A Few Unlikely Pitching Duels

Great pitching performances happen virtually nightly.

But much more rarely, you get a chance to see a game where both pitchers have their stuff working, and hitters just can't seem to do anything about it. They are mesmerizing to watch, especially if you are a fan of good pitching; and two such games played out tonight.

THE UNDERCARD:

Chicago Cubs 1 - Pittsburgh Pirates 0

Tom Gorzelanny made a single pitch he'd love to get back. It was in the first at bat of the bottom of the first, and Alfonso Soriano homered to deep left field.

That would be the only run of the game.

Gorzelanny only gave up 5 more hits and walked 2 batters over the 7 innings he worked. Soriano's HR was his only blemish.

Jason Marquis, who I still can't figure out but somehow continues to defy all odds and pitch brilliantly, was almost blemish-free. Marquis retired the first 16 batters he faced, having his perfect game snapped by a base hit in the top of the 6th. It was one of only three hits he allowed in the entire game as he cruised to a complete game shutout.

Both pitchers struck out 5.

THE MAIN EVENT:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 0 - Baltimore Orioles 1 (Final in 10 innings)

After 9 full innings of play, this game had only yielded 11 base runners.

So each time a team came up to bat, they averaged .611 batters reaching base in their half inning.

That is just silly.

Eric Bedard went 7 innings for Baltimore, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, and no runs. He struck out 10 while he was at it.

James Shields went a full 9 innings, giving up 3 hits, 1 walk, and no runs with 4 strikeouts. Unfortunately, as soon as he handed the ball over to Brian Stokes in the bottom of the tenth, he delivered a HR pitch to Aubrey Huff.

Cheers to both of these pitchers on their great performances, even if neither actually factored into the decision at the end.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Washington Nationals 1 - Milwaukee Brewers 3

Jason Bergmann: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K
Claudio Vargas: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 4 K

Houston Astros 3 - Cincinnati Reds 2

Woody Williams: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 3 K
Matt Belisle: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 7 K

A FEW NOT-SO-UNLIKELY ONES, BUT STILL WORTH CREDITING:

Oakland Athletics 2 - Kansas City Royals 3

Dan Haren: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 7 K
Gil Meche: 6 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 1 ER, 7 K

San Diego Padres 2 - Atlanta Braves 3

Greg Maddux: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 4 K
John Smoltz: 7 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 2 ER, 7 K

Great pitching match ups today, hope some of you got the chance to enjoy these!