The year of the pitcher continued and Matt Garza became the fifth pitcher to throw a no-hitter this year in the Tampa

Matt Garza no-no

Bay Rays 5-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. It was actually the sixth no-no if you count the Jim Joyce debacle.

Although the final score was 5-0, the majority of the game was a pitchers’ duel. Garza’s opponent, Max Scherzer threw 5-plus innings of no-hit ball before the wheels came off in the sixth.

After Kelly Shoppach struck out to begin the 6^th inning, the Rays loaded the bases on two walks and a catcher’s interference call. Scherzer then struck out Carlos Pena, and looked like he might be able to escape the jam and continue to pursue his no-hitter.

That vision was erased when ex-Tiger Matt Joyce drilled a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. One hit and four runs. After Joyce emptied the bases and broke up Scherzer’s no-no, all the attention turned to Garza, who had allowed just one base runner, a walk to Boesch in the second inning.

After retiring the side in both the seventh and eighth innings, Garza returned for the ninth already having thrown 107 pitches. It took Garza six pitches to retire Don Kelly for the first out of the inning. He then struck out Gerald Laird on four pitches, putting him in position to make history and pitch the first no-hitter in Tampa Rays history.

Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago made contact on a 1-1 pitch from Garza, but it was a harmless fly ball to right field, which Ben Zobrist put away to seal the game.

Garza was mobbed by teammates on the mound, and now will have his name forever etched in baseball history. His final pitching line was 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 120 pitches.

The no-hitter comes at a great time for Garza and the Rays, who had both cooled after a tremendous start to the year.

The Rays were in first place early in the year, and looked like the best team in baseball for a while. They currently trail the Yankees by three games, and could use this to build momentum in the near future.

Garza also started off the year well, holding down a 3.08 ERA through the month of May. Since the start of June however, Garza had a 5-1 record which hid his terrible 6.60 ERA.

Here are some interesting tidbits on Garza’s no-hitter:

 This was the first no-hitter in Rays history, leaving the San Diego Padres and New York Mets as the only teams left without a no-hitter . . .

The five no-hitters thrown so far this year are the most since 1991 . . .

Garza previously threw a one-hitter in 2008 . . . 

The Rays have been involved in three of the no-hitters this year, as they were previously no-hit by Dallas Braden (OAK) and Edwin Jackson (ARZ) . . .

Garza faced the minimum 27 batters . . .

Used with permission of the author.

 Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig may have just taken the title of worst commissioner in the history of professional sportsaway from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and for that he gets the Sports Climax Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week.

In a sports world where the NHL relies on verifying with video footage that a puck is in the net and the NFL that two feet are inbounds on a TD pass, after yesterday’s interview, Selig appears to be comfortable allowing human error to continue to create controversy in his sport.

Selig has been saturated in controversy over the past few decades with many accusing him of ignoring the steroid abuse issues that were prevalent and obvious during the 1990’s when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were playing home run derby.

We know how Selig has managed to skirt around issues involving  several other situations including the Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds perjury investigations and the uncovering of A-Rod and several other player’s syringe use.

The more recent issues surround the blatant, game-changing calls that his umpire crews have been making. Some of these blunders, like those made during recent playoffs, have sent hard-working organizations home packing earlier than they should have been.

More recently the Jim Joyce “three-blind-mice- I-have-my-head-up-my-ass” call that took a perfect game from a young Detroit pitcher now has center stage.

That said the buzz about expanding the instant replay had gathered more steam than a locomotive; that is until yesterday when Selig all but squashed the concept.

In an interview with the AP, Selig said he will continue to look at expanding the use of instant replay in baseball, but doesn’t think it will happen this year—if at all. WTF!

“I doubt it, but I wouldn’t ever say never. It’s worked out well.”

SLAP! That line deserves a good bitch-slappin’. What has worked out well? Allowing crews to make blunders that advance the biggest market New York Yankees to another playoff series?

Wouldn’t determining the correct winners for the fans as often as possible be considered working out well?

Making changes that limit mistakes and blunders your blind umpire crews seem to be making on a more consistent basis would be considered working out well.

On another note, these calls have affected our country’s legal gambling systems. Some of these calls have affected the final score or winners as in several MLB Playoff games in the past meaning the people who have wagered on that game have been cheated.

Logical minds who run the NFL and NBA and even Bettman’s NHL have realized how advantageous it is to utilize video replay technology but Selig continues to hide behind some sort of curtain that many of us cannot figure out. How could he not want to reduce those occurrences and limit mistakes?

Selig went on to say in the interview that he “wants to do what I think is best for the sport.”

If that were true Mr. Selig than many people would say then you should resign.

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Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

DETROIT – Let’s play a name game, ‘Bill Buckner’. Okay now that you have the image of the star Red Sox player letting the dribbler through his legs during the 1986 World Series to allow the New York Mets to get up off the mat and defeat the Boston Red Sox, let’s toss another name out there, MLB umpire ‘Jim Joyce’.

Joyce has been calling balls and strikes behind the plate as a full-time major league umpire since 1989 and before last night was known and respected enough to be involved in two World Series, 11 other playoff series and a pair of All-Star games.

But after last night’s Bill Buckner moment, Joyce will forever be remembered for altering MLB history with one of the most asinine, missed calls in the history of sports.

With two outs in the 9th inning at Comerica Park in Detroit, young starter Armando Galarraga was one out away from pitching the first perfect game in the Detroit Tigers franchise history.

The final batter hit a ground ball, the play was made at 1st base and as the crowd and players were ready to erupt in celebration, Joyce called the runner safe.

After the game, replays clearly showed the runner was out and the game should have been over. After the game, Joyce apologized to Galarraga and the Tigers.

Apology NOT accepted.

Why, because that play wasn’t even close by umpire standards. These guys nail split-second plays at first all year long. This runner was out by almost a half-step. If the play were even closer, in a situation like that with a perfect game on the line on a home field, only a moron like Joyce would make that gaffe.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has the power to reverse Joyce’s blunder since the umpire admitted he made the incorrect call and the replays verified the runner was out:

“It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the shit out of it. I just cost that kid a perfect game.”

ESPN reported that Selig would likely consult with his top advisers before reversing the call and I believe he will do the right thing and give the franchise their first perfect game. This reversal would have no bearing on the final 3-0 score in the shutout over the Cleveland Indians.

While we await Selig’s decision, Joyce is scheduled to be behind the plate in Detroit for this afternoon’s game between the same two teams, hope his skin is as thick as armor.

Like Buckner’s play that rocked the baseball world, still to this day, this timing of Joyce’s blunder may follow the umpire around for the rest of his career.

The gaffe also gives a ton of ammo to proponents for expanding the instant replay for MLB.

An anti-Joyce Facebook page was created shortly after the game and a website called firejimjoyce.com was launched.

In the meantime, welcome to the Bill Buckner Hall of Shame, Mr. Joyce.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC