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Dodgers Notch Unlikely Win Over Angels Without Recording a Hit

Posted on: Sunday, 29 June 2008, 06:00 CDT

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers over eight innings, but a pair of errors still led to an incredible 1-0 Angels loss in the second of three games at Dodger Stadium.

Since the Dodgers did not bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, under Major League Baseball records the game will not count as an official no-hitter. It was the fifth time in modern MLB history that a team won without recording a hit.

Weaver (7-8) allowed an unearned run and struck out six while walking three before being lifted for a pinch hitter after six innings. Arredondo struck out three over two perfect innings, but the Angels mustered just five hits and lost their third straight after a five-game winning streak.

It would have been the ninth no-hitter in Angels history, and the first since Mark Langston and Mike Witt combined to accomplish the feat on April 11, 1990 against Seattle. It also would have been the first combined no-hitter since six Astros pitchers no-hit the Yankees on June 11, 2003.

Chad Billingsley (7-7) allowed just three hits and struck out seven to win his third straight start for the Dodgers, who have won two straight and three of four overall. Jonathan Broxton tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Takashi Saito worked through ninth-inning trouble to notch his 12th save. The three pitchers combined to rack up 10 strikeouts, and the Dodgers staff has fanned 24 Angels over the first two games of the series.

"Chad threw a great game," Weaver said. "We were unlucky, but it was a good job by Billingsley to keep us off balance."

The Dodgers were held without a hit for the first time since April 8, 1994, when Atlanta's Kent Mercker turned the trick.

Blake DeWitt's sacrifice fly in the fifth proved to be all the offense the Dodgers would need.

Matt Kemp started the inning by reaching when Weaver overran his soft grounder to the first-base side. Kemp stole second, then advanced to third on Jeff Mathis' wild throw before scoring on DeWitt's sacrifice fly.

"Kemp's ball had spin and it hopped on me," Weaver said. "I have no excuses, I should have made the play. Any time you lose, it's not a good outing."

After tossing 97 pitches, Weaver would not get a chance to chase his no- hitter. In the top of the seventh, Casey Kotchman led off with a single. One out later, pinch hitter Gary Matthews Jr. hit a grounder back to the mound. Billingsley threw to Angel Berroa at second for the force out, but Berroa's relay to third was wild, Matthews ended up at second and Weaver was lifted for a pinch hitter. But, Chone Figgins grounded out in place of Weaver as the Dodgers maintained their lead.

"I had to keep making quality pitches," Billingsley said. "They're an aggressive team. This is a great win, almost unexplainable."

Arredondo kept the no-hitter in tact through eight, but Broxton kept the Angels off the board to bridge the gap to Saito.

The Dodgers closer retired the first two hitters, but Howie Kendrick fought off Saito for eight pitches and laced a double to left. A walk to Mike Napoli put the go-ahead run on first, but Saito fanned pinch-hitter Reggie Willits to seal an inexplicable victory.

"I don't think anyone in here has seen something like that," DeWitt said. "Weaver changed speeds well, kept us off balance and attacked the zone. You're no-hit and still get the win, what a great win."

Game Notes

The Dodgers have pitched three shutouts in their last four games. Their only loss in that stretch was a 2-0 shutout loss to the White Sox on Thursday...Red Sox pitcher Matt Young was the last pitcher to lose an unofficial no-hitter when he fell to Cleveland on April 12, 1992...The Orioles were the last team to toss an official no-hitter and lose. Steve Barber and Stu Miller no-hit the Detroit Tigers in 1967 but dropped a 2-1 decision...Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero went 0-for-3 and had his 16-game hit streak snapped...Injured Dodgers pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Brad Penny, both sidelined with shoulder troubles, threw bullpen sessions on Saturday. Kuroda threw 45 pitches in three innings, while Penny did not face hitters. Manager Joe Torre said if Kuroda feels no lingering problems, he will get the nod to start Wednesday in Houston.

06/29 03:26:22 ET

Source: The Sports Network

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