Top News:
Mark Saxon / MLB:
Angels' Weaver tosses 2nd no-hitter of season … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver pitched the second no-hitter of the 2012 baseball season and the first at Angel Stadium in 37 years on Wednesday night, breezing through the Minnesota Twins lineup with only scant resistance.
Discussion:
ESPN, Batter's Box Interactive …, Halos Heaven, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and baseballmusings.com
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Globe and Mail:
Angels' Weaver throws no-hitter against Twins — Jered Weaver pitched the second no-hitter in the majors in less than two weeks, completely overmatching Minnesota and leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-0 win over the Twins on Wednesday night. — Weaver struck out nine and walked one.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town, Associated Press, AaronGleeman.com and TMZ.com
Landon Hall / Boston Herald:
Twins manager Gardenhire says his team played like Little Leaguers — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Minnesota Twins have the worst record in baseball, with the worst pitching staff. And they got steamrolled by one of the best pitchers in the game Wednesday night, Jered Weaver.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Joe Christensen / Around the Majors:
Postgame: Weaver feasts on Twins; Gardenhire fumes — Postgame: Weaver feasts on famished Twins offense; Gardenhire fumes — Angels righthander Jered Weaver threw his no-hitter Wednesday night by feasting on a Twins offense that looked completely inept for most of the series.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Associated Press:
Blanton's rare shutout leads Phillies by Braves … ATLANTA — Joe Blanton pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout in five years and Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Discussion:
Purple Row and Associated Press
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Associated Press:
Chipper blast gives Braves 15-13 win over Phils — ATLANTA (AP) — Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning and the Atlanta Braves overcame Carlos Ruiz 's seven RBIs to outlast the Philadelphia Phillies 15-13 on Wednesday night. — The seesaw game saw the Braves rally …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Talking Chop, The Good Phight and Associated Press
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Chris Schwinden roughed up by Chris Johnson and Houston, Astros complete sweep of NY Mets with 8-1 win — Mets finish six-game road swing 2-4 — Chris Schwinden struggles in four innings on Wednesday, allowing five runs on six hits, including two homers to Houston's Chris Johnson (below).
Discussion:
ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, New Jersey Online and New York Times
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Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Astros complete sweep with 8-1 win over Mets
Astros complete sweep with 8-1 win over Mets
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Ben Lindbergh / Baseball Prospectus:
Spoiling the Bunch — If you've paid any attention to the 2012 season, you know that Albert Pujols has yet to hit a home run. The three-time MVP, fresh off the first homerless month of his career, is hitting just .208/.252/.287 with career-worst walk and strikeout rates.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Clark Spencer / Boston Herald:
Giancarlo Stanton rescues Marlins with home run in 10th inning against Giants — SAN FRANCISCO — It was Giancarlo Stanton to the rescue on Wednesday. — Stanton's solo home run in the 10th inning propelled the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 victory over the Giants after relievers Heath Bell …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Sandoval has broken hamate bone in left hand — Third baseman missed 41 games last year with broken right hand — Pablo Sandoval, the Giants' third baseman and second-leading hitter, has a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. — The Giants placed Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Associated Press:
Beltran Powers Cardinals to 12-3 Rout of Pirates — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Carlos Beltran drove in a career-best seven runs with a pair of three-run home runs and RBI single in the first three innings, leading the way as the St. Louis Cardinals punished A.J. Burnett and the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-3 on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Associated Press:
A's take series against Red Sox, win finale 4-2 — Brandon McCarthy beat an AL East opponent once again, holding Boston to one run over 6 2-/3 innings as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Red Sox [team stats] 4-2 Wednesday night. — Seth Smith drove in a pair of runs for Oakland.
Discussion:
Boston Herald and Yahoo! Sports
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Middlebrooks promoted; Youkilis on DL
Middlebrooks promoted; Youkilis on DL
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster and Minor League Ball
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cook to start Saturday in place of Beckett
Cook to start Saturday in place of Beckett
Discussion:
Boston Globe and HardballTalk
Mark Winegardner / ESPN:
Paying it forward — The Mets' cash troubles are epitomized by the story of Bobby Bonilla — Fred Wilpon's (left) business relationship with Bernie Madoff led the Mets into a mess. — LAST JULY, in her New York office, a financial planner by the exquisitely apt name of Jennifer Prosperino received …