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Baseball Today: Tuesday, July 17

THE GIFT OF GABBARD: He hadn't thrown a complete game since high school, let alone a shutout, so -- even though the opponent was only the lowly Kansas City Royals -- there was no reason for the Red Sox to expect what they got from Kason Gabbard last night: A nine-inning three-hitter with no runs allowed. ''That,'' concluded manager Terry Francona in Sean McAdam's game story, ''was a well-pitched major league game.'' (projo.com) Steven Krasner breaks down Gabbard's performance further in Inside The Game, noting that only about 50 of Gabbard's 107 pitches were fastballs and that he did most of his damage with curves and changeups. (His fastball, in fact, topped out at 89.) When it was over, a smiling Gabbard accepted the congratulations of teammates like Curt Schilling and Daisuke Matsuzaka (above, Journal photo by Bob Breidenbach) for authoring the Sox' second complete-game shutout of the season.

ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL: The author of the first, Schilling, is set to make his first rehab start Saturday in Pawtucket after an encouraging, 31-pitch simulated game yesterday. (projo.com)

A FIRST . . . FINALLY: A little bit further down in the Krasner/McAdam notebook is the tidbit that last night marked the first time David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez had homered in the same game at Fenway Park this season.

FEAT OF CLAY: More pitching news was made at McCoy Stadium last night, as Clay Buchholz made his first Triple-A start after being recalled from Portland. (Left, Journal photo by Mary Murphy) The numbers weren't much -- three innings, five hits, two runs, pulled after reaching his 50-pitch limit -- but Joe McDonald found that the Ottawa Lynx, last night's opponent, were suitable impressed. (projo.com) Jim Donaldson says there'll be better nights for Buchholz, ''[which], as predictions go, is about as daring as declaring that the sun will set in the West tonight.'' Said manager Ron Johnson: ''I was excited to see his stuff.'' So were the fans, apparently, since 10,000 of them packed the charming old ballpark. There's still talk the Red Sox will put Buchholz in their bullpen later this season, but for now, says Johnson, he's a starter, and he'll be re-stretched out in his next few appearances.

STEPPING OVER THE LINE: The New York Daily News' Lisa Olson says ''there's quite a difference between being outspoken and being wildly irresponsible'', as Gary Sheffield demonstrated with his ludicrous charges of racism against Joe Torre.

BE A REAL LEADER: The Bergen Record's Bob Klapisch thinks Derek Jeter, in his role as Yankee captain, should have more to say than 'no comment' regarding Sheffield.

WUSSES: They didn't have to throw at him in retaliation for his bush-league "Ha!" call last month in Toronto, but they could have a) shut him down and b) beat his team. The Blue Jays, however, did neither against Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees last night, and the Tao of Stieb blog is disgusted.

(And thanks for the mention!)

BRONX ZOO: The Yankees are going out of their way to aid a fan who suffered a fractured vertebra below his skull when a drunk fell on him in the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, chartering a plane to fly him home to Kirkland, Wash. (New York Daily News) The fan, who was attending the game with his wife and 13-year-old son, wasn't paralyzed, and is hoping for a full recovery. The team is also appealing for witnesses to the incident to step forward so they can find the man who fell on him.

WHY JUST JACKIE? Linda Ruth Tosetti would like to see MLB retire No. 3 in honor of her grandfather, Babe Ruth, the way it retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Hartford Courant)

CHANGE OF TUNE: Now Carlos Zambrano says there's a 90 percent chance he'll re-sign with the Cubs. (Chicago Tribune)

ENOUGH! Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon thinks maple bats should be banned from the major leagues. (Tampa Tribune)

KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED: That's what the Brewers are doing, as they'll find out today how long ace Ben Sheets will be sidelined. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

OPENING NIGHT: The midseason trade marathon began yesterday with the Cubs picking up Jason Kendall from the A's. (Chicago Tribune) Of course, ESPN.com's Rob Neyer wants to know how, exactly, this helps them. (Insider only)

AND IN THIS CORNER . . . The Marlins have suspended reliever Scott Olsen for ''insubordination,'' though they won't give details. (Florida Sun-Sentinel) Rumor has it he had to be restrained by police in a dugout altercation with teammate Sergio Mitre in an incident that began because Olsen ''became unnerved over a problem with a button on his jersey.'' It's not the first time Olsen has had problems with teammates . . . Shortstop Jack Wilson and pitching coach Jim Colborn had angry words in the dugout during the Pirates' 10-8 loss to the Rockies last night. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

WHISPERS: The Houston Chronicle's Kirk Bohls says insiders think Astros free-agent-to-be Jason Jennings wants to sign with San Diego, so he suggests Houston should trade him there now . . . A raft of rumors from Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal . . . Omar Vizquel may be placed on the block by the Giants (yahoo.com) . . . The Dodgers' trade focus has shifted from hitting to pitching (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . The Royals would love somebody, anybody, to take Reggie Sanders off their hands (Kansas City Star).

OLD FRIENDS: Tom Gordon has been activated off the 60-day disabled list and is excited to be back with the Phillies (Philadelphia Inquirer) . . . Kevin Millar is hitting .386 since June 14 and the Orioles believe he'll be one of their most marketable players at the trading deadline (Baltimore Sun).

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:06 AM | Permalink