Seattle starting pitcher Felix Hernandez becomes the third pitcher to throw a perfect game this year after he blanks the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 Wednesday in Seattle.
“King Felix” was outstanding, establishing his fastball early and then getting 12 strikeouts with a variety of breaking balls and off speed pitches; his last out was a called third strike that sent the crowd into a frenzy and Hernandez into celebration mode.
In other American League games, Los Angeles downs Cleveland 8-4; Baltimore takes over the first wild card lead with a 5-3 win over Boston; Detroit hammers Minnesota 5-1; Kansas City nips Oakland 3-2; Chicago tops Toronto 9-5 and New York nips Texas 3-2.
In the National League, reigning All Star MVP Melky Cabrera has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for use of testosterone and Cabrera said in a statement he got the positive test “for use of a substance I should not have used.” He will miss the rest of the regular season.
In action on the field, Washington tops the Giants 6-4 as Stephen Strasburg wins his 14th game; Los Angeles is now in first place in the NL West after ripping Pittsburgh 9-3; Cincinnati thumps New York 6-1; Colorado edges Milwaukee 7-6; Chicago tops Houston 7-2; Florida breaks a 30 inning scoreless drought and rips Philadelphia 9-2; St.Louis downs Arizona 5-2 and Atlanta takes care of San Diego 6-1.