Chad Beck battles to keep spot in the majors.

Pitching a no-hitter is rare. It is a career performance and accomplishment. While former LSU star Charlie Furbush did not accomplish the feat on his own, he etched him name into the record books on June 8.

Furbush was one of six pitchers who combined for a no-hitter as Seattle beat the Dodgers 1-0 at Safeco Field. Furbush is adjusting well to the bullpen. He started 10 games for Seattle in 2011 after the Mariners acquired him from Detroit. In his last 10 2/3 innings, opposing hitters were 0-for-30 against the 25-year old left-hander. Talk about unhittable! Furbush has allowed the lowest on-base percentage of any pitcher in the Majors with at least 20 innings at .179. Opposing batters are hitting just .128 with 10 hits in 22 2/3 innings. During that stretch, Furbush has 26 strikeouts with just four walks.

The no-hitter was the 10th combined no-hitter in big league history and the first since six Astros accomplished the feat on June 11, 2003 at Yankee Stadium against the Yankees.

It was an interesting week for former ULL star Chad Beck.

Beck was called up from Triple A Las Vegas by the Toronto Blue Jays on June 7. The 27-year old Beck pitched in three games for Toronto, including 3 2/3 emergency innings of relief after an injury to starter Brandon Morrow in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday, June 11.

With the Blue Jays, Beck was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three appearances. In 5 1/3 innings, Beck allowed four hits and two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts. Beck made three appearances with the Blue Jays in 2011. Previously, Beck was recalled from the 51's on May 27 but was optioned back to Las Vegas the next day without making an appearance. At Las Vegas, Beck is 1-0 with a 1.11 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and one save in 23 bullpen appearances. No doubt that Toronto will keep close tabs on him.

Former UNO and Jesuit star Johnny Giavotella was optioned back to Triple A Omaha by Kansas City on June 12.

Giavotella was hitting .217 in 21 games with the Royals, including 11 starts at second base. He was called up from Omaha on May 9 to replace the injured Chris Getz. At Omaha, Giavotella is hitting .331 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 31 games for the Storm Chasers.

Speaking of Kansas City and Omaha, a pair of former LSU pitchers have unfortunately made the move from the Royals to the Storm Chasers as well Ryan Verdugo spent two days with Kansas City last week before being optioned back to Omaha. Verdugo did not get to pitch in a game for the Royals in his very brief stay. Louis Coleman is back down with Omaha, optioned on Wednesday. Coleman was 0-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 16 relief appearances for Kansas City.

Verdugo's former LSU teammate, reliever Louis Coleman, also was sent back down to Omaha by the Royals on Wednesday. In 16 games for Kansas City, the right-handed Coleman posted a 3.15 ERA, striking out 18 batters and walking 12 in 20 innings pitched. He has also appeared in five games for the Triple-A Storm Chasers this year, allowing three runs in 9 1/3 innings.

Former McNeese State star Clay Buchholz of the Boston Red Sox continues to pitch well, increasing his win total while lowering his ERA. After a very rugged start, Buchholz has won his last three starts to improve to 7-2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 5.38 in 13 starts. In his three wins, Buchholz has pitched 24 innings, allowing just 15 hits and three earned runs while striking out 22, posting an extremely impressive 1.12 ERA over the three wins.

Former LSU star Aaron Hill is hot for Arizona. Hill has a seven-game hit streak (12-for-26/.462) for the Diamondbacks, improving his average to .277 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 23 RBI.

Speaking of the Diamondbacks, former Loranger and SLU star Wade Miley continues his fine season. Miley hurled a gem on June 6, beating Colorado to improve to 7-2 with a 2.53 ERA. Miley pitched eight innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run, walking no one ad fanning five in the 6-1 win over the Rockies. Miley retired the first 13 batters he faced.

Baton Rouge native Andy Pettitte continues to look ageless for the Yankees. Pettite, who turns 40 on June 15, is 1-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last two starts for New York, allowing just seven hits and two earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched.

