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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Buehrle sets mark, but far from perfect


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, coming off a perfect game against Tampa Bay, suffered a loss against Minnesota yesterday after allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings.

TOM OLMSCHEID | Associated Press

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MINNEAPOLIS — Still stewing after being beaten by a couple of bloop hits in the seventh inning of a start that began oh so perfectly, Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle sounded nothing like a pitcher who had just delivered a record-setting performance.

"It's just frustrating after a loss," Buehrle said following Chicago's 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins last night. "It might mean more tomorrow or the next day once I cool off. But I'm not too happy right now."

Coming off the 18th perfect game in major league history, Buehrle retired the first 17 batters to set a record with 45 outs in a row before the Twins rallied for the win.

Buehrle (11-4) lost what would have been his second straight perfect game and his no-hitter with two outs in the sixth. He wound up allowing five runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Buehrle surpassed the mark of 41 straight set by San Francisco's Jim Barr in 1972 and tied by current teammate Bobby Jenks, a reliever, in 2007.

Nick Punto had a soft two-run single and Brendan Harris added an RBI single in Minnesota's four-run seventh inning.

"I'm not a big fan of broken-bat, bloop singles," Buehrle said.

The first base runner he allowed was a walk to Alexi Casilla on a close call with two outs in the sixth.

MARINERS 4, BLUE JAYS 3:

Ichiro Suzuki dumped an 0-2 pitch from Scott Downs (1-3) into center field with two outs in the ninth to score Rob Johnson, and host Seattle snapped a four-game losing streak. Suzuki golfed the pitch nearly off the dirt and served it over the head of shortstop Marco Scutaro and in front of center fielder Vernon Wells.

ANGELS 7, INDIANS 6:

Gary Matthews Jr. hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth, and host Los Angeles survived a meltdown by closer Brian Fuentes. Cleveland had a run in and the bases loaded in the ninth, when Jason Bulger replaced Fuentes. Bulger got a double-play grounder, which scored a run, and a ground out to shortstop to end it.

ATHLETICS 9, RED SOX 8:

Rajai Davis singled home Mark Ellis in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, then did it again in the 11th to give visiting Oakland the win. In the 11th, Ellis doubled off Manny Delcarmen (2-2) and scored on Davis' single to right.

RAYS 6, YANKEES 2:

Scott Kazmir won for the first time in more than two months as host Tampa Bay beat New York. Kazmir (5-6) took a four-hitter into the eighth inning to win for the first time since May 9, against Boston.

ROYALS 4, ORIOLES 3:

Mark Teahen led off the 11th inning with a 45-foot single and scored on a single by John Buck for visiting Kansas City. Billy Butler hit a two-run homer and Willie Bloomquist added a solo shot for Kansas City.

RANGERS 7, TIGERS 3:

Ian Kinsler drove in three runs, and Elvis Andrus homered and had three hits for host Texas. Kinsler highlighted a four-run second with a two-run triple.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PHILLIES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3:

Shane Victorino homered and drove in two runs, and Cole Hamels pitched eight dominant innings for visiting Philadelphia. Maui's Victorino hit a solo homer, his eighth, and added an RBI double. Hamels (7-5) gave up one run on four hits.

MARLINS 4, BRAVES 3:

Pinch-hitter Ross Gload hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth, and host Florida beat Atlanta. Cody Ross was walked by Rafael Soriano (1-2) to start the ninth and advanced on a sacrifice. Gload pulled a 3-1 pitch into the right-field seats.

ASTROS 11, CUBS 6:

Geoff Blum hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh, and Miguel Tejada also connected and had five RBIs as host Houston overcame an injury to ace Roy Oswalt. Oswalt left after 1 2/3 innings with a strained lower back.

METS 4, ROCKIES 0:

Mike Pelfrey pitched out of trouble into the seventh inning and host New York won its fourth straight. Pelfrey (8-6), who got into bases-loaded jams in the fourth and sixth innings, allowed seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

NATIONALS 8, BREWERS 3:

Nyjer Morgan, Adam Dunn and Cristian Guzman homered and visiting Washington won its fourth straight. Washington's Collin Balester (1-1) allowed two runs in six innings.

GIANTS 3, PIRATES 2:

Eugenio Velez homered in the second and had a tie-breaking RBI double in the sixth for host San Francisco. Pablo Sandoval, Bengie Molina and Juan Uribe had two hits each for the Giants.

PADRES 3, REDS 2:

Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled twice and added a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh for visiting San Diego. Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Padres.

CARDINALS 10, DODGERS 0:

Adam Wainwright worked eight innings and host St. Louis had a six-run sixth against Los Angeles. Wainwright (12-6) allowed eight hits and struck out five.

NOTES

Giants: Randy Johnson has a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder and won't be able to throw for San Francisco for at least three weeks.

Yankees: New York starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his injured right shoulder.

Trade: In a swap of outfielders, the Boston Red Sox traded Mark Kotsay and cash to the Chicago White Sox for Brian Anderson.

Astros: Houston placed reliever LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list because of shingles in his back.