No-hitter lost, game isn't

Betemit breaks up Morrow's bid

Seattle Mariners' Brandon Morrow defeated the Yankees in his first start, coming within a double of a no-hitter. (John Froschauer/Associated Press)

Brandon Morrow's bid to become only the second pitcher in modern history to throw a no-hitter in his first major league start ended when pinch hitter Wilson Betemit doubled with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners held on to beat the New York Yankees, 3-1, last night in Seattle.

The 24-year-old righthander, whose 100 previous big league outings were all in relief, blanked the Yankees until Betemit, batting for Jose Molina, lined a clean drive far over right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. The hit scored Hideki Matsui, who had walked with one out.

Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns is the lone pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first big league start, doing it against the Philadelphia Athletics May 6, 1953. Cincinnati's Bumpus Jones pitched one against Pittsburgh Oct. 15, 1892, and Ted Breitenstein did it for the American Association's St. Louis team against Louisville Oct. 4, 1891, according the Elias Sports Bureau.

It's been nearly 50 years since the last complete-game no-hitter against the Yankees: The Baltimore Orioles' Hoyt Wilhelm did it Sept. 20, 1958.

Phillies 3, Mets 0 - Brett Myers (9-10) buzzed through the Mets' lineup, pitching eight dominant innings in New York, and leading Philadelphia to a victory that cut its NL East deficit to two games.

Greg Dobbs hit a two-run homer off Mike Pelfrey (13-9), and the Phillies took the opener of a crucial series between the top teams in the division.

Reds 10, Cubs 2 - Jay Bruce hit his first career grand slam and Joey Votto added a two-run homer, an all-rookie power display that sent host Cincinnati to a victory on a day when nothing went right for first-place Chicago.

Manager Lou Piniella got lost on his way to the ballpark. Starter Ted Lilly lasted a season-low two innings. And the Cubs' losing streak reached a season-high six games against a team already eliminated from the race.

White Sox 10, Angels 2 - Juan Uribe homered twice, Paul Konerko added a solo shot, and Mark Buehrle pitched six shutout innings to help host Chicago beat Los Angeles in a meeting of division leaders.

Uribe showed again he can help the White Sox at third as Joe Crede deals with a sore back.

Brewers 3, Padres 2 - CC Sabathia pitched seven strong innings, but host Milwaukee needed a RBI single from J.J. Hardy in the 11th to beat San Diego.

The win snapped the Brewers' four-game losing streak and got them within four games of the Cubs.

Sabathia has not lost in 12 starts since he was acquired by the Brewers on July 7.

Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 0 - Andre Ethier went 5 for 5 and drove in a career-high five runs, Derek Lowe held visiting Arizona to two hits over eight innings and Los Angeles cut the Diamondbacks' AL West lead to a half-game.

Twins 10, Tigers 2 - Justin Morneau hit a grand slam and Francisco Liriano threw seven solid innings to help Minnesota snap its three-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Detroit.

Braves 10, Nationals 5 - Rookie Brandon Jones's three-run double capped a seven-run third inning, and Kelly Johnson had three hits and two RBIs in host Atlanta's victory over Washington.

Indians 9, Royals 3 - Victor Martinez reached base four times in his return to catching after elbow surgery, helping Cleveland beat the Kansas City for its 10th straight road win.

Athletics 11, Orioles 2 - Rajai Davis's grand slam was the only Oakland hit in an eight-run eighth inning, and the Athletics topped the six-run barrier for the first time in 41 games, beating host Baltimore.

Rockies 5, Astros 3 - Clint Barmes homered, Ubaldo Jimenez won for just the second time in a month, and Colorado ended Houston's eight-game winning streak with a victory in Denver.

Marlins 4, Cardinals 1 - Dan Uggla singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and Florida won in St. Louis.

Pirates 7, Giants 0 - Zach Duke pitched a six-hitter to snap a career-worst nine-game skid and Pittsburgh ran its winning streak in San Francisco to seven with a victory when a light earthquake rattled the area during the game.