Controversy brews up

Brewers claim talismanic Sabathia pitched a no-hitter contrary to official scorer's ruling.

Milwaukee Brewers' CC Sabathia is 9-0 since being acquired from the Cleveland Indians in July

PITTSBURGH // The Milwaukee Brewers have sent a DVD and a written explanation to the Major League Baseball office protesting an official scorer's ruling that denied CC Sabathia a no-hitter in their 7-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. "He accomplished a no-hitter and wasn't given what he deserved," said the Brewers manager Ned Yost.

Yost and the Brewers were up in arms after the official scorer Bob Webb awarded Andy LaRoche a base hit in the fifth inning when Sabathia failed to cleanly field a dribbler up the third base line. It would have been the second no-hitter in Brewers' history. Milwaukee's appeal will be sent to MLB's senior vice president of club relations Phyllis Merhige and the commissioner's office. "That's a joke," said Yost. "That wasn't even close. The scorekeeper denied MLB a no-hitter right there. They threw "hit" up there on the board before LaRoche even hit the bag.

"That's a play CC makes easily and throws him out by 10 feet. For me, it's a no-brainer. That's sad, to me that's sad." Webb defended his decision. "I saw it, called it immediately, believed it was a hit," Webb said. "I think that's a hit in every circumstance. It was a difficult play. Even if he comes up with the ball cleanly, in my estimation, he's got more-than-ordinary difficulty in getting the runner at first base."

"It is what it is," said Sabathia. "The ball was still rolling and I should have picked up with my glove or we probably wouldn't be having this conversation." According to the league rules, the official scorer is the only person that may change a judgment call within 24 hours of a game's conclusion. The league, after they consider the evidence submitted by the Brewers, may request that the official scorer change a judgment call but they cannot force the scorer to change his ruling.

The Brewers, however, moved four-and-a-half games behind the Cubs in the National League Central thanks to a masterful performance by Sabathia. The hard-throwing left-hander, who is 9-0 since being acquired from the Cleveland Indians on July 8 had 11 strikeouts and allowed only three walks as the Brewers completed a sweep of the three-game series. * PA Sport