Chicago Cub Throws A No-Hitter!!!!!

Well, it finally happened.  After two years in the minors and coming in from the bullpen, my superstar player in MLB '08: Road to the Show threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds yesterday evening.  The 20-year old rookie with a 95-mph fastball and a devasting slurve missed a perfect game when a questionable ball four was called to Adam Dunn to lead-off the ninth.  However, Mathers was able to recover and he struck out Joey Votto to finish his game total of 12 K's. 

Mathers was making his fourth start this year for the second place Chicago Cubs, and the kid gave them a much needed win and a break for the bullpen who were leading the league in innings pitched.  "I was just wanting the kid to give me five strong innings maybe six, but when Alan mentioned to me somwhere around the top of seventh that the kid had a perfect game going; well, I said lets see if he can go the distance.  I wasn't expecting a no-hitter but it sure was fun, " replied Lou Piniella.  Two-weeks ago, Mathers was just excited to be pitching with the Major League club after two dominating seasons in West Tenn and Iowa.  A no-hitter was the farthest thing from his mind.  "I was just trying to establish my fastball early in the count and keep them off stride.  I really didn't have a good feel for my split-finger, so I realized that I needed to work inside and off the plate today.  Lucky for me, it worked, " laughed Mathers. 

The Cubs offense was able to muster some runs early which settled Mathers into a groove.  Leading off the third, Ronny Cedeno smoked a double to shallow center which Hunter Pence fumbled allowing Cedeno to sneak into second.  Following the double Erik Bedard was having trouble locating his fastball which resulted in two walks to Fukudome and Soto.  That set the stage for the Derek Lee grand slam.  "It was a good pitch, but Derek just went down and got it.  The wind was blowing out, and he got it into the jet stream.  It doesn't matter though, we couldn't hit the kid to save our life, " replied Reds catcher  Paul Lo Duca.  It would be the only runs and hits the Cubs would need today.  "The kid had some good stuff.  He was working early in the count and he was getting them to swing at his pitches.  I'm just glad to be a part of the occassion, " said Morgan Ensberg who the Cubs signed as their third baseman in the off-season.

"This definitely is not an easy task, my all star once had a perfect game going into the ninth, but was broken up by Pujols double off the wall with 1 out.  It was a 2-1 count, and I gave him a hanging curve.  THIS is the reason I hate Pujos so much"

I've had three near no-hitters leading up to this one.  So, I was stoked when I finally got it.  They made Albert Pujols unreal in that game.  I can't strikeout or put the guy away.  He either walks, homers, or doubles off the wall, so I just pitch around him now and go after Chris Duncan.