Nearly perfect: Karstens outduels Big Unit
Baseball Betting Lines
08/06/2008 -
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the
eighth inning before surrendering a double to Chris Young with two outs, but
recovered to throw a two-hit shutout in Pittsburgh's 2-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game series.
Karstens (2-0) retired the first 23 batters before Young lined a 1-1 pitch
into the left field corner in the eighth. Karstens recovered to get out of the
inning on the next pitch, however, and survived a single and a walk in the
ninth to pick up his second win in as many starts since joining the Pirates.
One of the four players acquired by Pittsburgh in the deal that sent Xavier
Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees on July 26, Karstens tossed six shutout
innings against the NL Central-leading Cubs in his National League debut on
August 1, a 3-0 Pirates win.
That was merely a prelude to Wednesday, when the 25-year-old right-hander
fanned four against the NL West-leading Diamondbacks and nearly tossed the
18th perfect game in major league history, and the first in Pirates history.
In doing so Karstens outdueled the man who tossed the last perfect game in the
majors, Randy Johnson. Johnson (9-8) was strong, but not strong enough,
surrendering seven hits and two runs in 7 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts
and no walks for Arizona, which failed to sweep the three-game set.
"Jeff pitched outstanding," said Johnson, who was Karstens' teammate with the
Yankees. "I got to meet him a little bit when he was in New York on that
shuttle up and down ... He opened a lot of eyes."
Freddy Sanchez's solo homer and an RBI double by Doug Mientkiewicz provided
the offense for the Pirates, who stemmed a four-game slide.
After the Pirates added an insurance run in the eighth, Karstens saw his bid
for perfection end in the home half. Chad Tracy's hard liner to center was
nabbed by Jason Michaels, and Chris Gomez recovered from a bobble on Mark
Reynolds' grounder to throw across for the second out.
Young laced a double into left, though, ensuring that his teammate Johnson
remained the last pitcher to toss a perfect game.
"It wasn't really nerves," said Karstens of Young's double. "It was one of
those things and he (Young) stayed on a pitch and hit it down the line. Major
league hitters are going to do that."
Karstens came right back and got Alex Romero to ground out to second to keep
the shutout in line.
Karstens issued his only walk to pinch-hitter Augie Ojeda to lead off the
ninth, but came back to get pinch-hitter Tony Clark to ground right back to
the mound, starting a 1-6-3 double play. Orlando Hudson's grounder to first
was the last out as Karstens settled for his first career shutout.
"Obviously he was outstanding," Pirates manager John Russell said of Karstens.
"No-hitter in the eighth and he threw the ball as good as he can throw it.
That's what he's capable of doing."
Johnson is the last pitcher, and the oldest to reach perfection, as he was 40
when he accomplished the feat against the Braves on May 18, 2004. His only
mistake through seven innings was an 0-2 slider he hung up and over the plate
to Sanchez with one out and the bases empty in the fourth. Sanchez belted it
into the seats down the line in left for his eighth homer of the season, the
first earned run Johnson had allowed in 24 innings.
The Pirates touched Johnson for another run in the eighth, though, led by none
other than Karstens, who lined a one-out single to left to start the rally.
Gomez's looping pop fell just fair in shallow right to put two men on for
Mientkiewicz, who exchanged words with Johnson after "The Big Unit" was upset
by a late timeout call by Mientkiewicz in a Pirates win in Pittsburgh on June
9.
Mientkiewicz exacted a bit of revenge, as his line-drive double into the
corner in right plated Karstens for a two-run edge, and ended Johnson's day.
Game Notes
The last Pirates no-hitter was a combined effort from Francisco Cordova and
Ricardo Rincon in a 10-inning, 3-0 win over Astros in 1997. John Candelaria
was the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter for the Bucs, in a 2-0 win over the
Dodgers on August 9, 1976...The D-backs are 30-40 in games outside of the NL
West this season, compared to 29-15 against divisional foes. Last season the
club was 54-36 in games outside of the NL West and 36-36 in divisional
games...The Pirates have beaten Johnson five of the last seven times he has
faced the club.
<< Clips acquire F Novak from Rockets
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers acquired
forward Steve Novak from the Houston Rockets Wednesday.
In return, Houston will have the option to exchange second round picks with
the Clippers in 2011.
No
<< Angels score early and often to topple O's
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ervin Santana was solid on the hill to record
his 13th win on the season and Vladimir Guerrero hit a home run and finished
with four runs driven in, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim crushed the
Baltimo
<< Coleman replaces Yeley at Hall of Fame Racing
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hall of Fame Racing announced Wednesday J.J.
Yeley has been released from his driving duties of the No.96 Toyota in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman will drive the
<< Cardinals pick up INF Lopez
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent
infielder Felipe Lopez to a major-league contract Tuesday.
Lopez was released by the Washington Nationals last week in a roster upheaval.
The 28-year-old was hit
<< Rays recall SS Zobrist, option OF Gomes
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays recalled shortstop
Ben Zobrist from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Jonny
Gomes to Durham.
Zobrist started at shortstop in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Cleve
Span, Twins pull away from Mariners to avoid sweep >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denard Span drove in four runs and had three
hits, and the Minnesota Twins salvaged the finale of a three-game set with a
7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Minnesota entered this series having won sev
Athletics select contract of Gonzalez, option Petit >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics purchased the contract
of pitcher Gio Gonzalez from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.
The lefty made hit his major league-debut in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the
Toronto Blue Jay
Cardinals continue roster shakeup >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals recalled reliever
Chris Perez from Triple-A Memphis Wednesday, one of a series of moves for the
contending club.
The club also optioned outfielder Nick Stavinoha and infielder Bre
Howard homers as Phils blank Fish >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Howard homered and doubled, and
Kyle Kendrick worked out of several jams to pitch six shutout innings as the
Philadelphia Phillies downed the Florida Marlins, 5-0, in the middle matchup
of a th
Wright's error in field, on basepath dooms Mets in loss to Padres >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cha Seung Baek held the Mets bats in check
through 6 1/3 frames, and the San Diego Padres took advantage of costly
mistakes from David Wright in a 4-2 victory over New York in the middle
contest
Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.
|
