Francisco Liriano Throws First No-Hitter of 2011 MLB Season

We are a little over two months into the Major League Baseball season but we already have a no-hitter in the books.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano pitched a gem of a game against the Chicago White Sox where he threw a grand total of 123 pitches to record the Twins first no-hitter since Eric Milton did it back in 1999:

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Winner of the Week: Awesome Baseball Games

Usually, on some bi-weekly or weekly basis, we pick something, some team or some person to dub the "Winner of the Week".

Here is this week's: Awesome Baseball Games

On a day where the NBA and NHL playoffs were supposed to shine, Major League Baseball decided to make some noise by playing two incredible regular season affairs yesterday.

The first came when the Colorado Rockies/Atlanta Braves faced off in Atlanta, Colorado pitcher Ublando Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history. Yep, that's right it was the first in their history and just think of all those great pitching talents that have come through Colorado. (Obviously, I'm trying to enhance this.)

Not only did we see a no-hitter on Saturday, we also saw a 20 inning affair between the St. Lous Cardinals and the New York Mets which lasted a grant total of 6 hours and 53 minutes.

For those of you playing at home, a grand total of three NBA playoff games were completed and two NHL playoff games finished before the Mets/Cardinals had the Mets pulling it out by the score of 2-1.

So, congrats awesome baseball games, you are the Winner of the Week.

Things that Missed the Cut: Caron Butler's Talking Abe Tattoo, Kevin Durant Being Disrespected, and Drunk Phillie Fan Vomits Everywhere

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The Most Unlikely No-Hitter

When you go down the list of current Major League pitchers, San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnathan Sanchez is probably the least likely to throw a no-hitter this season. However, that is what he did Friday night as he allowed hits to the San Diego Padres.

Sanchez was demoted from the Giants starting rotation earlier in the season and only got the start against San Diego due to an injury to Randy Johnson. Sanchez’s night ended with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. Pretty good for a pitcher who had never pitched a complete game on the Major League level prior to this one.

Sanchez’s statistics on the year before this start: 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA. There have been only four other pitchers in Major League history to have thrown no-hitters with a below .500 record. He can now officially add his name to that list.

Sanchez had a perfect game going into the 8th inning until an error by 3rd baseman Juan Uribe ended that dream but Sanchez did not let that get to him as he completed the no-no in sterling fashion.

Only a few short days ago, Sanchez was being talked about as trade bait as the San Francisco Giants were looking for a power-hitter. I have a sinking feeling that the Giants will keep him in the starting rotation with this recent development.

Postscript: Sanchez’s father and brother were in attendance for the game. Giant outfielder Aaron Rowand saved the no-hitter in the 9th robbing pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzales of a home-run. The last San Francisco Giants no-hitter came from John Montefusco back in 1976 and it was the first no-hitter thrown in AT&T Park.

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