Pittsburgh, PA (Best E Casino) - CC Sabathia pitched a controversial one-hit shutout, striking out 11 as the
Milwaukee Brewers defeated the
Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-0, to sweep the three-game series at PNC Park.
Sabathia held the Pirates hitless for the first four innings, but Andy LaRoche led off the fifth with an infield single. The Pittsburgh third baseman hit a slow roller down the third-base line and Sabathia bobbled it, allowing LaRoche to reach first for the home team's lone hit of the game.
"They threw hit on the board, before LaRoche hit that (first base) bag," groused Brewers manager Ned Yost. "It's a play that CC makes easily, he should have threw him out by 10 feet. He accomplished a no-hitter and wasn't given what he deserved."
The Brewers will send a DVD and a written explanation to Major League Baseball protesting the scorer's ruling in an attempt to get the call changed. If the play winds up being called an error, Sabathia will have recorded the second no-hitter in franchise history.
"I feel they'll probably change it to an error," LaRoche countered. "I like to think it was a hit, you know he (Sabathia) try to barehand it. Don't deserve a hit, but that happens."
Sabathia (9-0) also walked three batters and has won a career-high 12 straight decisions over his last 16 starts which began on June 10, while he was still with the Indians. Sabathia was a disappointing 6-8 in 18 starts with the Cleveland Indians before a midseason trade brought him to Milwaukee for a myriad of prospects. He now has 10 career shutouts to go along with 25 complete games.
Juan Nieves pitched the only no-hitter in Brewers history, a 7-0 win over Baltimore on April 15, 1987. Sabathia is the sixth pitcher in franchise history to toss a one-hitter and first since Teddy Higuera, on September 1, 1987.
Rickie Weeks hit a solo homer and Bill Hall had a two-run double for the Brewers, who have won 10 of their last 13 games. Gabe Kapler chipped in with a pair of RBI in the win. Milwaukee is now 4 1/2 games behind Chicago for first place in the National League Central. The Cubs lost 5-3 to Philadelphia on Sunday. The Brewers remain 5 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies in the race for the NL wild card.
Jeff Karstens (2-4) suffered the loss after going 6 1/3 innings. The right- hander gave up three runs on five hits while walking a batter without picking up a strikeout. The Pirates have lost 10 straight and 14 of their last 16 games.
Weeks led off the game, launching a 3-2 fastball into the left field stands to give the Brewers the early lead.
Sabathia held the Pirates hitless for the first four innings before giving up the infield base hit to LaRoche to lead off the fifth.
Milwaukee added to its lead in the seventh. Corey Hart started things with a one-out ground-rule double and, after Kapler drew a walk, Hall doubled to center, scoring both runners to make it a 3-0 game.
The Brewers broke it open in the seventh, plating four more. Craig Counsell and Ryan Braun each singled with one out, putting runners on first and second. Prince Fielder then ripped an RBI base hit to left and a wild pitch by Sean Burnett and a two-run double by Kapler made it 7-0.
Game Notes
Pittsburgh begins a 10-game road trip on Tuesday night at Cincinnati, while Milwaukee starts a 10-game homestand on Monday against the New York Mets...Milwaukee has won 11 of its 12 matchups with the Bucs this season, including four of the five meetings in the Steel City...Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson left the game in the top of the ninth inning with a contusion on his right middle finger.