In Triple A, former LSU star Matt Clark had an eight-game hitting streak (11-for-29/.379) snapped on June 12. Clark has raised his average to .286 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles and 33 RBI for Tucson (San Diego Padres).

The Oakland A's claimed former ULL star Danny Farquhar off waivers from Toronto and optioned him to Triple A Sacramento. Farquhar was at Double A New Hampshire for the Blue Jays with an 0-1 record, 33 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings and a 2.97 ERA with one save at New Hampshire. Farquhar pitched in three games for Toronto in 2011.

Former Tulane star Brandon Gomes continues to dominate at Durham (Tampa Bay Rays). Gomes is now 4-0 with a 0.39 ERA and six saves. In 23.1 innings, he has allowed just 10 hits, one earned run with 34 strikeouts. What else does this guy have to do?

Speaking of former Tulane pitchers, Preston Claiborne has pieced together eight consecutive scoreless outings out of the bullpen for Double A Trenton (New York Yankees). Claiborne is 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA and five saves. He has allowed just 29 hits in 39 innings while strikeout out 42. In his last eight outings, Claiborne has pitched 11.2 innings, allowing just three hits with 11 strikeouts.

Former LSU pitcher Blake Martin is having a solid year at Double A New Britain (Minnesota Twins). Martin is 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA. In 20 appearances out of the bullpen, Martin has pitched 21.2 innings, allowing 17 hits, six earned runs, no home runs with 20 strikeouts.

In Single A, former Central Lafourche and Delgado star Lucas LeBlanc homered in consecutive games June 8-9 for Greenville (Boston Red Sox). LeBlanc is hitting. 269 with three home runs in 30 games for the Drive of the South Atlantic League.

Former Baker and LSU outfielder Leon Landry of Rancho Cucamonga (Los Angeles Dodgers) is bucking for a promotion. Landry has six-game hit streak (13-for-24/.542) to raise his average to .329 with 14 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 16 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Landry is sixth in the California League in batting, tied for second in triples, ninth in stolen bases and ninth in slugging (.539).

In the Independent Frontier League, former Slidell and UNO star Nick Schwaner is playing very well for the Evansville Otters. Schwaner is 14th in the league in hitting at .315, eighth in hits with 29 and tied for eighth in home runs with four.

Our HOMETOWN HEROES include all players from Louisiana who are in the major leagues and all players from the Greater New Orleans area high schools and from LSU, Tulane, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana and Delgado. Any Louisiana native or player who played high school or college baseball in Louisiana and is playing for New Orleans Zephyrs has been added as well by popular demand.

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MAJOR LEAGUES

SCOTT BAKER--Minnesota Twins (Captain Shreve) **DL—Elbow surgery. Out for yr.

**CHAD BECK—Toronto Blue Jays (ULL) 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 3 Games (Sent to Las Vegas)

BRIAN BOGUSEVIC—Houston Astros (Tulane) .228, 4-2B, 2-3B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 6 SB

CLAY BUCCHOLZ--Boston Red Sox (McNeese State) 7-2, 5.38 ERA, 13 starts

STEVE CLEVENGER—Chicago Cubs (SLU) .281, 6 doubles, 6 RBI

LOUIS COLEMAN—Kansas City Royals (LSU) 0-0, 3.15 ERA, 16 Games, 20 inn., 14 hits

MIKE FONTENOT—Philadelphia Phillies (Salmen, LSU) .341, 1-2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI

CHARLIE FURBUSH—Seattle Mariners (LSU) 2-1, 3.26 ERA, 19 app., 22 K's, 19.1 inn.

CHAD GAUDIN—Miami Marlins (Crescent City) 1-0, 4.62 ERA, 12 games

**JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA—Kansas City Royals (Jesuit, UNO) .217, 3-2B, 6 RBI (Sent to Omaha)

AARON HILL—Arizona Diamondbacks (LSU) .277, 6 HR, 12-2B, 3-3B, 23 RBI

D.J. LEMAHIEU—Colorado Rockies (LSU) .222, 1 double, 2 RBI

JONATHAN LUCROY--Milwaukee Brewers (ULL) .345, 10-2B, 4-3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI (D.L.)

