Bush loses no-hitter but throttles Phillies
Dave Bush held Philadelphia hitless for 7 1/3 innings before pinch hitter Matt Stairs homered off the foul pole, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the host Phillies, 6-1, yesterday.
Several innings after World Series MVP Cole Hamels was forced to leave after getting hit in the left shoulder by Prince Fielder's line drive, Bush (1-0) became the big story on the mound.
Right after third baseman Bill Hall made a tremendous play to preserve Bush's no-hit try, Stairs batted for reliever Chad Durbin and launched a high fly that hit the pole in right.
Bush gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings. He drew a standing ovation when he left after Shane Victorino's single. The righthander walked three and struck out four.
Ryan Braun and Hall homered for Milwaukee, and Fielder contributed a three-run double.
Hamels (0-2) struck out six in the first three innings. One pitch after giving up Braun's two-run homer in the fourth, Hamels was struck on the front of his left shoulder by Fielder's liner. He left with a bruise.
Mariners 1, Rays 0 - Ichiro Suzuki lined James Shields's second pitch for a home run and ace Felix Hernandez (3-0) pitched four-hit ball over seven innings in host Seattle's win over Tampa Bay.
David Aardsma pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts and Brandon Morrow earned his fifth save in five chances as the first-place Mariners finished their initial homestand of the season 5-4.
Cardinals 12, Mets 8 - Albert Pujols homered twice, Kyle Lohse improved to 3-0, and host St. Louis completed a three-game sweep.
Rick Ankiel homered and doubled twice and Skip Schumaker hit a pair of RBI doubles as the Cardinals punished Livan Hernandez (1-1) and won their seventh in a row at home. New York lost its fourth straight.
Dodgers 2, Astros 0 - Chad Billingsley (4-0) pitched three-hit ball into the eighth and Manny Ramírez and Casey Blake each drove in a run, leading visiting Los Angeles.
Blue Jays 5, Rangers 2 - Alex Rios hit a two-run homer, Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay also connected, and Scott Richmond won his second straight start for host Toronto.
Indians 5, Royals 2 - Grady Sizemore greeted reliever Ron Mahay with a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth and Kansas City wasted a strong effort by Gil Meche in a loss in Cleveland.
Orioles 6, White Sox 2 - Adam Eaton took a four-hitter into the eighth to earn his first victory with Baltimore, and the Orioles roughed up Bartolo Colon in a win over visiting Chicago.
Angels 10, Tigers 5 - Matt Palmer pitched into the seventh to earn his first major league victory and Torii Hunter hit a go-ahead home run for host Los Angeles.
Reds 7, Cubs 1 - Aaron Harang (2-2) allowed only one unearned run over seven innings and Joey Votto homered, doubled twice, and singled, leading visiting Cincinnati past Chicago. 