evanreyes
04-28-2002, 12:38 AM
SEATTLE (AP) - Ted Lilly came close to pitching the second no-hitter in the major leagues Saturday, but lost his bid and the game, too.
Desi Relaford singled with one out in the eighth inning, driving in the game's only run and giving the Seattle Mariners their only hit in a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
Earlier Saturday, Boston's Derek Lowe pitched the major leagues' first no-hitter of the season, a 10-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Only once in modern major league history have two no-hitters been thrown in one day.
Lilly (0-2), who had never pitched more than seven innings as a starter in the major leagues, walked Dan Wilson with one out in the eighth inning, and pinch-runner Luis Ugueto took second on a wild pitch.
Relaford then lined a single into right field on a 2-2 pitch as Ugueto easily scored. Lilly immediately backed up home, then hung his head a little bit as he returned to the mound.
Freddy Garcia (3-2) allowed five hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked one, and Kazuhiro Sasaki finished for his seventh save in eight chances.
Derek Jeter singled with one out in the ninth and Robin Ventura walked with two outs, but Sasaki struck out Rondell White to end the game.
Lilly, who struck out eight and walked one, began the season as a reliever in the Yankees' bullpen, but is in the rotation because Sterling Hitchcock has been sidelined since spring training and Andy Pettitte is on the disabled list with a sore left elbow. Lilly, a 26-year-old left-hander, wound up with the Yankees' 58th one-hitter.
After hitting Jeff Cirillo with a pitch in Seattle's second at-bat, Lilly (0-2) retired 17 consecutive batters before plunking Cirillo again in the seventh.
The only day since 1900 there ever were two major league no-hitters thrown was June 29, 1990, when Oakland's Dave Stewart accomplished the feat against Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela did it against St. Louis.
White had saved the no-hit bid with a diving catch of Bret Boone's liner to left in the seventh inning. Wilson hit one to the warning track in right field in the fifth that was caught by John Vander Wal.
Relaford entered the game hitting just .216 in 35-bats this season. He had lined out to second base in the third inning and flied out to left field in the sixth.
Seattle played without right fielder and leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki, who cut his left knee Friday after running into the right-field fence. He had four stitches and was held out for precautionary reasons.
Notes: Lilly's longest stint in the major leagues had been 7 2/3 innings in relief against Tampa Bay last Sept. 26. ... It was the first time the Yankees were shut out this season. ... Yankees manager Joe Torre needs three victories to become the fifth manager in team history to win at least 600 games. ... The 46,047 fans who attended the game Saturday marked the biggest regular-season crowd in Safeco Field history. The previous largest was 46,036 on opening day this year. ... The last no-hitter against Seattle was by the Yankees' Dwight Gooden in 1996.
Desi Relaford singled with one out in the eighth inning, driving in the game's only run and giving the Seattle Mariners their only hit in a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
Earlier Saturday, Boston's Derek Lowe pitched the major leagues' first no-hitter of the season, a 10-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Only once in modern major league history have two no-hitters been thrown in one day.
Lilly (0-2), who had never pitched more than seven innings as a starter in the major leagues, walked Dan Wilson with one out in the eighth inning, and pinch-runner Luis Ugueto took second on a wild pitch.
Relaford then lined a single into right field on a 2-2 pitch as Ugueto easily scored. Lilly immediately backed up home, then hung his head a little bit as he returned to the mound.
Freddy Garcia (3-2) allowed five hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked one, and Kazuhiro Sasaki finished for his seventh save in eight chances.
Derek Jeter singled with one out in the ninth and Robin Ventura walked with two outs, but Sasaki struck out Rondell White to end the game.
Lilly, who struck out eight and walked one, began the season as a reliever in the Yankees' bullpen, but is in the rotation because Sterling Hitchcock has been sidelined since spring training and Andy Pettitte is on the disabled list with a sore left elbow. Lilly, a 26-year-old left-hander, wound up with the Yankees' 58th one-hitter.
After hitting Jeff Cirillo with a pitch in Seattle's second at-bat, Lilly (0-2) retired 17 consecutive batters before plunking Cirillo again in the seventh.
The only day since 1900 there ever were two major league no-hitters thrown was June 29, 1990, when Oakland's Dave Stewart accomplished the feat against Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela did it against St. Louis.
White had saved the no-hit bid with a diving catch of Bret Boone's liner to left in the seventh inning. Wilson hit one to the warning track in right field in the fifth that was caught by John Vander Wal.
Relaford entered the game hitting just .216 in 35-bats this season. He had lined out to second base in the third inning and flied out to left field in the sixth.
Seattle played without right fielder and leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki, who cut his left knee Friday after running into the right-field fence. He had four stitches and was held out for precautionary reasons.
Notes: Lilly's longest stint in the major leagues had been 7 2/3 innings in relief against Tampa Bay last Sept. 26. ... It was the first time the Yankees were shut out this season. ... Yankees manager Joe Torre needs three victories to become the fifth manager in team history to win at least 600 games. ... The 46,047 fans who attended the game Saturday marked the biggest regular-season crowd in Safeco Field history. The previous largest was 46,036 on opening day this year. ... The last no-hitter against Seattle was by the Yankees' Dwight Gooden in 1996.