Moore Becomes Youngest AL Pitcher to Start 8-0 Since Ruth

Matt Moore became the youngest AL pitcher to begin the season 8-0 since Babe Ruth did it 96 years ago. (Patrick Smith)

With Injuries Plaguing Yankees, Kuroda Leads on the Mound

Hiroki Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance on Friday lowered his earned run average to 1.99. (Ray Stubblebine)

The New York Yankees have been injury plagued like no other team in baseball. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have yet to even play this season. Curtis Granderson only returned this week. That means that the Yankees were without four of their best hitters for the first quarter of the season. As far as the starting rotation is concerned, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Andy Pettitte have all been or are currently on the disabled list.

The Yankees have seen a total of 13 players put on the disabled list this early in the season. Not good news for a team picked by many "experts" to finish last or second to last in the American League East. They claimed the Yankees were "too old" with "not enough depth" to make up for the injured regulars. That is interesting because if we take a look at our standings that does not seem to be the case.

The Yankees boast a 26-16 record and have gone 16-8 (.667) in their last 24 games. They currently sit in sole possession of first place in the AL East with the third best record in baseball. How have done it? Tonight's 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays featured the offensive prowess of Jayson Nix, David Adams and Austine Romine. They may not be Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira, but they have been helping the Yankees win ball games all season long.

When you think of the Yankees pitching, the names CC Sabathia, Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are the first to come to mind. Sabathia has been inconsistent as has much of the rotation. Pettitte just went on the disabled list and will miss at least three starts. Mo has been Mo and actually the whole bullpen deserves a lot of credit. But we have yet to name the Yankees' MVP so far this season. That may be because he would be the last to let you know.

Hiroki Kuroda was offered more money this past offseason to pitch other places than the Bronx, but the veteran Japanese pitcher chose to don pinstripes once again because frankly he feels comfortable in them. When Kuroda came over to the Yankees from the Los Angeles Dodgers several years ago, many people thought he would struggle with the high expectations and tougher lineups in the American League. Instead, Kuroda has gotten better and better with every season with the Yankees.

At age 38, Kuroda is so far enjoying the best year of his six-year major league career. In tonight's 5-0 win over the Blue Jays, Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance lowered his earned run average to 1.99, which ranks fourth in the league. The right-hander has been the model of consistency the Yankees so desperately need. In fact, he has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts.

For a team that many thought would miss the playoffs, the Yankees seem to be in pretty good shape despite all the injuries. They will eventually get back some the regulars they have been missing and can hopefully stay healthy. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played, but the Yankees are not done with their winning ways. What seems certain is they will continue to rely on the quiet and steady Kuroda to lead the way on the mound.

Miller and Lester Were Almost a Perfect Pair

Shelby Miller gave up a leadoff hit, but then set down the next 27 Rockies hitters in order. (Dilip Vishwanat)

Tonight, St. Louis’ Shelby Miller and Boston’s Jon Lester did something no pair of pitchers have done on the same night in the history of baseball. They each threw a one-hit, no-walk, complete-game shutout. The only hit Miller allowed was a leadoff single by the Rockies’ Eric Young, Jr. Lester bid for perfection lasted until the sixth inning when the Blue Jays’ Maicer Izturis hit a double.

Let's compare the two superb performances. Miller's outing is really unique in that after giving up that leadoff single, he retired the next 27 hitters. This is really as close to a no-hitter as you possibly can be. After the leadoff single, he threw a no-hitter. That's impressive to say the least. However, that is not all that is impressive about Miller's performance. He also stuck out 13 batters and maintained his velocity of up to 93 mph throughout his 113 pitches. That is how dominant Miller was. Finally, his opponent, the Rockies, are the NL’s highest-scoring team.

Lester’s one-hitter is his first shutout since 2008. This is an encouraging sign for Red Sox fans that the lefty might be regaining that top form. On paper, Lester was not as dominant as Miller. He only five struck out five batters. Instead, Lester relied on his infield for a total of 12 ground-ball outs. Both pitchers benefitted from getting ahead in the count. In fact, both pitchers threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 28 batters they faced.

You might be wondering how rare of an occurrence is it for two pitchers to throw one-hitters on the same night. It has only happened three other times since the turn of the century.

May 25, 2001: The Cubs’ Kerry Wood and the Red Sox’ Hideo Nomo each threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout on the same night. Both pitchers struck out 14 batters. Wood walked two hitters, while Nomo did not issue any walks.

April 26, 2002: The Dodgers’ Odalis Perez and the Mets’ Shawn Estes both threw complete-game, one-hit shutouts on the same night as well. Perez did not walk any batters, while Estes allowed just one walk.

June 16, 2012: The Orioles’ Jason Hammel and the Angels' Ervin Santana each threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout on the same night. Hammel issued two walks, while Santana only walked one batter.

As you can now see, Miller and Lester share a unique bond that only a handful of major league pitchers have ever shared. There is one statistic that distinguishes them above the rest. Neither one of them walked a single batter. Miller and Lester can say that they are the only pair of pitchers to throw one-hit, no-walk, complete-game shutouts on the same night.

Blue Jays Land Cy Young Winner Dickey

The Mets have traded 2012 Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays as the centerpiece of a seven-player deal. (Jim McIsaac)

After days and days of trade rumors, the New York Mets are officially trading 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays. Dickey reached an agreement with his new ball club on a two-year, $25 million extension that was the final piece to the trade going through.

The Blue Jays acquired Dickey, catcher Josh Thole and minor league catcher Mike Nickeas In exchange, the Mets receive top prospects Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard, along with veteran catcher John Buck and minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra. The Blue Jays paid a hefty price in terms of talent, but they believe Dickey could be the one piece they need going into next season.

"Clearly, he won the Cy Young. He's pitched like one the last three years," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I think he doesn't get the credit and the respect he deserves because of his age and because of what he does throw. And I understand it's so rare. But there's so much overwhelming data and evidence to point to him continuing this success. He's gotten better every single year."

The Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, but have not gone to the playoffs since. They have tried to rebuild through their farm system and prospects, but have yet to get past the big boys atop the AL East. However, with the New York Yankees passing on top free agents as part of an austerity plan and the Boston Red Sox are reconstructing, the Blue Jays have decided to roll the dice and try and win now.

Toronto's busy offseason got kicked off last month with a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. They acquired veteran starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, All-star shortstop Jose Reyes and utility man Emilio Bonifacio. The Blue Jays were also busy in the free agent market. They signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal and infielder Maicer Izturis to a three-year contract.

The Blue Jays brought back John Gibbons as manager. As of right now, the 2013 rotation and lineup might look something like this.


1. R.A. Dickey
2. Brandon Morrow
3. Mark Buehrle
4. Josh Johnson
5. Ricky Romero

1. SS Jose Reyes
2. LF Melky Cabrera
3. RF Jose Bautista
4. 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion
5. DH/1B Adam Lind
6. 3B Brett Lawrie
7. CF Colby Rasmus
8. C J.P. Arencibia
9. 2B Emilio Bonifacio/Maicer Izturis

That is a ball club that will definitely be ready to compete in a loaded AL East and for a shot at a return to the postseason. It will be interesting to see if Anthopoulos has any more moves up his sleeves before we reach Spring Training.

The Mets will not be a team competing for much of anything next season. They did trade the reigning Cy Young winner and fan favorite, but you have to consider the bottom line in terms of the future.The Mets have had four straight fourth-place finishes in the NL East, and the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are the division favorites once again. The Mets were destined for a repeat finish in 2013 with or without Dickey.

The future though has become much brighter for a team in desperate need of something positive. General manager Sandy Alderson looked for a package of prospects, like he did with Carlos Beltran two trading deadlines ago. The cornerstone of that trade, right-hander Zack Wheeler, has developed into the club's top prospect. The Mets now add highly acclaimed catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud as well as Class A right-hander Noah Syndergaard to the mix from the Dickey trade.

D'Arnaud is a catcher who is able to hit well and has a lot of skills behind the plate. He is viewed as a difference maker who will play in the big leagues for more than a decade. Syndergaard was regarded as the Blue Jays' best pitching prospect by many scouts. He is a hard-throwing 20-year old who is capable of developing into a front of the rotation starter.

The Mets are starting to piece together a solid young nucleus for a few years down the road. They may not be contenders this season or the next, but they are rebuilding in the right direction. If you are a Mets fan, just hope for the best and check your minor league box scores to see how your future stars are doing as they grow and develop.

Hamilton Signs Five-Year Deal With Angels

Josh Hamilton will be hitting home runs for the Los Angeles Angels, rather than against them beginning next season. (Jim Cowsert)

Josh Hamilton has been a brute force in the AL West for the past five seasons. He will continue to be one for at least the next five seasons as well. The only change will be the uniform he is wearing. Hamilton has left the Texas Rangers to sign with their division rivals, the Los Angeles Angeles. The contract is a five-year deal worth $125 million.

According to the Rangers, they never got an opportunity to match the Angels offer. However, they made it clear from the very beginning that re-signing Hamilton wasn't a priority. Now, they will have to pay the price when they face the Angels each season. The answer on how to fill Hamilton's spot in the lineup isn't clear either. Craig Gentry will likely fill in defensively in center field, but doesn't have the bat to make up for Hamiliton's power bat at all. The Rangers will also be in the market for a designated hitter. Adam LaRoche and Nick Swisher are potential free agent options.

The Angels make another huge free agent signing here. Hamilton will now be paired with Pujols to give the Halos a 1-2 punch of former MVPs in the heart of their linuep. Add that to likes of Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales and the Angels have one of the best power lineups in baseball in the short term. Pair that with a solid rotation and they have positioned themselves for a run at the postseason. However, nothing is guaranteed as we found out with last season's Angels.

The other concern for the Angels is the length of these contracts they are giving out. While Pujols and Hamilton have been two of the best hitters in baseball, both have shown signs of declining as they get older. Health concerns are always there with Hamilton as well. He is leaving an evironment he had grown comfortable in. The Angels must work to quickly build trust and integrity between themselves and their new star.

It will be interesting to see how Hamilton does with a change in scenery. It is yet to be seen how much of an impact the slugger will have on the success of the Angels. Also, the reaction of the Rangers is still uncertain as well. We will have to wait and see how this affects the face of baseball over the next several seasons.

12 Best Athletes to Ever Wear No. 12

Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was a four-time Super Bowl champion wearing No. 12 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Fox Sports)

In honor of the date being 12/12/12, I thought it would be fitting to give tribute to the 12 best athletes to ever wear No. 12.

12. Bob Griese: Griese was a two-time All-American quarterback and kicker at Purdue. He was the No. 1 pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Griese is famous for quarterbacking the Dolphins to their perfect 1972 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

11. Jarome Inginla: Iginla has spent the entirety of his 15-year career as a member of the Calgary Flames. Despite never bringing home the Stanley Cup, he has made himself a local legend. Inginla has scored 516 goals in his career, including 81 game-winning goals. He will be a lock for the Hall of Fame when ever he does decide to retire.

10. Dickie Moore: Moore was among the NHL's best shooters and puckhandlers of his time. As a member of the Montreal Canadiens, he led the NHL in goals and assists once time each. Moore played an important role on six championship teams, including five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956-60. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

9. Yvan Cournoyer: Cournoyer donned No. 12 for the Canadiens throughout his 17-year career after getting it from Moore. He finished his career with 428 goals and 435 assists. Cournoyer won the Stanley Cups 10 times, which is the second most in NHL history. He was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1982.

8. Thierry Henry: Henry is one of the best footballers of this generation. He was a member of the French national team that won the World Cup in 1998. Henry became an international star in the English Premier League as a top striker for Arsenal. During his career with The Gunners, he earned nearly every award the sport has to offer.

