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Near-perfect Buehrle helps White Sox rout Rangers

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle smiles as he celebrates with his teammates after the White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 in a baseball game in Chicago on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

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.

"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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