Verlander Throws 2nd Career No-Hitter; Gallardo One-Hits Cards over 8; Ethier Streak Snapped

Players of the Day for Saturday, May 7, 2011

American League

Justin Verlander

It was just one of those days. Betters struggled to make contact as six teams were shut out across the majors.

While shutouts are fine and laudable, no-hitters are gems in the rough, and that's what Justin Verlander had, stifling the Toronto Blue Jays right in their own yard.

Verlander faced the minimum 27 batters, as he was perfect until walking J.P. Arencibia with one out in the 8th inning, but got Edwin Encarnacion to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Needing just 108 pitches - 74 strikes - Verlander finished his second career no hitter by getting Rajai Davis flailing at strike three, his fourth strikeout in the 9-0 Detroit win.

Verlander is just 3-3 on the season, and the Tigers are still scuffling along in 3rd place in the AL Central, seven games off the pace set by Cleveland, but at least for the day, they're on top of the world.

National League

On Friday, the Brewers couldn't touch Jaime Garcia, as the Cardinal lefty was perfect through eight innings, eventually settling for a 2-hit shutout.

Yovani Gallardo

On Saturday, Yovani Gallardo answered the challenge, throwing a no-hitter through seven innings, until Daniel Descalso spoiled it with a single to lead off the eighth. Gallardo finished the frame, then handed the pitching chore over to closer John Axford, who tossed in a perfect 9th for to 4-0 Milwaukee win.

Gallardo (3-2) finished with the one-hitter, allowing four walks and striking out six. He also was fine in the field, starting a 1-6-3 double play that ended the seventh inning.

Needing 118 pitches to get through the 8th inning was apparently enough to set Gallardo down for the ninth. He threw only 69 strikes.


SNAPPED: Andre Ethier fell a game short of tying willie Davis for the longest hitting streak in Dodger history when he wore the collar in an 0-for-4 effort against the Mets. The Dodgers went down to their 4th straight loss, falling to the Mets, 4-2.