7. John Stockton: At point guard, Stockton led the Utah Jazz to 19 consecutive playoff appearances, but was never able to bring a NBA championship home. He led the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons. Stockton finished with a NBA record 15,806 assists, which is 3,800 more than the next closest player.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

6. Jim Kelly: Kelly is the only player in Buffalo Bills history to have his number retired. This honor is likely the result of leading the Bills to four consecutive losses in the Super Bowl. During his 11-year career, Kelly made 160 starts and threw 237 career touchdown passes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

5. Roger Staubach: As a quarterback for Navy, Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. He then served his tour of duty in Vietnam. Staubach returned home to lead the Dallas Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl championships. He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

4. Joe Namath: Namath is more of a legend because of his swagger, rather than his actual statistics. He guaranteed a win in Super Bowl III and delivered on his promise.  When Namath wasn't acting in movies and television commercials, he threw for 27,663 passing yards in his football career. Just like Staubach, he was a part of the 1985 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Tom Brady: Brady was a sixth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2000. He took over the starting job after Drew Bledsoe was injured in Week 2 of the 2001 season and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title. Brady has thrown for 43,812 yards (nearly 25 miles) and 329 touchdowns. He is a two-time MVP and has won three Super Bowls.

2. Roberto Alomar: Regarded by many as the greatest second baseman of all time, Alomar was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and led the Toronto Blue Jays to back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.  Alomar wore No. 12 for each of the eight teams he played for during his career. His 2,724 career hits and 1,1,34 RBIs led to his Hall of Fame induction in 2011.

1. Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw didn't put up huge statistical numbers, but he knew how to lead his football team to victories. He finished his career with a 107-51 record and four Super Bowl rings. Bradshaw was named MVP of the NFL in 1978 and was also the Super Bowl MVP twice. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Honorable Mention: Michael Jordan
Jordan made the No. 23 famous, but was forced to wear No. 12 for one game in 1990. On Valentine’s Day in Orlando, he had his jersey stolen from the locker room prior to the game. Jordan scored 49 points in 47 minutes, but the Bulls lost in overtime 135-129.

"That has never happened to me before,'' Jordan told the Orlando Sentinel at the time. ''It's pretty irritating because you're accustomed to certain things and you don't like to have things misplaced.''

Jordan may have been frustrated, but my guess is that the fans in Orlando were more than happy. They got to witness history in the making, Jordan have another outstanding game and their team pull off a surprising victory.

Analyzing the Indians-Reds-Diamondbacks Trade

Sin-Soo Choo is moving across the state of  Ohio to join the Cincinnati Reds due to a trade completed on Tuesday. (Peter G. Aiken)

The Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks all decided that change would be necessary to bring about higher levels of success in both the long and short term. On Tuesday, they agreed to trade some integral parts in order to help facilitate this change. As with any trade, there are winners and losers to be determined. My blog post looks at the three teams and what they received it return.

In my opinion, the Indians are the clear winners in this trade. They did up their best hitter in Sin-Soo Choo, but he is scheduled to be a free agent in 2013. They also gave up lefty reliever Tony Sipp and an aging first base prospect in Lars Anderson. In return, the Indians are getting a top prospect in starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, veteran outfielder Drew Stubbs and relief pitchers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers.

Choo was expected to leave to join a contender next offseason. Rather than get nothing for him, the Indians found a deal where they could still net a large return while giving up only one year of Choo's contract. Bauer is still very young and has all of the potential in the world. Stubbs will fill in nicely in the Indians lineup.

The Reds did well with this trade too. They acquired Choo for at least this coming season. He will be a force in his new lineup and always finds a way to have a very high on-base percentage. I like the addition of Choo into the lineup offensively. The only concerns I have are about the down grade defensively and the ability to sign Choo long term. Both issues will affect just how good this trade ends up being for the Reds.

The Diamondbacks did not fare nearly as well as its two counterparts. I know that Bauer did not always listen to those in authority over him and had a bit of strange personality, but they gave up on him way too soon. After all, he reached the majors at age 21 and was the third overall pick in the 2011 draft. I would have preferred they be more patient with him.

The package of prospects the Diamondbacks got in return for Bauer is disappointing as well. They must have huge expectations for shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius. Shortstop was a major need for this team, but Gregorius must show he can hit at a major league level before he can be an everyday player in the big leagues. The Diamondbacks will also hope to revive the career of another disappointing prospect in embattled first baseman Lars Anderson.

The full effect of this trade will still need a lot of time to be played out completely. I really like what Choo can add to the Reds offense this coming season. I also really like the potential Bauer has with the Indians if he is given time to develop fully. The Diamondbacks seem to have their work cut out for them. Gregorius and Anderson will have to produce in big ways to make up for the loss of Bauer.

Giants Complete World Series Sweep With Team Effort

San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo struck out Miguel Cabrera to win the World Series. (Ezra Shaw)

Seemingly everyone I talked to prior to the World Series wanted to talk about how amazing the Detroit Tigers were. They had the best pitcher in the world, the best one-two punch in their middle of the lineup and were coming off a sweep of the New York Yankees. I had more people tell me that the Tigers were going to sweep the San Francisco Giants and waltz their way to the World Series trophy and rings.

On paper, it certainly did seem that way. However, if I have learned anything from my almost 22 years of being a baseball fan, there's a reason they play the game. The unlikely becomes the likely. The Cinderella wins at the buzzer. The Hail Mary is somehow caught in a crowd in the endzone. You get the picture.

After he had only pitched two games this season, the Giants lost All-Star closer and fan favorite Brian Wilson to Tommy John surgery. On August 15, Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, who lead the National League in hits and was second in batting average, was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for testosterone. Their two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum struggled badly during the entire regular season, finishing with an ERA of 5.18. As the postseason approached, it was their rival Los Angeles Dodgers who pulled blockbuster trade after blockbuster trade in an attempt to win the NL West.

The Giants could have given up at any of these junctures. They seemed to have too big of obstacles to overcome. But they hung tough and won the division. Their reward was hosting the Cincinnati Reds to start the NLDS. In a best-of-five series, the Giants lost the first two games to the Reds.

They now knew that they had to win three straight in Cincinnati to rally and advance past the Reds. That is just way they did. When catcher Buster Posey hit his grand slam in Game 5, it felt like it was all over. He truly showed why he is one of the favorites to win the NL MVP.

