop prospect Eduardo Nunez, 23, who is enjoying a break-out season at Triple-AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .312 with 3 HR and 39 RBI in 81 games. If not Nunez, than Baltimore would most likely ask for Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo or minor league SS Reegie Corona. Corona, who was left unprotected in the 2008 Rule-5 Draft and was chosen and returned to the Yankees by the Seattle Mariners, is hitting .231 with 5 HR and 20 RBI, along with 11 stolen bases in 81 games. He's currently on the 40-man roster, meaning if traded, the Yankees would have a spot for Wigginton on the 40-man without releasing any other player. I don't think that the Yankees would be willing to part with a prospect of Nunez's caliber for a rental of Wigginton. While Wiggy isn't a great defensive player, "Wigginton makes up for it as a much better and stronger hitter who can produce runs" says the Bleacher Report. If I'm Brian Cashman, I'm only giving up minimal prospects for Wiggy. A realistic trade could be one that consists of Corona and maybe Double-AA shortstop Luis Nunez. If that's what I can get away with giving up, then I'm making the trade for Wiggy.

The Yankees could use Wiggy anywhere on the field. One idea I had was to make Wiggy the alternating third baseman with Alex Rodriguez. This would push A-Rod to the DH role on some days in order to rest his ailing hip, and would allow Wiggy, and his crazy 2010 season, to start and help the team's dreadful offense of late. Therefore, New York would have both A-Rod's and Wiggy's bats in the lineup. On the other hand, the Yankees could use Wiggy on the bench, which is what has been seen as their mindset. I think having Wiggy start would be a much better idea due to his strong season so far. I think he's deserved the right to start and alternating DH and 3B with A-Rod would be a great way. As well, the Yankees bench would drastically increase by having Wiggy. By September, the Yankees bench would consist of Wigginton, Nick Johnson, Thames, Cervelli, and possibly Colin Curtis if the Yankees decide to use Wiggy as a starter. Having Wiggy in the lineup would really increase and hopefully wake up the Yankees' offense. I'm not saying Wiggy is Albert Pujols, but all I'm saying is that he's having a great season and it would help the offense.

If I'm the Yankees, and it seems as though they already have, I'd be on the phone right now with the Orioles trying to work out a trade for Wiggy. Wiggy would be a great addition to an already strong Yankees team, and would help the bench become stronger and the offense become slightly better. It seems as though a deal could be reached soon.

Brian Cashman, Yankees GM: "The bench is the area of priority as of right now," Cashman said. "That doesn't mean we're not open to anything else. But if you ask me what's the priority? What's the area of weakness? It's the bench."

Red Sox in injury trouble

Terry Francona must not like inter-league play.

Over the course of two games in two days in San Francisco against the Giants, the Red Sox lost two of their best players to injury.

Dustin Pedroia, arguably Boston's best position player, fouled a ball off of his foot on Friday night. While just believed to be a bruise, Pedroia ended up being pulled from the game. It was later revealed that Pedroia had more than just a bruise: he has a fracture in his foot that could end up keeping him on the DL for four to eight weeks. Pedroia has been a spark plug for the Red Sox ever since being called up in 2007, and has been the vocal leader of their team. Almost two or three months without Pedroia could really cost the Red Sox big time in the division standings, as they are currently in third place behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. The loss of Pedroia could be the defining blow that knocks Boston out of the playoff picture. He was batting .292 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. He was on pace for at least 30 home runs.

The next day, Saturday, the Red Sox lost their best pitcher in Clay Buchholtz. After getting his first major league hit, Buchholtz had to run to second. He ended up injuring his knee, and now has a hyper-extended knee. He'll miss at least 1 or 2 starts. He lasted just 1 IP. In 2010, Buchholtz is at 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 92.0 IP.

It seems as though injuries have been the recurring theme of the 2010 Red Sox: Josh Beckett, Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeremy Hermida, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia and now Clay Buccholtz. Injuries and an early season struggle have really hurt the Red Sox this season.

You can't help but think that this is why AL managers hate inter-league play. We saw it in 2008 when the Yankees lost Chien-Ming Wang to a foot injury while running the bases in Houston. He ended up missing the rest of the season and never regained his 19-game winning potential in 2009. When you look at it, the 2010 Red Sox and 2008 Yankees aren't all that different: both teams were losing key players to injuries left and right, both teams had minor league journeymen starting, and both teams finished in third place. While the season isn't over, it looks like that's where the Red Sox are headed, thanks to the Rays and Yankees. Losing two key players in two days is a big blow to a team that struggled early and is now trying to play catch-up in the best division in baseball.

You can only hope that Buchholtz and Pedroia recover quickly and help Boston out. While I don't want Boston to win the division (seriously, did you honestly think that was what I meant?) I would like the division to be competitive. It's no fun beating the Red Sox when they suck.

UPDATE 9:35 PM: Whaddya know? Victor Martinez broke his thumb today. What are the odds?

