Tomlin Tosses No-Hitter For Hopatcong

In a year of many firsts for the Hopatcong franchise, Josh Tomlin threw the first no-hitter in Floating Fish history Tuesday night, downing Livingston 5-0 in the midst of a heated pennant race. It was the second no-hitter in the league this season and the 11th in league history. Just last month, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Motte combined to fire Sardine City's first no-hitter.

The Floating Fish gave Tomlin some breathing room with single runs in each of the first three innings and Tomlin ended up facing the minimum 27 batters. He walked Jimmy Rollins leading off the fourth but B.J. Upton promptly grounded to second for a double play. Tomlin's only other blemish, another leadoff walk, this time to Danny Espinosa in the 6th, also was erased via the twin killing, when Justin Smoak grounded to second to end the inning, after Jonathan LuCroy reached on a fielder's choice. Smoak later flied out to left to end the game.

Adding to the excitement, Brett Gardner pulled off a rare steal of home in the 6th inning, with Chase Headley taking second base, and the Floating Fish faithful packing The Mud Hole were on their feet the rest of the way. While Hopatcong improved to a franchise-record 87-71, remaining a game ahead of Newark in the Kruk Division, the first-year Livingston Last Place dropped to 47-111, long ago clinching the most balls in the draft lottery.

Tomlin struck out 5 and walked 2, improving to 16-7 and lowered his ERA to an even 3.00, and WHIP to 1.04 (both categories are second in the league trailing only Justin Verlander). He's been among the Floating Fish's most consistent pitchers all season, leading the squad with 16 wins and 5 complete games, including 2 shutouts. Perhaps it was the all-star snub that fueled Tomlin's fire all season. Despite a 9-3 and a 2.80 ERA at the break, as well as being among the league leaders in QS%, R/9 and OPS, Tomlin wasn't selected though he did receive votes.

The 27-year-old righthander was taken by Hopatcong with the 3rd pick of the 5th rounder (67th overall) this year. Last season, he made 28 starts for Newark, after the Sugar Bears used a supplemental 7th round pick (77th overall) on him. He finished 2011 with a respectable 1.14 WHIP and 4.08 ERA but a not-so-respectable 6-15 record for a Newark team that lost a franchise-record 113 games.

Upton leads Sardine City offense

B.J. Upton hit two homers in yesterday's 8-7 loss to the Cutters. Upton went 3-4 with 4 runs and 3 RBIs in the game. The Straphangers were cruising with a 6-3 lead in the game until they fell apart in the seventh and gave up five runs between the seventh and eighth innings. Upton also went 3-5 in the earlier game against the Sugar Bears. Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed up in his DMBL debut, pitching 5 2/3 innings and surrendering five runs on seven hits and three walks. Dice-K did strike out six.

Tampa Bay was on the losing end of another 1-0 hardluck loss Thursday. Felix Hernandez held the Plunkers to four hits and struck out seven. Andy Pettitte took the loss this time, giving up nine hits in eight innings of work. Billy Butler's solo home run in the second inning was the only run either team could muster.

Shawn Green hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 in the game, but the Bombers still lost their fourth in a row, 6-5 to the Mudcats. Dustin Pedroia was 2-4 at the top of the Mudcat order and is now hitting .467 in preseason.

Yovani Gallardo was impressive for the Endzone Animals but got a no decision as Philly defeated Vancouver 3-2 in extra innings. Gallardo pitched eight innings and gave up two runs on seven hits, while walking none and striking out four. Ross Gload was 3-4 for the Iron Fist and is now batting .471 so far in the spring.

Oliver Perez pitched a gem for Team Buddah en route to a 2-1 win. Perez went the distance, only giving up five hits and striking out six.