In the NLCS, the St. Louis Cardinals came out strong and took a three games to one lead over the Giants. The Giants knew they would need to win three in a row to stay alive and advance once again. In Game 5, they were forced to give the ball to much maligned veteran pitcher Barry Zito. Zito though was lights out and propelled his team to pull off three straight wins. In Game 7, the Giants offense exploded for nine runs in their shutout win to advance to the World Series.

In Game 1 of the World Series, few people gave the Giants a chance against Tigers ace Justin Verlander. Verlander had been dominant all postseason, but the Giants got five earned runs off of him and chased him after only four innings of work. The Giants never looked back, winning the game 9-3.

In Game 2, the Giants gave the ball to a struggling Madison Bumgarner. In his first two starts of the postseason, he had an ERA of 11.52. But in the World Series, he throws seven scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, while striking out 8. The Giants won the game 2-0.

The series now shifted to Detroit. The Giants' Game 3 starter was 35-year-old journeyman Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong and Lincecum combined for eight scoreless innings. Closer Sergio Romo came in and closed out his second game in a row.

Looking to complete the sweep in style, the Giants took the Game 4 lead 3-2 on a Posey solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. But the Tigers designated hitter Delmon Young tied up the score again in the bottom half of the inning with a solo homer of his own. The score remained 3-3 heading into extra innings.

To lead off the top of the 10th inning, designated hitter Ryan Theriot hit a bloop single to right field for a base hit. Shortstop Brandon Crawford sacrificed Theriot over to second. The next batter, center fielder Angel Pagan, struck out for the second out. This brought second baseman Marco Scutaro to the plate with a man on second and two outs. On a 3-1 pitch, Scutaro singled to center and Theriot slide into home for the leading run.

Looking to protect a 4-3 lead, Romo came into to close out his third save in as many games. Romo dominated the Tigers first two batters, center fielder Austin Jackson and pinch hitter Don Kelly, and struck them both out on his lethal slider. This brought AL Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera to the plate with the World Series on the line. With the count 2-2, Cabrera fouled off a slider. He had to be waiting on another one with the next pitch because Romo's 89 mph fastball right down the middle froze Cabrera for a called strike three.

The Giants were World Series champions for the second time in three years. They did as a team and with some of the unlikeliest of heroes. Theriot, who scored the game-winning run, made his first start of the postseason in Game 4. Scutaro, who had the game-winning RBI, was an under-the-radar mid-season acquisition. Romo, who closed out the Giants last three wins of the World Series, was the team's third pitcher to assume the role of closer the team this season.

The Giants weren't the likeliest of World Series champions at any point this season. However, in the end, they played team baseball and stepped up when they needed to. As legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda once said, "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination." The Giants showed their determination throughout the season and now are World Series champions as a result.

Sandoval's Historic Performance Gives Giants Momentum

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval's historic three-homer performance could be the crucial series changer. (Doug Pensinger)

Very few people gave the San Francisco Giants much of a chance in the World Series prior to it's beginning. Even fewer gave them any hope of winning Game 1 with Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander on the mound.

"A Tigers sweep is likely," a knowledgeable baseball source told me this afternoon. I shook my head. These Giants never lay down and give up. They fought back and beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Why couldn't they at least battle in the World Series?

As it turns out, there was one Giants player who particularly believed in his team and wanted to show it right away. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs in his first three at-bats of Game 1, including two off of Verlander.

Sandoval became just the fourth player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a World Series game, joining legends Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols. The fact that two of the homers came off Verlander make the performance even more incredible.

In the first inning, Sandoval got an 0-2 fastball that was elevated from Verlander. However, he managed to get his bat up to it and cranked out a line drive 421 feet to center. How unlikely was this home run? According to ESPN, Verlander had not given up a 0-2 home run all season and only four in his entire career.

Sandoval's second plate appearance came in the third inning. After giving up a second run, Verlander threw two changeups in the dirt to Sandoval. This brought Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones out for a quick mound visit. Verlander's next pitch was a fastball on the outside corner. Sandoval connected and drove it just into the left field bleachers. His opposite-field power was on full display.

In the fifth inning, Sandoval now faced Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque. The 1-1 slider was almost in the dirt, but Sandoval decided to swing. He golfed into a beautiful arching homer into the center field crowd. Later on, Sandoval did add a single to finish the Giants 8-3 win 4-for-4 with three homers and four RBIs.

One of the amazing things about Sandoval's performance is none of the pitches his home runs came off were bad pitches. In fact, two of the three pitchers were out of the strike zone. The homers were simply pure strokes of genius by the man they call Kung Fu Panda.

With a performance like this and the fact that Giants are still at home, momentum is fully with the hosts. Their rolling offense will look to keep their strong play going against the Tigers' Doug Fister. The Giants will look to get starter Madison Bumgarner going. The lefty has struggled this postseason, but claims to be ready to turn things around when it matters most.

If the Giants go on to win the World Series, we will know that Sandoval's performance played a significant role in the outcome. What is certain is that folks will be talking about Kung Fu Panda's incredible night of work for a very long time.

World Series Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander has waited eight days to make his World Series Game 1 start. (Danny Moloshok)

World Series Game 1 - Detroit Tigers @ San Francisco Giants
Wednesday October 24 - 8:00 PM EST, FOX

Starting Pitchers

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers - Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball. I don't care what anyone else has to say. He is capable of getting it done in different ways. In his two playoff starts against the Oakland Athletics, he struck out 11 batters in both games. However, when he faced the New York Yankees in the ALCS, he only stuck out three. Verlander rarely has a bad outing and seems to always last deep into ball games to help out his far from rock solid bullpen.

Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants - Zito has been around baseball for a long time. His tumultuous ups-and-downs are well known among baseball fans and experts alike. Zito is ten years removed from his Cy Young campaign, but he is pitching like his vintage self as of late. In a must-win Game 5 of the NLCS, Zito came out and threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings, shutting down a previously red hot St. Louis Cardinals offense. If he is able to pitch anything like that in Game 1, we could be in for a very low scoring ball game.

