Yankees break up Cabrera's no-hitter in ninth inning
| Orioles | 7 |
| Yankees | 1 |
NEW YORK -- The most astonishing thing about Daniel Cabrera's near no-hitter was the mighty lineup it came against.
Cabrera got within two outs of a stunning gem against the star-studded Yankees before Robinson Cano slapped a clean single to left, and the Baltimore Orioles beat New York, 7-1, last night.
Flashing a fastball that touched 97 miles per hour, Cabrera overcame three errors behind him and cruised into the ninth inning with a chance to make history at Yankee Stadium. But after Johnny Damon grounded weakly to first, Cano punched an 0-and-1 delivery to the opposite field for New York's only hit -- drawing a roar from the crowd of 54,046 and a pained expression from Cabrera, who turned around to watch the ball and then grimaced.
``I thought it was a really good pitch," he said. ``I made the right pitch. He's a good hitter, and he hit it."
On the next offering, Bobby Abreu bounced into a game-ending double play.
``I'm really happy and excited. It's the best game I ever pitched," said Cabrera, who lives about 2 minutes from Cano in the Dominican Republic.
``He's not my friend anymore," Cabrera joked.
Cano, batting .343 in his second big league season, was 0 for 9 against Cabrera in the majors before his single, though Cabrera said Cano got him twice in winter ball.
``I wasn't thinking about breaking it up," Cano said. ``Just go to the plate and get a hit."
After coming tantalizingly close to Baltimore's first no-hitter in 15 years, Cabrera (9-10) was left with his third career complete game and second this season. He struck out five and walked two, throwing 71 of his 106 pitches for strikes.
The 25-year-old righthander nearly became the first pitcher to toss a complete-game no-hitter against the Yankees since Orioles knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in 1958. New York was no-hit at home by six Houston pitchers on June 11, 2003.
The Yankees, who already clinched the AL East title and are playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs, rested Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. But every other regular in New York's powerful lineup was on the field.
``That just goes to continue to prove a well-pitched game will shut down any ball club," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson combined on Baltimore's last no-hitter, on July 13, 1991, against Oakland. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was the last Orioles pitcher to throw his own no-no, on Aug. 13, 1969, also against the Athletics.
Ramon Hernandez hit a three-run homer off Darrell Rasner (3-1) and a solo shot for the Orioles.
