This Day in Baseball: May 5th

[The Nac]

May 5th

• • 1904 - Cy Young tosses the first perfect game in American League history defeating Rube Waddell and the Philadelphia A's, 3-0. The Red Sox right-hander's gem is the first perfect game thrown in the majors since the distance between the mound and plate was changed from 45 feet to 60 feet, six inches in 1893.
• • 1955 - Dodger rookie hurler Tommy Lasorda, making his first major league appearance, ties a record by throwing three wild pitches in the first inning of a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals. The future Dodgers' Hall of Fame skipper, who will compile a lifetime record of 0-4, will not get a decison in his debut which will also will include being spiked by Redbird Wally Moon covering a play at home plate.
• • 1962 - In just his fourth big league start, Bo Belinsky throws the first no-hitter in the Angels history and the first one ever tossed at Dodger Stadium, beating the Orioles, 2-0. The 25-year old southpaw is only the tenth major league rookie to ever accomplish the feat.
• • 1999 - Beating the Cubs, 13-6, the Rockies become only the third team in the 1900's to score a run in every inning. The Cardinals also accomplished the feat against the Cubs in 1964 and Giants scored in every frame against the Phillies in 1923.
• • 2000 - Cardinals' first baseman Mark McGwire hits the longest home run in the 30-year history of Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field, but the 473-foot shot isn't enough as Ken Griffey Jr.'s homer leads the Reds past St. Louis, 3-2.
• • 2000 - For the first time in team history, the Rangers overcome an eight-run deficit beating the A's, 17-16. The teams tie (Red Sox and A's - June 29, 1950) an American League record as 18 players score, including every starter.
• • You can find more fun facts at http://www.nationalpastime.com/

This shot was taken September 22, 2002, where the famous "voice of the Tigers" Ernie Harwell said his final goodbyes to the Tiger faithful as that would be the last game he broadcast. The collective sports world mourns as it lost Ernie yesterday to a long battle with cancer. At 92 years old, Harwell lived a long and happy life, and in regards to his sports career, he began broadcasting Tigers game in 1960. He will remain a legend, and will be sorely missed.
My warmest and most positive energy goes to his friends & family, and all of Tiger Nation.

The Minnesota Twins celebrate at home plate as SS J.J. Hardy became the latest walk-off hero. After making a spectacular defensive play in the top of the 9th to keep the score tied, Hardy then tripled in the bottom half, then scored the winning run on a wild pitch. On a day the Twins were mourning the loss of Ernie Harwell, they also had to deal with losing a heartbreaker, 4-3.

Last year when teams would intentionally walk Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 3B Chase Headley, by his own admission, would fail to drive in runs consistently. So far this year, however, that has changed, and last night as a perfect example. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Rockies CP Franklin Morales ended up loading the bases after falling behind 3-0 to Gonzalez and deciding to put him on and take a chance with the lesser threat, being Headley. After being successful twice this year already behind an intentional walk to the Padres' slugger, Chase didn't miss the opportunity, sending a walkoff single to right center, driving in the winning run and giving San Diego a 3-2 comeback victory. All I can say is: intentional walks just motivate the next guy to say "F*ck you!" when he proves you wrong. Lesson learned.

The San Francisco Giants finally gave SP Tim Lincecum solid run support, but it just happened to come too late for him to factor into the decision of the game. After giving up only 3 runs but striking out 13 through 7 IP, Lincecum left the game and the Giants bats finally came alive. Trailing 6-5 in the top of the 9th, Giants CF Aaron Rowand (pictured left) hit a solo HR off Marlins CP Leo Nunez to tie the game. In the top of the 16th inning, still tied at 6-6, Giants 1B Aubrey Huff (pictured right) drove in 2 runs with a double, breaking the time en route to a 9-6 Giants victory.

It's kinda sad when we spend more time talking about retarded fans trying to get their 15 seconds of fame than we do about the performance of a sports team. The Phillies won 2-1 in 10 innings yesterday, but instead all I'm seeing lately is talk of how a fan a couple nights ago ran onto the field and how he was taken down by a taser, then this fat slob last night gives us an encore performance. Really guys? Get a grip and stay in your seats. Also, get some clothes that fit. If you're embarrassed that you're fat, instead of hiding it with ridiculously large clothing, spend your money on a gym pass or a ****ing treadmill. Walk it off, fatty.

New York Mets C Rod Barajas celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo HR in the top of the 9th to give his team a 5-4- lead, which would end up being the final score. Mets SP pitched a solid 6 innings, giving up just 2 runs. When Reds 3B Scott Rolen and 1B Joey Votto hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie it up, Maine's solid performance became just another solid no decision. But, at least they got the win.

Thank you as always for joining me for TDiB, gentlemen. Here's a look at my early picks for today:

Cincinnati Reds (-119)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.20 USD

Toronto Blue Jays (+101)
Risking $5.00 To Win $5.05 USD

Minnesota Twins (-151)
Risking $5.00 To Win $3.31 USD

Baltimore Orioles/New York Yankees OVER 9½ (-110)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.55 USD

Best of luck on all your picks, and enjoy the day!

[Victor]

Good luck The Nac!

[The Nac]

Originally Posted by The Nac

Cincinnati Reds (-119)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.20 USD

Toronto Blue Jays (+101)
Risking $5.00 To Win $5.05 USD

Minnesota Twins (-151)
Risking $5.00 To Win $3.31 USD

Baltimore Orioles/New York Yankees OVER 9½ (-110)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.55 USD

4-0 +17.11 to start the day, and I have a huge parlay I put down that all those hit, plus the NYM/CIN over so let's see what else we have in store for the night!

Atlanta Braves/Washington Nationals UNDER 8 (-105)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.76 USD


Los Angeles Angels/Boston Red Sox UNDER 9½ (-105)
Risking $5.00 To Win $4.76 USD


Tampa Bay Rays/Seattle Mariners UNDER 6½ (+100)
Risking $5.00 To Win $5.00 USD


San Diego Padres (-144)
Risking $5.00 To Win $3.47 USD

Again, best of luck to anyone's picks, and I hope it's been and continues to be a great day for us all! [/font]