Zeroing In

Anibal Sanchez, a 22 year old righthander, no hit the hapless Diamondbacks today, 2-0, ending the major's longest no-hitter drought since 1934.   

Sanchez, who makes the MLB minimum $327K salary, threw 103 pitches, walking four and fanning six to improve to 7-2 and record the 209th no-no in history.  It was the Marlins fourth no hitter and second suffered by the Arizona franchise.

In the fourth, Josh Willingham laid out to snatch Chad Tracy's opposite field duck off the left field turf. In the sixth, Eric Byrnes diispatched a two out laser destined for the mitt of third baseman, Miguel Cabrera. An inning later, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez fielded a sharp grounder up the middle to just nip Stephen Drew at first.  And, in the game's final play, Byrnes was  called out on a bang bang play at first, after rolling a routine grounder to short, double clutched by Ramirez.   

The demonstrative Venezuelan worked exceedingly quickly throughout, almost quick pitching Conor Jackson and Luis Gonzalez in the ninth.   

Diamondhacks congratulates Sanchez and the resurgent Florida Marlins!

We know a prepared, highly motivated team when we see one.