Rookies Dominate: A's Jarrod Parker One-Hits Rangers Through Eight; Colorado's Christian Friedrich Shuts Out Arizona Over Seven

Players of the Day for Monday, June 4, 2012

American League

After losing two of three to the Angels, the Texas Rangers still led the AL West by 4 1/2 games as they traveled up the coast to Oakland for a four-game series with the A's.

In Monday's opener, the Ranger offense fell flat against the pitching of A's starter, Jarrod Parker, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. That's when 2005 AL batting champ and last season's hits leader (213), Michael Young, produced the only hit off the rookie.

Jarrod Parker

Parker, aided by two double plays and a throw-out of Josh Hamilton by catcher Keith Suzuki, didn't allow a runner past first base, walking three while striking out six in the 12-1 rout.

After Parker finished the eighth without further damage, reliever Jim Miller worked the ninth. Mike Napoli homered for the lone Texas run. Brandon Inge socked a three-run homer in the A's eight-run second inning and drove in four runs; Seth Smith went 4-for-5 as Oakland piled on the runs.

Parker, now 2-2, carries a 2.40 ERA through eight starts after his quest for immortality. The A's and Rangers continue their series Tuesday night in Oakland.


National League

Christian Friedrich

With their eyes affixed on third place in the NL West, the Colorado Rockies finally got a superb pitching performance from their beleaguered staff - with the highest ERA in the league, at 4.97 - on the arm of rookie starter Christian Friedrich, who limited the Diamondbacks to four hits and no runs over seven full innings.

Friedrich, 4-1, threw 113 pitches, walked two and fanned four, while fellow rookie, battery-mate, Wilin Rosario, drove in a pair of runs with a single and his ninth home run of the season to pace the Rockies to the 4-0 win.

Colorado's victory left them 1/2 game behind the D'Backs in the division, 9 1/2 games back of the Dodgers. The game was the first of a three-game series at Arizona, so the Rockies have the opportunity to overtake the Diamondbacks for third place with a victory in the middle game of the series, Tuesday night.

The Rockies have won two straight and six of heir last seven, but remain a sub-.500 team at 24-30 after a horrible start to the 2012 campaign. Arizona is 3-4 over their last seven.

San Francisco has made up a ton of ground on the Dodgers, trailing by just three games, in second place after winning four straight. The Dodgers are just 4-6 over their last 10 games.