redlegsfan21
07-08-2006, 12:00 PM
By The Associated Press
One early pitch was all that prevented John Lackey from throwing a perfect game.
The Angels' right-hander set down 27 consecutive batters after allowing Mark Kotsay's leadoff double Friday night, winning his third straight start in Los Angeles' 3-0 victory at Oakland.
"John was as locked in as we've seen him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
And just about as locked in as anyone can be. Lackey delivered the AL's most impressive pitching performance on a night that included three shutouts and dominant gems by Jeremy Bonderman, C.C. Sabathia and Jaret Wright.
Lackey (7-5) matched his career high with 10 strikeouts and threw a one-hitter to beat All-Star Barry Zito. It was the right-hander's fourth shutout, and first since a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay on May 7, 2004.
"I knew I was pitching well, but I wasn't aware that nobody got on base until after the game," said Lackey, who had to adjust his footing to keep from slipping. "I knew I hadn't been in the stretch for a while."
In other AL games, it was: Detroit 6, Seattle 1; Cleveland 9, Baltimore 0; New York 1, Tampa Bay 0; Boston 7, Chicago 2; Kansas City 13, Toronto 3; and Texas 9, Minnesota 4.
Robb Quinlan hit a two-run homer and Chone Figgins added a solo shot off Zito (8-6), who lost his third straight start.
Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base safely in 63 consecutive games - the longest run in the majors since at least 1960. Ted Williams holds the record with 84 straight games in 1949.
After Kotsay doubled to start the first inning, Lackey got 27 consecutive outs. He extended his scoreless streak to 17 2-3 innings in a game that lasted 2 hours, 1 minute.
The last pitcher to retire 27 batters in a row following a leadoff hit was Jerry Reuss of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11, 1982, against Cincinnati.
"Lackey had a career night," said Zito, who went eight innings. "He was as dominant as he's ever been. You can't fight that."
Booed when his name was announced before the game, Lackey faced the A's for the first time since May 2, when Oakland catcher Jason Kendall charged the pitcher after Lackey threw inside and yelled at him. Both players were ejected and Kendall was suspended four games.
Lackey, who combined on a five-hit shutout in a 4-0 win at Dodger Stadium last Sunday, worked ahead in the count all night and matched his strikeout high for the second consecutive outing. In an efficient, 109-pitch performance, he did not walk a batter and threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of his last 23 hitters.
"When he started retiring guys in the seventh inning, we realized we didn't have any baserunners," Kotsay said. "He retired 27 in a row with guys giving away at-bats."
http://sports.myway.com/news/07082006/v2407.html
One early pitch was all that prevented John Lackey from throwing a perfect game.
The Angels' right-hander set down 27 consecutive batters after allowing Mark Kotsay's leadoff double Friday night, winning his third straight start in Los Angeles' 3-0 victory at Oakland.
"John was as locked in as we've seen him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
And just about as locked in as anyone can be. Lackey delivered the AL's most impressive pitching performance on a night that included three shutouts and dominant gems by Jeremy Bonderman, C.C. Sabathia and Jaret Wright.
Lackey (7-5) matched his career high with 10 strikeouts and threw a one-hitter to beat All-Star Barry Zito. It was the right-hander's fourth shutout, and first since a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay on May 7, 2004.
"I knew I was pitching well, but I wasn't aware that nobody got on base until after the game," said Lackey, who had to adjust his footing to keep from slipping. "I knew I hadn't been in the stretch for a while."
In other AL games, it was: Detroit 6, Seattle 1; Cleveland 9, Baltimore 0; New York 1, Tampa Bay 0; Boston 7, Chicago 2; Kansas City 13, Toronto 3; and Texas 9, Minnesota 4.
Robb Quinlan hit a two-run homer and Chone Figgins added a solo shot off Zito (8-6), who lost his third straight start.
Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base safely in 63 consecutive games - the longest run in the majors since at least 1960. Ted Williams holds the record with 84 straight games in 1949.
After Kotsay doubled to start the first inning, Lackey got 27 consecutive outs. He extended his scoreless streak to 17 2-3 innings in a game that lasted 2 hours, 1 minute.
The last pitcher to retire 27 batters in a row following a leadoff hit was Jerry Reuss of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11, 1982, against Cincinnati.
"Lackey had a career night," said Zito, who went eight innings. "He was as dominant as he's ever been. You can't fight that."
Booed when his name was announced before the game, Lackey faced the A's for the first time since May 2, when Oakland catcher Jason Kendall charged the pitcher after Lackey threw inside and yelled at him. Both players were ejected and Kendall was suspended four games.
Lackey, who combined on a five-hit shutout in a 4-0 win at Dodger Stadium last Sunday, worked ahead in the count all night and matched his strikeout high for the second consecutive outing. In an efficient, 109-pitch performance, he did not walk a batter and threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of his last 23 hitters.
"When he started retiring guys in the seventh inning, we realized we didn't have any baserunners," Kotsay said. "He retired 27 in a row with guys giving away at-bats."
http://sports.myway.com/news/07082006/v2407.html