Lackey retires 27 straight in one-hitter

Jul 8, 2006, 6:55 GMT

Oakland, CA - After giving up a double to Mark Kotsay to begin the bottom of the first inning, John Lackey retired the next 27 batters to throw a one-hit shutout, as the Angels beat Oakland, 3-0, in the second contest of a four-game set at McAfee Coliseum.

Lackey (7-5) tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts. He went to two three-ball counts and threw first-pitch strikes to 22-of-28 hitters, including 21 of the last 23 A's.

The last Angel to throw a complete game one-hitter was May 26, 1989 when Chuck Finley accomplished the feat in Boston. The last combined one-hitter came when Bartolo Colon needed help from Francisco Rodriguez and Troy Percival to shut down the Rangers on July 27, 2004. Mike Witt was the last Angel to throw a no-hitter on September 30, 1984, and that was a perfect game against Texas.

Los Angeles shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who had reached base safely in 63 straight games, had his streak come to an end as he went 0-for-4. The last time he didn't reach base by a hit, walk or hit by pitch was April 24 against Detroit. This was the longest streak since at least 1960.

Robb Quinlan and Chone Figgins both homered for the Angels, who have won six of their last seven contests.

Lackey threw his second complete game of the season and seventh of his career. It was his fourth career shutout. He's got a 17 2/3 innings scoreless streak. In his last five starts, Lackey is 3-1 with a 0.96 earned run average while holding batters to a .136 average.

Barry Zito (8-6) was the tough-luck loser, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts in eight innings. The A's have scored three runs in Zito's six losses.

The Angels drew first blood with a pair of runs in the second inning. Vladimir Guerrero singled to center and scored moments later on Quinlan's homer to left-center.

LA extended its lead to 3-0 in the fifth off the bat of Figgins, who smacked the 1-2 offering over the fence in left field.

Game Notes

LA's Jered Weaver (5-0) toes the rubber against Joe Blanton (8-7) on Saturday.

Lackey's last shutout came on May 7, 2004 against Tampa Bay.

Zito is 3-2 in his last seven starts, despite having a 1.54 ERA. The lefty has gone 98 starts since throwing a complete game, which sets a franchise record.

© 2006 The Sports Network