Before Clay Buchholz made his major league debut two weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox told him he was going back to the minors — even if he pitched a no-hitter. Got to keep the kid now. The 23-year-old rookie pitched that no-hitter in just his second outing, using a dazzling three-pitch assortment of fastballs, curves and changeups to beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-0 Saturday night.
The Florida Marlins never gave the Philadelphia Phillies a chance. Hanley Ramirez had three hits, including two during a seven-run first inning, and the Marlins stopped the Phillies’ winning streak at six games with a 12-6 win on Saturday night. Starter J.D. Durbin failed to retire a batter for Philadelphia, which fell three games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets and began the night two…
Rick Ankiel had another big day, raising his average to .354. No one would believe he used to be a pitcher. Ankiel drove in three runs a day after hitting his first career grand slam, and Yadier Molina had three RBIs and homered for the second straight game in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 11-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander David Wells dropped the appeal of his seven-game suspension he drew while with the rival San Diego Padres and began serving the punishment Saturday night. Wells will miss his next scheduled start Wednesday at the Chicago Cubs. That start will be made by left-hander Eric Stults.
Paul Byrd pitched a four-hit shutout, and Cleveland beat the Chicago White Sox 7-0 Saturday night for the Indians’ eighth straight win. Byrd (14-5) has won his last four starts and seven of his last eight decisions. It was his fifth career shutout. Casey Blake and Travis Hafner drove in two runs apiece while Franklin Gutierrez and Kelly Shoppach homered, helping Cleveland maintain its 5 1/2 -game…
The Houston Texans traded former first-round pick Jason Babin to the Seattle Seahawks for strong safety Michael Boulware on Saturday. “I heard that I’m going to Seattle,” Babin said. “We knew it was a possibility. It’s the way football goes. Just do what you can while you’re here.” Babin, a defensive end and the 27th pick in the 2004 draft, started every game as a rookie but lost his starting role in…
Jeff Burton turned a late pit stop and fresh tires into a NASCAR Busch Series win Saturday night at California Speedway.
Earlier this season, the losses kept piling up for Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Called up Saturday to start against the Braves in the midst of a tight pennant race, the young right-hander turned it all around. Pelfrey allowed one hit in six innings to win his first game of the season after seven losses, and Carlos Delgado, Lastings Milledge and Carlos Beltran each hit solo home runs to help the New…
Alex Rodriguez never got rattled during the big bat flap Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Even more impressive, neither did youngster Ian Kennedy. Rodriguez homered and drove in four runs to back Kennedy’s stellar major league debut, leading the New York Yankees to a 9-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
