MAJOR LEAGUES
Josh Beckett pitched the first no-hitter of his decorated career and the first in the majors this season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 on Sunday.
Beckett struck out six batters, walked three and did not come close to allowing a hit against a lineup that included two former National League Most Valuable Players and four former All-Stars.
Photo: AFP
The 34-year-old right-hander, who needed surgery last year after a nerve condition left him unable to feel his fingertips, threw 128 pitches. He fanned Chase Utley on a called strike three to end the game.
Beckett (3-1) pitched the Dodgers’ first no-hitter since Hideo Nomo beat Colorado at Coors Field in 1996 and the 21st in franchise history. Sandy Koufax threw four.
It was first no-hitter in the majors since Henderson Alvarez of the Miami Marlins did it against the Detroit Tigers on the final day of last season.
Photo: AFP
Beckett became the first visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Philadelphia since Montreal’s Bill Stoneman in 1969 at Connie Mack Stadium.
A three-time All-Star, Beckett was the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 World Series.
In Atlanta, Georgia, Evan Gattis homered twice to support Julio Teheran’s six scoreless innings as the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 7-0.
Justin Upton and Chris Johnson added two-run homers for the National League East-leading Braves, who have won six of eight.
Also in the National League, Jimmy Nelson pitched 5-2/3 scoreless innings in his season debut for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins, while Ian Desmond hit a pair of RBI singles as the Washington Nationals ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1.
In other National League games, the San Diego Padres edged the Chicago Cubs 4-3, the Arizona Diamondbacks split a doubleheader with the New York Mets 2-1 and 2-4, the San Francisco Giants downed the Minnesota Twins 8-1 and the St Louis Cardinals blanked the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.
In the American League, World Series champions the Boston Red Sox lost their 10th straight game, falling into their longest slump in 20 years and brawling with the Tampa Bay Rays during an 8-5 defeat.
Rays pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez connected for a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning. Yunel Escobar hit a two-run double later in the inning and then took third on defensive indifference, setting off the fracas.
Escobar, Rodriguez and Jonny Gomes of the Red Sox were all ejected.
In Detroit, Michigan, Alex Rios tripled and drove in three runs as the Texas Rangers rolled to a 12-4 rout of the Tigers, while Edwin Encarnacion homered and J.A. Happ won his third straight start as the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of Oakland, beating the Athletics 3-1.
In other American League games, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 4-2, the New York Yankees downed the Chicago White Sox 7-1, the Los Angeles Angels edged the Kansas City Royals 4-3 and the Houston Astros were 4-1 winners over the Seattle Mariners.
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