Why Each Team Will Win

Tigers - They are well-rested and focused coming into the game and know the task set before them. They have the best pitcher in baseball starting the game. Their lineup is loaded and features one of the best one-two punches in baseball in Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. They also benefit from being fresher and healthier.

Giants - They have been playing everyday and their offense showed it's ready after beating the Cardinals 9-0 in Game 7. They have a long stretch of winning games with Zito on the mound, so that only has to help their confidence. They also benefit from the fact that the Tigers bullpen has been very shaky, especially closer Jose Valverde.

Prediction

Tigers 3 Giants 2 - It's just too hard to pick against Verlander here. He has been so dominant this postseason. I believe that Cabrera or Fielder will come up with a decisive hit late. My only concern is that if Verlander doesn't throw a complete game, I am not nearly as confident that Valverde or whoever else can close out the win.

Carpenter Leads Cardinals to Victory in Postseason Debut

Cardinals utility man Matt Carpenter hit a two-run home run in his first  at-bat of the postseason. (David J. Phillip)

The St. Louis Cardinals have a long history of unexpected postseason heroes. Tonight, they added one more player's name to that list. In his first at-bat of the postseason, utility man Matt Carpenter hit a two-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

As the game began, it appeared that this would be just another typical day where Carpenter rode the bench and helped fill out the roster. However, when Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran suffered a left knee injury running out a double play in the first inning, it was Carpenter who got called in to replace the injured veteran.

Carpenter wasted little time before making a huge difference. He came up to bat for this time with the San Francisco Giants leading 1-0 and two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Carpenter was set to face one of the best pitchers in baseball, Giants ace Matt Cain. He made full contact on a two-strike slider that soared deep into the crowd for a game-changing two-run home run.

The game lasted much longer after this play, but the Giants were never able to tie or regain the lead again. Carpenter's clutch hitting was vastly important to give the momentum and lead needed to help their bullpen successfully close out the game. He probably never even expected to play, let alone becoming the catalyst to bringing his team one step closer to a return to the World Series. You never discount the significance of a player on your team. They might just be waiting to have their Matt Carpenter moment of a lifetime when your team needs it the most.

Two Clutch Homers by Ibanez Lift Yankees Past Orioles

Yankees outfielder Raul Ibanez celebrates with his teammates after hitting his second homer of the game, a walk-off winner. (Alex Trautwig)

Playoff baseball has not disappointed this October. Tonight was no exception either. With the series tied at one game apiece, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles had a crucial Game 3 to play tonight. With both team's pitching staffs playing well, one knew that runs would be at a premium.

On the mound for the Yankees was Hiroki Kuroda. He pitched very well, but Baltimore made him for his few mistakes. In the top of the third, second baseman Ryan Flaherty hit a solo home run to put the Orioles on the board first. With the score level again in the fifth inning, third baseman Manny Machado took Kuroda deep again for a solo shot. When all was said and done, those were the only two runs Kuroda gave up in 8 1/3 innings of work.

His counterpart, Miguel Gonzalez, had a quality start as well. The only trouble he ran into was in the bottom of the third. Yankees catcher Russell Martin doubled to deep left. The next batter, Eric Chavez, grounded out to first base, but the runner advanced to third. With a man on third base and two outs, legendary shortstop Derek Jeter stepped into the batter's box.

On a two ball, two strike count, Jeter tripled to deep center over the head of Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. This tied the score up 1-1 then. Gonzalez threw seven strong innings of one run ball. In the bottom of the eighth, Orioles reliever Darren O'Day successfully bridged the gap with a scoreless inning of work to protect their 2-1 lead.

This brought Orioles closer Jim Johnson into the game to try and record the final three outs. Yankees left fielder Ichiro Suzuki led off the frame with a liner to left field, but it was caught by Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth for the first out. Next up was supposed to be the scuffling and much maligned third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Instead, Yankees manager Joe Girardi decided to pinch hit with outfielder Raul Ibanez. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Ibanez got a hold of the ball and deposited in the short porch in right field. That's all the scoring the Yankees got in the inning, but it was enough to send the game to extra innings tied 2-2.

The next time Ibanez came up to bat was to lead off the bottom of the 12 inning with the score still the same. The very first pitch he saw was crushed as the ball ended up in the right field bleachers once again. Ibanez had not only tied it in the ninth inning with a solo home run, but he won the game with one in the 12th.

The Yankees team couldn't be happier afterwards, including Rodriguez. Despite being the highest-paid player in baseball and one of the greatest power hitters of all-time, he was benched with the game on the line. However, there was no bitterness expressed by Rodriguez after the game. He told Girardi, "Joe, you gotta do exactly what you gotta do."

The Yankees gave it their all and played like a team tonight. They were rewarded with the win they deserved. Now, the Bronx Bombers are one win away from advancing to the ALCS. They will try and get the job done in Game 4, which is tomorrow night at 7:37 pm EST.

Giants and Athletics Win to Live Another Day

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brett Anderson threw six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. (Ezra Shaw)

October baseball is in the air folks. When it's the playoff, it ain't over until the fat lady sings. Neither the San Francisco Giants or Oakland have heard any singing as of yet. Both trailing 2-0 in a best of five series, they both won a must-win Game 3 to force at least one more game. My blog post recaps both teams' Game 3 performances.

Giants 2 Reds 1 (Final in 10)

The Reds had no problems scoring runs in the first two games in San Francico. However, at home, they found themselves in a pitcher's duel in Game 3. The Reds did get on the board first in the opening inning. Right fielder singled to right to allow shortstop Zack Cozart to score, making it 1-0. The Giants got the run back in the third inning. Center fielder Angel Pagan hit a fly ball deep enough in center to plate left fielder Gregor Blanco.

