Felix Hernandez pitched the Seattle Mariners' first perfect game and the 23rd in baseball history, overpowering the Tampa Bay Rays in a brilliant 1-0 victory. Hernandez is 11-5. He was mobbed by his teammates at the pitcher's mound after the final out. He embraced catcher John Jaso for a few seconds and then shared hugs with the rest of his teammates. It was the third perfect game in baseball this season, a major league record. Hernandez joined Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox against the Mariners in April and San Francisco's Matt Cain against Houston in June.
The New York Yankees nipped Texas 3-2 despite two home runs by the Rangers' Josh Hamilton. He is tied for the major league lead with 34 homers. The Yanks have taken the first three games of this series and go for the sweep Thursday afternoon.
Held hitless by Aaron Cook through five innings, the Baltimore Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate during a five-run sixth and beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3. Cook's throwing error on a potential double play grounder led to three unearned runs.
In the NL the Cincinnati Reds won their fifth in a row by beating R.A. Dickey and the New York Mets 6-1 on a Mike Leake four-hitter. Scott Rolen and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back homers and Jay Bruce also went deep for the Reds, who are 21-8 since the All-Star break
Melky Cabrera was suspended 50 games Wednesday following a positive test for testosterone, putting an abrupt end to what had been an MVP-caliber regular season and throwing the San Francisco Giants' playoff hopes into doubt. The suspension would extend into the playoffs if the Giants advance.
Cee Lo Green is getting ready to shake up the NFL. The popular recording artist is taking over the NFL Network's "Thursday Night Football" intro. And in typical fashion for the flamboyant rapper-singer, he's putting his own spin on things. Rather than the traditional artist-centered pre-taped opener, the NFL and Green are inviting fans to submit videos of themselves singing along to the chorus of a song based on The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop."
And the U.S. Open says that Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year because of tendinitis in his left knee. The third-ranked Spaniard hasn't played a match since June 28, when he was upset in the second round of Wimbledon by the 100th ranked player in the world.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press