Jered Weaver Tosses No-Hitter over Twins; Carlos Beltran Drives in 7 as Cards Rout Pirates

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 2, 2012

American League

Weaver: No-Hitter

Since signing onto a monster contract with the Angels after the 2011 season, Albert Pujols has still not hit a home run in the American League, but the Angels still have reason to be hopeful, as ace starter Jered Weaver snuffed the Minnesota Twins with a no-hitter.

The Angels won the game, 9-0, as Weaver worked over the struggling Twins' lineup, fanning nine as he improved to 4-0 on the year. It was the first no-hitter of Weaver's seven-year career, and the second American League no-no in less than two weeks. On April 21, White Sox hurler Phil Humber threw a perfect game at Seattle.

Weaver was close to a perfect game, but a passed ball by catcher Chris Ianetta on a strikeout of Chris Parmalee in the third inning and a walk to Josh Willingham in the seventh were two-out spoilers.

Weaver threw 121 pitches, 77 for strikes, completely dominating and baffling the Minnesota batters.

Even though LA swept the three-game set, the Angels remain in last place in the AL West, however, their 10-15 record seven games off the pace being set by the Texas Rangers.


National League

Beltran: 2HR, 7RBI

Carlos Beltran - a valuable, free agent, off-season pick-up from San Francisco - began the season hitting in the #2 hole for St. Louis, but, since Lance Berkman went on the 15-day DL April 19 with a strained left calf, he's been filling in at the cleanup spot.

That lineup move paid off in spades Wednesday night as Beltran went 4-for-5 with two singles and a pair of three-run homers for seven RBI in St. Louis' 12-3 stomping of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Both of Beltran's blasts came off Pirate starter AJ Burnett, who was rocked for 12 hits and 12 earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. The Cardinals scored four runs in the first, three in the second and five in the third inning. After bombing Burnett, St. Louis got five more hits, for a total of 17, but did not score against Pittsburgh's relievers.

Beltran

The home win was the second straight over Pittsburgh in which St. Louis scored in double figures, having beaten the Pirates, 10-7, on Tuesday. The Cardinals extended their NL Central lead to 4 1/2 games over the Reds, 3-1 losers to the Cubs Wednesday night. Houston swept three from the Mets and tied Milwaukee for third place in the division, 5 1/2 back.

NOTABLE: Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz drove in seven runs in a 15-13, 11-inning loss to Atlanta with a pair of doubles and his fourth home run of the season for struggling Philadelphia. The Braves trail the Nationals by 1/2 game in the NL East. Philadelphia is in fourth place, 3 1/2 out.