Those were the only runs surrended by the starting pitchers on the mound.  Giants veteran right-hander Ryan Vogelsong allowed only three hits in five innings of work, before being lifted for a pinch hitter. The Reds countered with Homer Bailey, who was absolutely superb. In seven innings of work, he allowed just one hit, while striking out 10 Giants batters. Both bullpens pitched excellently as well. This meant we were headed to extra innings tied 1-1.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Giants had men on second and third with two outs. Up to bat for the second time was backup shortstop Joaquin Arias. He hit a slow ground ball down the third base line. The home crowd to see what would happen at first base. As it turned out, that didn't matter because Reds veteran third baseman Scott Rolen bobbled the ball, giving Arias enough time to beat the throw to first base.

In the bottom half of the frame, Giants reliever Sergio Romo shut the door on the game with a 1-2-3 inning. Game 4 will be tomorrow afternoon at 4:07 pm EST.

Athletics 2 Tigers 0

Trailing the Tigers two games to none, the Athletics wasted no time getting their offense on the board early. In the bottom of the first, Coco Crisp lead off with a single. He was followed by shortstop Stephen Dew, who walked to bring rookie left fielder Yoenis Cespedes to the plate in a dangerous situation. Cespedes singled to center, but it was only enough to score one run.

On the mound for the Athletics, starting pitcher Brett Anderson was dominating the Tigers lineup. He worked six strong innings, allowing just two hits on only 80 pitches thrown. The home side added an insurance run in the fifth inning when designated hitter Seth Scott hit a solo shot to deep center to make the lead 2-0.

Unlike in Game 2, the A's bullpen was back to it's masterful ways. Ryan Cook threw a scoreless seventh inning. Sean Doolittle struck out the side in the eighth. Closer Grant Balfour wasted little time in the ninth. He induced Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder to ground in to a game-ending double play.

The Athletics got the job done when they needed to. Game 4 will be tomorrow night at 9:37 pm EST.

MLB Postseason Preview & Predictions

In Friday's AL Wild Card Game, the Orioles will rely on newly acquired starting pitcher Joe Saunders. (Ben Margot)

For each of the ten playoff teams, 162 games are in the books. Two of the teams will only play one more game. Others wait to find out where they will play their next game. Regardless, I am going to go ahead and predict what I think is going to happen for the entire postseason. Call me crazy if you wish, but what do I have to lose.

AL Wild Card Game - Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers - Friday, 8:37 PM EST, TBS

This is a very difficult pick because you don't know what you will get with either team. The Orioles are a young, inexperienced team that must go on the road to play in a high intensity atmosphere. They will turn newly acquired Joe Saunders on the mound. He has pitched well as of late, but has struggled badly against the Rangers in his career. Speaking of the Rangers, they lost nine of their last thirteen games to put themselves in this situation. They will give the ball to rookie Yu Darvish. He been very good lately as well, but will be making his postseason debut.

Prediction: Rangers 3 Orioles 1

NL Wild Card Game - St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves - Friday, 5:07 PM EST, TBS

For much of the season, people wondered if the Cardinals would have a chance to defend their status as reigning World Series Champions. They turned it on at the right time in the season to earn the NL's second wild card spot. They will turn to Kyle Lohse to the decisive game. If you told me before the season that Lohse would finish the regular season with a 16-3 record and an ERA of 2.86, I would have told you that you were absolutely crazy, but that is exactly he has accomplished. The Braves successfully avoided the meltdown they experienced last year when they missed the playoffs. They will have Kris Medlen on the mound. While this may seem like an interesing choice, the Braves haven't lost one of his starts in over two years.

Prediction: Braves 5 Cardinals 2

AL Divisional Series - New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers - Begins October 7

Since I have already talked about the Rangers, I will focus on the Yankees here. With the Orioles in hot pursuit, the Yankees had to be superb baseball to remain in first. Second baseman Robinson Cano is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Raul Ibanez has added some clutch hits. The Yankees pitching has improved lately as well.

Prediction: Yankees 3-1

AL Divisional Series - Oakland Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers - Begins October 6

How about them Athletics? In the stretch of three months, they have gone from 13 games out to winning the AL West. Without any real superstars and the lowest AL payroll. The Tigers held off the Chicago White Sox to win the AL Central. They must now look for a way to slow done the Athletics for one game.

Prediction: Tigers 3-2

NL Divisional Series - Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves - Begins October 7

Since the Braves have already been discussed, the focal point is here to look at the Nationals. Their magical season has earned their team home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A balanced offense is pushed by a talented pitching staff, lead by Gio Gonzalez.

Prediction: Nationals 3-2

NL Divisional Series - Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants - Begins October 6

The Reds have simply played balanced baseball this season. A mostly consistent pitching staff and reliable lineup allow them to easily win the NL Central. The Giants have had their share of ups and downs this season. While certain players have struggled and are no longer available, others have stepped up to fill their holes.

Prediction: Giants 3-2

AL Conference Series - New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers - Begins October 13

While the Tigers may have better individual players, such as Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, I believe that the Yankees are the better team from top to bottom.

Prediction: Yankees 4-2

NL Conference Series - Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants - Begins October 14

The main difference in this matchup is experience. How much of factor does it play? With a matchup this close, I've decided to use that as my deciding factor.

Prediction: Giants 4-2

World Series - New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants - Begins October 24

This would be an excellent matchup in all aspects of the game. When it comes down to separating the two sides, I believe that the Yankees have more depth in their lineup and pitching staff.

Prediction: Yankees 4-1

Bottomline: I am predicting the New York Yankees to win the World Series.

Athletics Beat Rangers to Force Decisive 162nd Game

Athletics starting pitcher Travis Blackely threw six innings of three-hit ball in his team's win over the Rangers.  (Ben Margot)

The Oakland Athletics had trailed the Texas Rangers for almost the entire season. Entering tonight's match, they were one game back in the AL West, but the odds seemed to be against them with starting pitcher Travis Blackely on the mound. In his last start, just five days ago, the Rangers knocked him out of the game on five runs in the first inning. Blackely looked to bounce back tonight with his team's divisional dreams on the line.

Blackley looked good Tuesday night, but it was the Rangers who got on the board first. In the top of the third, outfielder Josh Hamilton doubled home second baseman Ian Kinsler. That was the last hit Blackley gave up. He threw six innings of three-hit ball, allowing only the one run. The Athletics offense came alive in support of his efforts.

