| Washburn wins rare duel of complete games |
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| Written by Admin |
| Wednesday, 25 April 2007 20:55 |
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Jarrod Washburn won a rarity, beating Joe Blanton on a night when both pitchers threw complete games. Washburn pitched a three-hitter for his third career shutout, leading the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 2-0 Wednesday. ``I was pretty locked in,'' Washburn said. ``It's one of the best games I've ever pitched. I was by no means dominating, but I was able to make them mis-hit the ball.'' Washburn (1-2) struck out two and walked two in his first complete game since a rain-shortened, five-inning blanking of Kansas City for the Angels on July 3, 2005. Blanton (2-1) pitched a six-hitter for Oakland but gave up homers to Jose Guillen and Kenji Johjima. Only four times last year did a pair of opposing pitchers throwing complete games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and one of those was shortened. The game lasted 1 hour, 47 minutes, the quickest nine-inning game for the A's since 1979. ``It really helps you get into a routine,'' Blanton said. ``At the same time, as soon as you sit down, you're getting back up. It made for a quick game.'' In other games it was Cleveland 8, Texas 7 in 11 innings; Los Angeles 9, Tampa Bay 1; Boston 6, Baltimore 1; Detroit 6, Chicago 2; and Kansas City 4, Minnesota 3. Toronto's game at New York was rained out. At Oakland, Washburn retired 15 of his final 18 batters. He allowed just one runner to reach second and matched his low-hit complete game, set against the White Sox on May 8, 2001. ``He had that nasty changeup that was dominating and his command was great,'' Johjima said through an interpreter. ``His command was great. He was in a groove.'' Indians 8, Rangers 7 Jhonny Peralta singled home the winning run with one out in the 11th. Victor Martinez doubled down the right-field line off Willie Eyre (1-1) leading off the 11th and took third on Kelly Shoppach's single. After Jason Michaels struck out, Peralta grounded a single just out of the reach of diving third baseman Hank Blalock. Visiting Texas struck out 19 times, a Rangers' record, and Blalock and Brad Wilkerson fanned four times apiece. Fernando Cabrera (1-0), the last of seven Cleveland pitchers, struck out five over two innings. Angels 9, Devil Rays 1 Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson hit two-run doubles, and Los Angeles scored six unearned runs off three errors by visiting Tampa Bay. John Lackey (3-2) allowed a run and seven hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking two. He is 7-1 against the Devil Rays. Edwin Jackson (0-3) gave up four runs - three earned - and eight hits in six-plus innings for the Devil Rays, coming off a two-game sweep at home of the New York Yankees. Red Sox 6, Orioles 1 Curt Schilling (3-1) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings as Boston won the opener of a trip that takes the Red Sox to Yankee Stadium this weekend. After losing two straight to Toronto by a combined 17-6, Boston scored five runs over the final three innings to avoid what would have been its first three-game skid of the season. David Ortiz hit a go-ahead single off Jamie Walker, and Alex Cora hit his first homer for the Red Sox, who have won 16 of their last 19 against the Orioles. Daniel Cabrera (1-2) gave up three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. Tigers 6, White Sox 2 Chad Durbin (1-1) struck out a career-high nine in eight scoreless innings at Chicago, and Magglio Ordonez had three hits and three RBIs against his former team. Joel Zumaya couldn't complete the shutout, walking four and allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Todd Jones finished off the four-hitter for his eighth save by getting Brian Anderson to ground out with the bases loaded. Rookie John Danks (0-3) fell behind 3-0 in the first and allowed four runs in six innings. Royals 4, Twins 3 David DeJesus and Mike Sweeney combined to send Minnesota to its first four-game losing streak since last June 3-7 against Oakland and Seattle. DeJesus had three hits, including a home run, and Sweeney also homered for Kansas City. Odalis Perez (2-2) beat the Twins for the second time in six days, allowing three runs and five hits in six-plus innings. Joakim Soria got five outs at the Metrodome for his third save. Sidney Ponson (1-3) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. |
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