Edwin Jackson's no-no in slow mow?

Yes, Edwin Jackson pitched a no-hitter last night against the Tampa Bay Rays, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks win 1-0. The fourth no-hitter of 2010, truly citing this as the season of the pitcher. However, this was not your average no-hitter, as Jackson walked eight men. The most interesting part? Jackson threw 149 pitches. Want something else? The Tampa Bay Rays are Jackson's old team. Think they regret trading him?

Yes, that's right. A no-hitter, based on eight walks and 149 pitches.

I scratched my head too.

The Tampa Bay Rays, carrying a 43-30 record for second place in the AL East behind the New York Yankees, were no-hit for the second time this year with Dallas Braden's perfect game and now Jackson's no-hitter. It's the third time in two seasons that the Rays have been no-hit going back to Mark Buehrle's perfect game last year.

Jackson, 26, walked eight in this game, including walking the bases loaded in the third inning with no one out. Like Mariano Rivera on Wednesday night, Jackson worked out of the jam, not surrendering a hit or run. Over 100 pitches later, Jackson placed himself in baseball immortality.

"It's one of those moments where you're just caught up in the moment. It's one of the craziest games I've had, especially the game starting off how it did. Not being able to find the strike zone with the fastball," Jackson said. "Good thing I could throw the slider for strikes in any count. It just resurrected my game."

"To be able to come back and give the crowd I used to play for something to see. Today is just a special day. Something I'll never forget," Jackson who add.

"He's a great athlete and a great kid. He's one of the very few who can do that," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said of Jackson.

"He threw 150 pitches and it's rare to see that many walks and not score a run," Maddon added. "Our guys are just pressing too hard."

Diamondbacks' manager A.J. Hinch was credited for allowing Jackson to finish what he started and go for history, despite the amount of pitches that Jackson had thrown.

"All's well that ends well. We stopped counting at about 115," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. "You do want to make smart decisions. You do have a chance at history and you don't want to take it away from him."

There's speculation that Jackson could be on a pitch count for this next start, or perhaps even skip it. With a last place team like Arizona, they could afford to let Jackson throw those 149 pitches. However, you have to hope that Jackson will be okay and that his arm heals accordingly. You don't want the reason he has arm problems to be because he threw 149 pitches for a no-hitter, especially at such a young age and with a great career ahead.

Then there is the forgotten opposing starter in this game, RHP Jeff Niemann who only gave up 1 run, Adam LaRoche's home run in the second inning, despite pitching 7.1 innings. Niemann, 27, suffered just his second loss of the year last night, dropping him to 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Jackson improved to 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA on the season.

So congratulations to Edwin Jackson for his no-hitter. It just goes to show you, that you can walk as many as eight batters in a game and throw 149 pitches, but if not one of those pitches is a hit, anything is possible. A "working man's" no-hitter.

Yankees win, beat Orioles 3-1

Yankees - 3 (32-20) Orioles - 1 (15-37)
W - Javier Vazquez (4-5)
L - Brian Matusz (2-6)
SV - Mariano Rivera (11)
HR: (NYY) Curtis Granderson (3) (BAL) Corey Patterson (3)

Javier Vazquez is turning into the pitcher the Yankees expected. Javy pitched great tonight giving the Yankees 7 strong innings and surrendering only 4 hits, 1 run (on a homerun to Corey Patterson) and got 7 strike outs. However, Brian Matusz wasn't too bad either. He only gave up 3 runs in 6.2 innings, 1 being earned due to the throwing error on Miguel Tejada, but the biggest one on the homer to Granderson (his first at Yankee Stadium). Other than that, the offense was quiet tonight. Not much to write about with this game, but the good news is the Yankees win and the Rays are losing 5-3 to Toronto in the 9th!

Somers vs Carmel tomorrow at Hudson Valley Renegades Stadium!

I'm so excited! Finally, after waiting all week, tomorrow my commentator buddy, Mike Rossillo, and I will be doing the play by play for tomorrow's Somers vs Carmel baseball game for MSGVarsity. But it's no ordinary game: It's being played at the stadium of the Hudson Valley Renegades!

This is big news. The Renegades are the Rays single-A team, meaning Somers will be playing in a minor league stadium! I'm especially excited to go on the field. But perhaps what I'm most excited about is doing the broadcasting...from the commentator's booth! Woo! So excited to see what it's like to be a professional commentator like a Michael Kay or a Vin Scully. This is my dream job and I'm finally getting the chance to live it! The game is at 4:30 PM tomorrow at Renegades stadium and if you're free, I highly encourage you to come and watch the game or stop by and say hi to us in the booth! I'm so excited! Hopefully I'll see you there!

- Josh

In other news:
Yankees lost to the Rays 10-6 (however, A-Rod hit his 589th career homerun)
Mets lost to the Nationals 5-3
Lakers won 124-112 to beat the Suns (lead series 2-0)
Magic vs Celtics (off)
No Hockey games tonight