In the bottom of the fifth, catcher Derek Norris plated two on a RBI single. One inning later, it was Jonny Gomes, the designated hitter, hitting a solo shot to increase the Athletics' lead to 3-1. The A's bullpen was superb in support of Blackley as well. Sean Doolittle threw a scoreless seventh inning, Ryan Cook threw a scoreless eighth, and Grant Balfour threw a three up, three done ninth for his 24th save of the season.

A night after clinching their first playoff berth since 2006, things got even better for the Athletics. After trailing the Rangers by 13 games in the AL West on June 30, the A's have battled all the way back to tie the Rangers for the division lead. This means that the winner of tomorrow afternoon's season finale at 3:35 pm EST will win the AL West and avoid the Wild Card Game. The Athletics have taken a share of the division lead for the first time since March 29. One win tomorrow and none of that will matter.

Yankees Power Their Way to AL East Lead Once Again

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in his first game back in the lineup since September 8. (Elsa)

Entering tonight, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles were tied for the AL East lead. Both teams had one last three-game series against a division rival to end the season. The Yankees are hosting the Boston Red Sox, while the Orioles are in St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

Yankees 10 Red Sox 2
 
Sitting 23 games out of first place, the Red Sox simply hoped to play spoiler to the Yankees hopes of a division crown. Those plans got off to an abrupt start Monday night. The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name in the second inning. They tied a club record with four home runs in the inning. Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz only lasted 1 2/3 innings, giving up eight earned runs on six hits (three home runs).

Following his recovery from a strained left calf, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira returned to the Yankees lineup for the first time since September 8. He greeted Red Sox reliever Alfredo Aceves with a two-run slam to the second-deck. The Yankees scored nine runs on eight hits in the inning to break the game wide open.

Meanwhile, Yankees ace CC Sabathia was dealing on the mound. He threw eight strong innings, giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out seven. Freddy Garcia came out and threw a eight pitch ninth inning to complete the Yankees 10-2 victory.

Rays 5 Orioles 3

The Rays came into this final series holding onto the slimmest of playoff hopes.  They completed step one Monday night. The game began as a pitchers' duel between Rays starter Alex Cobb and Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen. The Rays struck the first blow of the game in the fourth inning on a solo shot by shortstop Ben Zobrist. In the seventh inning, Orioles catcher Matt Weiters answered with a solo home run of his own.

In the bottom half of the frame, Rays designated hitter Ben Francisco broke the deadlock with a sacrifice fly. Later that inning, catcher Chris Gimenez came through with the big hit, a two-RBI double to deep right. The Rays tapped on one more run in the eight to take the 5-1 lead into the ninth.

In their last at-bats of the game, the Orioles tried to make a comeback. They got halfway there on a two-run home run by right fielder Chris Davis. This forced the Rays to bring in their closer Fernando Rodney. Rodney struggled some, but still managed to close the door on the Rays 5-3 win for his 47th save of the season.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees now lead the AL East by one game. They have decided to start rookie David Phelps tomorrow against Red Sox starter Jon Lester. In the other pivotal matchup, the Orioles will go with Miguel Gonzalez against Rays ace James Shields. If the Yankees win and the Orioles lose, the Yankees will win the division. The Rays must win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Both games tomorrow are scheduled to begin shortly after 7:00.

Phillies and Brewers Charging Into NL Wild Card Race

The Milwaukee Brewers' Norichika Aoki had a crucial double to help lift the Brewers to a 5-0 win over the Braves. (The Candian Press)

The Philadelphia Phillies have been disappointing all season. Underachieving meant that two of their best players, Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino, ended up being traded. The Phillies pitching staff has been pretty solid all season (as expected). What wasn't quite up to par yet was the lineup and bullpen. All of a sudden, both have gotten hot as of late.

Winners of five straight coming into Tuesday night's game at home against the Miami Marlins, the Phillies looked to build upon their recent success. The Phillies got off to a great start when they scored three runs in the first inning. On the mound, Phillies ace Roy Halladay unexpectedly struggled. Lasting 6 1/3 innings, he gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Phillies veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run home run to increase their lead to 8-3. However, during the top of the seventh, the Marlins scored four runs to pull within one run, trailing 8-7. In the bottom half of the inning, Rollins hit a sacrifice fly to score an insurance run.

The lead was handed over to the Phillies' spotty bullpen. With the two-run lead in place, their relievers began pitching quite well. B.J. Rosenburg and Phillippe Aumont kept the lead intact, earning both of them their second hold of the season. In the ninth inning, Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon threw a scoreless inning to seal the team's 9-7 victory.

Coming off a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves the previous night, the Milwaukee Brewers looked to keep their winning going at home Tuesday. Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks got the scoring started with a solo shot to center for the 1-0 lead. That is all the offense that starting pitcher Marco Estrada got while he was pitching. As it turned out, that proved to be enough as Estrada threw scoreless baseball into the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson hit Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez with a pitch to load the bases. Then, shortstop Jean Segura grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out as one run came into score. The next batter was pinch hitter Taylor Greene, who hit an RBI-single to center field. Right fielder Norichika Aoki capped off the big inning with a RBI-double. When it was all said and done, the Brewers had scored three runs to take a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Brewers cushioned their lead a little bit more on a solo home run by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. As far as the bullpen was concerned, relievers Jim Henderson, Francisco Rodriguez, and Brandon Kintzler pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to complete the 5-0 shutout.

The NL Wild Card race is wide open. With the Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals all struggling in the thick of the race, teams like the Phillies and Brewers have come out of nowhere to join the playoff picture. As a result of their wins tonight, both the Phillies and Brewers now have a 71-71 record and stand four games out of the second wild card spot.

If you had told me during the summer that the Phillies and Brewers would be in the playoff hunt in September, I would have said you were crazy. However, this is baseball, and it always seems as though anything is possible. While some things are more likely than others, it is nearly impossible to predict what will really happen. It will surely be an exciting race to the end in the National League.