WADE MILEY—Arizona Diamondbacks (Loranger/SLU) 7-2, 2.53 ERA, 67.2 inn., 58 hits

LOGAN MORRISON—Miami Marlins (Northshore) .235, 5 HR, 8-2B, 17 RBI

MICAH OWINGS—San Diego Padres (Tulane) 0-2, 2.79 ERA, 6 appearances (D.L.)

JONATHAN PAPELBON—Philadelphia Phillies (B.R.) 0-2, 2.22 ERA, 16 SV., 28 K's, 24.1 inn.

ANDY PETTITE—New York Yankees (Baton Rouge) 3-2, 2.81 ERA, 40 K's, 41.2 inn.

JUAN PIERRE—Philadelphia Phillies (Alexandria) .319, 11 SB, 5-2B, 2-3B, 12 RBI

RYAN THERIOT—San Francisco Giants (Broadmoor, LSU) .252, 4 doubles, 10 RBI

RICKIE WEEKS--Milwaukee Brewers (Southern) .166, 9-2B, 5 HR, 16 RBI

BRIAN WILSON--San Francisco Giants (LSU) 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2 games—DL (Elbow)

AAA

RYAN ADAMS—Norfolk (Jesuit) .210, 10 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI (D.L.)

CHAD BECK—Las Vegas (ULL) 1-0, 1.11 ERA (23 appearances), 24.1 inn., 15 hits

REID BRIGNAC—Durham (St. Amant) .177, 4 doubles, 3 HR, 14 RBI

JOEY BUTLER—Round Rock (UNO) .296, 14-2B, 11 HR, 38 RBI **Tied 8th in PCL in HR

JIMMY CESARIO—Colorado Springs (Jesuit) .250, 2 doubles, 4 RBI in 27 games

MATT CLARK--Tucson (LSU) .286, 12 doubles, 11 HR, 33 RBI **Tied 8th in PCL in HR

BRAD EMAUS—Buffalo (Tulane) .227, 4 HR, 8 RBI

DANNY FARQUHAR—Sacramento (ULL) 0-1, 4.50 ERA in 1 game

JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA—Omaha (Jesuit, UNO) .331, 8-2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI

BRANDON GOMES—Durham (Tulane) 4-0, 0.39 ERA, 6 Saves, 18 games, 34 K's, 23.1 inn.

MARK HAMILTON—Memphis (Tulane) .185, 3-2B, 5 HR, 16 RBI

BEAU JONES—New Orleans (Destrehan) 2-1, 7.66 ERA, 21 games

CHASE LAMBIN—New Orleans (ULL) .265, 4-2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI

WADE LEBLANC—New Orleans (Barbe) 3-5, 4.15 ERA, 13 starts, 76 K's, 82.1 inn.

TODD LINDEN--Fresno (LSU) .264, 12-2B, 4-3B, 5 HR, 37 RBI

JIM MILLER--Sacramento (ULM) 0-2, 2.92 ERA, 2 saves, 12 K's, 12.1 inn.

LUKE MONTZ—New Orleans (Acadiana) .223, 5-2B, 11 HR, 29 RBI **Tied 8th in PCL in HR

XAVIER PAUL—Syracuse (Slidell, Rummel) .288, 10-2B, 4 HR, 25 RBI

GREG SMITH--Salt Lake (Alexandria, LSU) 2-4, 2.89, 6 starts, 1 CG

**BRIAN TALLET—Tucson (LSU) 0-2, 8.44 ERA, 11 games (Released)

RYAN VERDUGO—Omaha (LSU) 4-1, 3.29 ERA, 12 starts, 68.1 inn., 49 hits

AA

PRESTON CLAIBORNE—Trenton (Tulane) 2-2, 2.77 ERA, 5 SV., 42 K's in 39 inn.

