Mark Buehrle pitched the first no-hitter of the Major League Baseball season on Wednesday -- and he was nearly perfect, too.
The Chicago White Sox left-hander faced the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers, throwing his team's first no-hitter since 1991.
Buehrle allowed only one baserunner, walking Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth inning, then promptly picking him off first base.
PHOTO: AP
"I can't believe I did it," Buehrle said. "A perfect game would have been nice, too."
On a chilly night, Buehrle threw 105 pitches. His previous low-hit game was a one-hitter against Tampa Bay on Aug. 3, 2001. It was the 16th no-hitter in White Sox history and first since Wilson Alvarez threw one at Baltimore on Aug. 11, 1991.
It was the first no-hitter pitched against the Rangers since June 17, 1995, when Toronto's David Cone threw one in a 4-0 win.
Jim Thome homered twice -- giving him 477 for his career -- and Jermaine Dye hit a two-out grand slam in the fifth off Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (2-2).
Yankees 9, Indians 2
At New York, Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading ninth homer and Kei Igawa limited Cleveland to a pair of runs over six innings.
Rodriguez hit a two-run drive in the sixth off reliever Tom Mastny, and leads the majors with 23 RBIs.
Jeremy Sowers (0-1) allowed six runs and nine hits in 2 2-3 innings for the Indians.
In other AL games it was:
* Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1
* Athletics 3, Angels 0
* Royals 4, Tigers 3, 10 innings
* Orioles 6, Devil Rays 4
* Twins 5, Mariners 4
John Maine took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the New York Mets scored four times before Dontrelle Willis retired a batter in a 9-2 win over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday.
Miguel Cabrera's sharp single broke up Maine's bid to become the first Mets pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Three batters later, Joe Borchard hit a two-run homer.
Maine (2-0) struck out seven and walked four in seven innings. Aaron Sele and Aaron Heilman completed the three-hitter.
David Wright, who went 2-for-5, singled in the second inning to extend his career-best hitting streak to 25 games, a franchise record over two seasons for the Mets. Hubie Brooks (1984) and Mike Piazza (1999) share the one-season record of 24 games in a row.
Willis (3-1) allowed 10 hits and eight runs, seven earned, in five innings.
Carlos Beltran homered and drove in three runs for New York. Jose Reyes went 4-for-6 and scored twice.
Astros 7, Reds 2
At Cincinnati, Jason Lane hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, completing a rally that lifted Houston to a win over Cincinnati.
In other NL action it was:
* Nationals 5, Phillies 4, 13 innings
* Braves 8, Cubs 6
* Brewers 7, Pirates 3
* Rockies 7, Dodgers 2
* Diamondbacks 5, Padres 2, 12 innings
* Giants 6, Cardinals 5, 12 innings
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