ST. LOUIS, Missouri: St. Louis Cardinals’ rookie pitcher Shelby Miller (pictured) delivered a dazzling display yesterday, retiring the final 27 batters he faced in a one-hit 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Miller surrendered a lead-off single to Eric Young, who reached first base on a line drive to right field.
The 22-year-old then proceeded to retire the next 27 batters he faced, striking out 13 and walking none -- posting his first career shutout in his eighth career start.
Miller threw 84 of his 113 pitches for strikes.
“We ran into a buzzsaw,” said Rockies starting pitcher Jon Garland said after the match yesterday.
Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a solo homer to support the rising star’s effort and the Cardinals notched their eighth win in nine games.
He ended the game by striking out Young on a 95 mph pitch.
“That kid was impressive, all night,” said Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who struck out looking twice and grounded out to first. “Just one hit, one broken-bat base hit in the first at-bat, then he shut it down. Thirteen strikeouts, good combination with the breaking ball and fastball. Of course, having a great catcher behind the plate helps too.”
Meanwhile, Ian Desmond went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs and Ross Detwiler pitched effectively into the seventh as host Washington claimed the opener of a three-game set.
Desmond’s two-run blast in the fourth snapped a 2-2 tie and he added an RBI double in the three-run fifth for the Nationals, who have won five straight and seven of eight.
Elsewhere, Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer, Prince Fielder added a solo shot and Max Scherzer improved to 5-0 as host Detroit cooled off Cleveland.
Alex Avila had three RBIs, including a two-run double, and Andy Dirks also homered for the Tigers, who snapped a two-game losing streak on the strength of 15 hits. Scherzer allowed four runs and struck out seven in eight innings.
Meanwhile, Jon Lester went the distance on a one-hitter and Daniel Nava had the pivotal double during a four-run seventh as host Boston defeated Toronto.
AGENCIES