BRAD HAWPE—Frisco (LSU) .260, 6-2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI (D.L.)

WILL HARRIS—Tulsa (Slidell, LSU) 1-1, 2.88 ERA, 1 Save, 34 K's, 25 inn.

LEE HAYDEL--Huntsville (Riverside, Delgado) .297, 2-2B, 2-3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI

TOMMY MANZELLA—Huntsville (Hannan, Tulane) .253, 5-2B, 1 HR, 19 RBI

BLAKE MARTIN—New Britain (LSU) 2-2, 2.49 ERA, 20 games, 20 K's, 21.2 innings

JARED MITCHELL--Birmingham (Westgate/LSU).279, 11-2B ,9-3B, 4 HR, 14-SB, 37 RBI

AARON LOUP—New Hampshire (Hahnville, Tulane) 0-3, 1.64 ERA, 26 games, 2 saves

SEAN OCHINKO—New Hampshire (LSU) .286, 6-2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI in 17 games

JOSH PRINCE—Huntsville (Tulane) .253, 8-2B, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 21 SB (2nd Southern League)

EDGAR RAMIREZ—Binghamton (LSU) 0-1, 5.49 ERA, 11 games

ANTHONY RANAUDO—Portland (LSU) 1-1, 5.84 ERA (5 starts)

CRAIG WESTCOTT—Richmond (Hannan, Delgado) 6-4, 3.64 ERA, 13 starts

JOSH ZEID—Corpus Christi (Tulane) 2-0, 6.93 ERA in 22 games, 24.2 inn., 28 K's

A

BEN ALSUP—Asheville (LSU) 7-1, 4.83 ERA, 11 starts

JUSTIN BOUDREAUX—Great Lakes (Dutchtown/SLU) .144, 3-2B, 2-3B, 8 RBI

CLINT DEMPSTER—Beloit (Thibodaux, Nicholls State) 2-3, 3.12 ERA, 21 Games

JOHN DISHON--Wisconsin (LSU) .220, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 8 RBI, 11 SB

MICAH GIBBS—Daytona (LSU) .241, 16 games, 1-2B, 1-3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI

**SAM HONECK--Savannah (Tulane) .133 (2-of-15), 1 double—RETIRED

TYLER JONES--Beloit (LSU) 0-2, 2.37 ERA, 4 games, 24 K's, 19 inn.

LEON LANDRY—Rancho Cucamonga (Baker/LSU) .329, 14-2B, 6-3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 14 SB

CHANDLER LAURENT—Modesto (Fontainebleau, Delgado) .182, 11-2B, 1 HR, 23 RBI

LUCAS LEBLANC--Greenville (Central Lafourche, Delgado) .269, 4-2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI

MIKIE MAHTOOK—Charlotte (St. Thomas More, LSU).273, 2 HR, 10-2B, 25 RBI, 14 SB

DAYTON MARZE--Dunedin (Teurlings Catholic, ULL) 2-1, 2.19, 1 save, 25 games

RYAN O' SHEA—Frederick (Mandeville, UNO) DISABLED LIST—OUT FOR YEAR

MATTY OTT—Greenville (Holy Cross, LSU) 4-3, 4.32 ERA, 17 games

TAYLOR ROGERS—San Jose (Tulane) 3-6, 4.63 ERA, 13 starts

AUSTIN ROSS--Brevard (LSU) 0-0, 1.54 ERA in 3 starts—7 Day DISABLED LIST

ROB SEGEDIN--Tampa (Tulane) .286, 18-2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI **4th in 2B, 10th in T.B. in FSL

RYAN SCHIMPF--Dunedin (St. Paul, LSU) .272, 18-2B, 2-3B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, **4th in 2B in FSL

INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

ANTHONY SCELFO—Laredo (Jesuit, Tulane) .258, 8-2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI

NICK SCHWANER—Evansville (Slidell, UNO) .315, 5-2B, 4 HR, 14 RBI