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?"

Alltagetha: Pierce, LeBron & Swish

While we all wait with nine hours remaining until LeBron James tells the sporting world of his decision...

- Former New York Giants favorite and star linebacker Antonio Pierce has announced his retirement from the NFL. "A-P" will now join ESPN as a NFL analyst, and will appear on "NFL Live" today at 4 PM ET to discuss his retirement, as well as his new job working as a sports analyst. Pierce follows Michael Strahan, another Giants great and future Hall of Famer, into the career of broadcasting and being an analyst. Pierce began his career with the Washington Redskins for four season before signing with the Giants in 2005.

"I am definitely going to miss the fans, the locker room talks, and the excitement of putting on a NFL uniform every Sunday, but I am ready to put on a new uniform, and I am extremely excited about contributing my knowledge and experience in this new endeavor to the championship team at ESPN. I thank my family, friends, teammates, and fans for their support throughout my career and as I move in this new and exciting direction," Pierce said in a statement.

Pierce led the Giants in tackles three times, was a three-year captain, a Pro Bowl pick in 2006 and one of the inspirational leaders of a squad that did not have a losing season in his five years with the franchise.

His five-year totals with the Giants: 537 tackles (322 solo), seven sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Pierce also had 44 postseason tackles (28 solo). (ESPN)

- Today is D-Day. Well, D-Day for LeBron James that is. Tonight at 9 PM ET on ESPN, LeBron James will announce his decision on where he will play next year. It's been narrowed down to the Knicks, Heat, and Cavaliers. This morning, sources have indicated that James is going to go to Miami to form a powerhouse with the Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Other sources have said that LeBron is going to New York, where he was spotted house shopping yesterday with Amare Stoudemire and Allan Houston. Some say he's staying in Cleveland. We'll find out tonight.

- Today is the last day to vote for the Final Vote for the MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim. Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees is holding a slim lead over Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox. Remember to vote for Swish! Voting ends at 4 PM ET today! SEND SWISH! GET THE MAN TO ANAHEIM!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE.

SEND SWISH! SEND SWISH! SEND SWISH!

Nick Swisher is in first place but has a very slim lead over Kevin Youkilis in the Final Vote. Today is the final day to vote, so make sure you get all those votes in for Swish! The results will be posted tomorrow! Remember, SEND SWISH!

VOTE HERE! CLICK! VOTE FOR SWISH! CLICK! VOTE HERE!

VOTE HERE! CLICK! VOTE FOR SWISH! CLICK! VOTE HERE!

VOTE HERE! CLICK! VOTE FOR SWISH! CLICK! VOTE HERE!

All-Star Roster News

Amidst Cliff Lee trade rumors, Johan Santana's shut out of the Reds and first career home run, and A-Rod's two home run, five RBI game tonight...

• Hey Los Angeles, you have another All-Star. All-Star Manager Joe Girardi announced today that Angels' pitcher Jered Weaver would be taking the roster spot of Yankees' pitcher CC Sabathia. Due to baseball's new All-Star Game rules, any pitcher who pitches on Sunday before the game is ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. Since Sabathia is slated to start this Sunday against the Mariners, he is not allowed to pitch in the game meaning Weaver, who will take his spot, is eligible to pitch. Weaver is 8-2 with a 2.82 ERA this season with a WHIP of 1.06. He joins Angels' outfielder Torii Hunter and manager Mike Scioscia as the only three Angel representatives. The All-Star Game is being played at the Angels' home park in Anaheim.

• Mariano Rivera will not be going to the All-Star Game. According to a team release, the game's best closer took himself off of the roster and will miss the game to rest his left side and right knee, which have been ailing him for some time.

  "I've been pitching hurt," Rivera said. "I know they are going to use me. I'd prefer to take those days off before the second half."

  Rivera said that he has been battling the same tightness in his left oblique that forced him to miss nine games in May, as well as a newer injury to his right knee, which has been inflamed since he injured it while shagging fly balls during the Yankees' June 25-27 series at Dodger Stadium.

  The right knee inflammation is more of a concern at this point for Rivera because it is his pushoff leg.

  "I always saw [Hideki] Matsui with the knee, and I never experienced something until now," Rivera said. "I understand now how it is. Definitely, I have to take care of it."

  Rivera was a player vote selection to the pitching staff, his 11th time on an All-Star roster, so he will be replaced by the next-highest-rating player in that balloting.

  "It's hard -- it's a decision that I have to make for myself and the sake of the team," Rivera said. "It's a great honor, but I have to be wise."

  Mo isn't a young guy anymore. He's 40 now, and he needs to stay healthy in order for the Yankees to be successful. Mo's health is very critical to the Yanks, and if it means missing the All-Star Game then so be it. Girardi should be announcing a replacement soon.
  

• Kevin Youkilis, the current leader of the Final Vote to see who gets the last roster spot on the American League's All-Star Team, left tonight's Red Sox vs Rays game tonight with a right ankle injury. He says he should be ready to play in Wednesday's season finale. Nick Swisher is currently following close in second place in the voting. Hopefully Youk doesn't go on the DL or his All-Star chances are done, meaning Swish, if the votes keep going up, would make the team. Don't get me wrong, I want Swisher on the team over Youk (I love Swish!) but I want it to be a fair competition. Remember, SEND SWISH! Vote here!
  

• If you didn't hear already, Yankees' second baseman Robinson Cano is in the Home Run Derby.
  

Swisher falls to second place in Final Vote behind Red Sox's Youkilis

If you really want to know, the Cincinnati Reds fans and Red Sox fans have come together to vote for first baseman Joey Votto and first baseman Kevin Youkilis together. Since Youkilis is from Cincy, the Reds fans have agreed to vote for him in the AL if Red Sox fans vote for Votto. Nonetheless, I think the title is pretty self-explanatory.

VOTE SWISHER! VOTE SWISHER! VOTE SWISHER!

STUFF THE FREAKIN' BALLOT BOXES!

Marcus Thames! Walk-off Homerun! Return of the pie! Yankees win!

Wow.

I literally just walked away from the computer to watch the game after A-Rod's homerun and sat down with my Dad after Cervelli got hit. Marcus Thames came to the plate against Jonathan Papelbon, who already had given up a game tying homerun.

I looked at my Dad and said: "How much you wanna bet Marcus takes the first pitch and bombs one?"

Marcus, you didn't let me down.


Yankees win, 11-9. A Yankee classic, and a 4 hour game (I love how this happened right after I published that post on the game's longevity haha)

New York Yankees - 11 (25-13), Boston Red Sox - 9 (19-20)*
W - Javier Vazquez (2-4)
L - Jonathan Papelbon(1-3)
SV - None
HR: (BOS) J.D. Drew (6), David Ortiz (7), Kevin Youkilis (6), Victor Martinez 2 (5)
(NYY) Alex Rodriguez (5), Marcus Thames (2)

So Javy Vazquez comes in to face one batter and gets the W. Well, at least he finally got a win. What a crazy game.

See it all here:




*The Red Sox woes continue, back under .500. Just the way we Yankee fans like it. Very nice!

PhotoCred: http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2010/05/marcus_thames_treats_yankees_t.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/05/17/2010-05-17_jonathon_papelbon_blows_save_as_alex_rodriguez_and_marcus_thames_hit_ninth_innin.html