Adam Greenberg is Attempting Unexpected Comeback

Years after suffering a tragic injury, Adam Greenberg is striving to comeback and record his first official major league at-bat. (Getty Images)

In July 2005, Adam Greenberg was one of many promising prospects in the Chicago Cubs farm system. He was called up to the majors that same month. On July 9, 2005, the 24-year-old Greenberg was called to pinch hit in the ninth inning. The first pitch he saw from Florida Marlins reliever Valerio de los Santos was a 92 mph fastball that struck him square in the head.

Greenberg has suffered from post-concussion symptoms, vertigo and blurred vision ever since. After playing in three other club's minor league systems, he never returned to the majors. Greenberg spent the last three seasons playing for the independent league Bridgeport Bluefish. Recently, he has been invited to play on Team Israel's qualifying team that is seeking their inaugural entry into the World Baseball Classic.

Greenberg still has the desire to return the majors. Many people have caught word of his aspirations and are looking to support him in any way possible. Chicago-born filmmaker Matt Liston has started a film-based campaign called "One At-Bat" to tell Greenberg's story and to present their plan to give him one major league at-bat.

Liston's campaign is seeking to convince the Cubs to give Greenberg one major league at-bat during their October 1-3 series against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. The series has no bearing upon any of the postseason drama. The now 31-year-old Greenberg is in excellent shape for his age. His recent experience in minor league baseball will only help his chances.

While Greenberg's comeback is unlikely to be fulfilled, Liston and other supporters have started an online petition to help convince the Cubs to let him play once more. I have signed the petition to support Greenberg's return to the majors. Seven years after the accident, he deserves the opportunity to do what was freakishly taken away from him. The commitment that Greenberg has shown to keep playing baseball and to persevere through the pain deserves to be commended. If you agree with that, I encourage you to sign the petition and to help spread the word about it.

Harper Homers Twice But is Ejected in Nationals Win

Nationals young phenom Bryce Harper had his first multi-homer game of his career, but was also ejected in the ninth inning. (Marc Serota) 

The NL East-leading Washington Nationals had been in a bit of a slide going into tonight's series finale at the Miami Marlins.They had lost five in a row and saw their lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East shrink to four games. Before tonight's game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson decided to give his players a pep talk. They had only totaled six runs during the five-game losing streak. This is not the time of year for the lineup to start going cold.

The Nationals responded to Johnson's message in a big way. They went off on the Marlins pitching to the tune of 8 runs on 14 hits. Their young hitting phenom, Bryce Harper, led the way offensively with two homers, making the game his first multi-home run game of his career. The accomplishment was great, but things went south in the ninth inning. Harper ended up hitting a ground ball that turned into a double-play. After he was called out at first base, he spiked his helmet and nearly hit first base umpire C.B. Bucknor. Bucknor rightfully ejected Harper immediately. After the game, Johnson told reporters that Harper lost his temper and was verbally reprimanded for his behavior.

The Nationals listened to Johnson's advice about hitting. Now, it is time for Harper to listen to what Johnson has to say to Harper about his temper tantrums. They are immature, embarrassing, and have no place in the game of baseball. Harper must learn to mature and to control his feelings. The Nationals need Harper in their lineup. There's no question about that. But if he is subjecting his place in the lineup to injury, ejection, and suspension, he is not doing what is best for his ballclub. Harper needs to mature and grow up. He needs to realize that when he does, he will become a more complete and better player.

King Felix Keeps Amazing Streak Going With Shutout of Twins

Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez smiles after finishing his complete-game shutout of the Minnesota Twins. (Jim Mone)

Tonight, the Seattle Mariners traveled to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins. Two very different pitchers were on the mound. The Mariners had their ace Felix Hernandez ready to go. Hernandez is of course one of the best pitchers in all of baseball and is only twelve days removed from throwing a perfect game. The Twins countered with a young, 23-year-old Aussie named Liam Hendriks. Hendriks has had his ups and downs this season as a starting pitcher. He has been sent back down to Triple-A twice this year and is still looking for his first major league win in 14 career starts.

As the game got underway, Hernandez quickly found his cruise control. Unexpectedly, Hendriks began to match him pitch for pitch. Both had shutouts going through seven innings of work. Hendriks had only needed 68 pitches to make it through his first six innings. He was locked in as never before. In the top of the eighth inning, Hendriks made one small mistake. He threw a fastball that caught a little bit too much of the plate. The problem is that the batter, Mariners right fielder Eric Thames, got enough of it to hit it out of the park for a solo home run. Meanwhile, Hernandez finished off what he started. In the bottom of the ninth, he induced a double play ball off the bat of Twins first baseman Justin Morneau to seal the Mariners 1-0 victory.

While Hernandez does have the ability to blow one away with his fastball, he also has the ability to use finesse and control to get the job done. The latter is what he did tonight. King Felix induced a staggering 16 ground ball outs compared to only five strikeouts and three flyouts. Mariners shortstop Brandon Ryan, who gets to observe from behind the working ace, explained how it works to reporters after the game. He said, "It's a different kind of great. He's not trying to throw 96 by you. He's letting the action and location dictate."

King Felix has been incredibly dominate lately, but it is not just because of this performance or the perfect game he threw. Over his last fourteen starts, Hernandez is 9-0 with a 1.40 ERA and five shutouts. No other pitcher in baseball even has an ERA of under 2.00 during this span. In his last 109 inning pitched, King Felix has only given up two home runs.  No other pitcher has given up that few even in a minimum of 60 innings pitched. Hernandez's five shutouts since mid-June is the most any Major League pitcher has thrown in an entire season since Tim Belcher in 1989.

Hendriks pitched the game of a lifetime matching one of the best in baseball. He might not have earned his first major league win, but this performance has to build his confidence as a pitcher. Hendriks has nothing to be ashamed of for how he pitched in any way. Meanwhile, King Felix continues to pitch unbelievably well. His current streak is not only dominant, but historic in many different ways. One can consider so many amazing statistical accomplishments of Hernandez. One last one to consider is that in his 27 starts this season, he has given up one earned run or less in 16 of those starts. King Felix is no doubt one of the best pitchers in baseball. He reminded us why once again tonight.