SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 08: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with catcher Jesus Montero #63 after a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr) (2012 Getty Images)
Montero Catches Historic Gem by 6 Pitchers
So how exactly do you celebrate a combined no-hitter by six pitchers? Just ask Seattle rookie catcher Jesus Montero.
Just a week after New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals, six Mariners pitchers got together and held the Los Angeles Dodgers hitless Friday night. The excited backstop ran and hugged Tom Wilhelmsen, who had no idea that he had just completed the no-hitter. "He was surprised. He didn't know. I jumped on him and I was like, 'Hey, it's a no-hitter!' And he went, 'What?!'," Montero told reporters.
Kevin Millwood started but left after he threw his first warm-up pitch in the seventh inning. Charlie Furbush quickly came in for Millwood and Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and Wilhelmsen completed the feat. It was the fourth no-hitter this season and the 10th combined no-hitter in MLB history. Six Houston Astros pitchers combined to no-hit the Yankees on June 11, 2003.
Panda Bear Returns to San Francisco Lineup
After spending the past seven weeks on the disabled list with a fractured bone in his left wrist, Pablo Sandoval made his return to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
Sandoval started at third and went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the win. Yesterday he was back out there again going 0-for-3.
His return couldn't have come at a better time especially with outfielder Melky Cabrera, who is leading the NL hitter with a .364 average, 87 hits and seven triples lead, having missed the last three games due to a sore right hamstring.
But his conditioning was still an issue, something that he's battled with throughout his career. His weight ballooned back up while he was rehabbing from his latest injury, which happened during a game against Miami on May 2.
Bruce Bochy made it known this weekend that Sandoval needed to get in shape not just now but for the season. "He's worked hard and he's getting it done but that has to be consistent. That can't be for three, four days or a week. It's got to be for a season. That's what he needs to do and that's what we want to see," the Giants manager told reporters.
Sandoval agreed with his manager's assessment, and so now it's really time for him to show and prove he really wants to change.
Players Tweet Displeasure After Pacman Loss
Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and other Latino ballplayers expressed their disgust on Twitter, after Manny Pacquiao's controversial split decision loss to Timothy Bradley on Saturday night.
The Puerto Rican star who was inducted into baseball's selective fraternity last summer tweeted via his handle @Robbiealomar, "Just watched the Pacquiao vs Bradley fight, what were the judges smoking?? Clearly a Pacquiao win!!! Not good for boxing.."
Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus agreed, tweeting from @ElvisandrusSS1, "Are u kidding me I'm not watching any more boxing".
Miami Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco put himself in Bradley's position and said he would have graciously returned the championship belt. "If I were bradley i would [have] given the belt back to manny p during the interview. Disgrace!" he tweeted out on his account, @RNolasco47.
Dominican Court OKs Lawsuit Against Céspedes
According to a report by The Associated Press, a court in the Dominican Republic ruled in favor of Edgar Mercedes and Born to Play on Friday. This will allow his agency to go ahead with their $7.9 million claim, a sum they say Oakland's Yoenis Céspedes has reneged to pay after signing a four-year deal worth $36 million. The court has given Born to Play up to 60 days to come forward with proof that Céspedes indeed agreed to pay Mercedes 22 percent of his earnings.
Céspedes, who has missed his last three games because of a sore left hamstring, is hitting .275 with six homers and 26 RBIs.
Gabby Sánchez Back From Triple-A Stint
Miami had basically seen enough of first baseman Gaby Sánchez's struggles and decided it was best for the all-star to just be in an environment where he could work things out. Sánchez clearly knew what he had to work on. He showed his improvement when he hit .310 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. He was back with the Marlins yesterday and drove in a run with a double, going 1-for-4 in the loss.
"I wasn't producing like I should and like I have in the past ...," Sánchez told reporters. "It's never what you've done in the past. It's what you're doing now to help the team out.
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