“Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.”

This is the interior monologue of a superstitious sports fan, as he watches Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza record out after out on his way to retiring 27 batters in a row, throwing the first no-hitter in team history Monday night in the 5-0 win against the Detroit Tigers. Acknowledging the moment can spoil the moment; I don’t think any real sports fan is crazy enough to say the words “potential no-hitter” during the course of a game if he or she actually wants to see it happen and I’m superstitious to the point of being silly. I don’t shave on game days, just like when I played hockey in high school. I only drink out of certain glasses, always adorned with the logo of whichever of my teams is playing that day.

This game was a pitcher’s battle well into the meaty part of the performance. The only base runners through five innings were three walks; the walk Garza issued to Brennan Boesch in the second inning of this pitching spectacle was the only thing that prevented him from throwing a perfect game. It was clear that the first pitcher to crack was going to lose this one and that pitcher was Detroit’s Max Scherzer. The first hit of this game – Matt Joyce's grand slam home run – rung up four on the score sheet. Kelly Shoppach struck out to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Ben Zobrist walked, Carl Crawford reached on catcher interference and Evan Longoria walked to load the bases before Carlos Pena struck out. Joyce’s clutch long ball came with two outs; he got some good distance on a broken bat foul and didn’t miss on the next pitch – identical to the previous one – curving his second grand slam of the year into the right field foul pole. Crawford padded the lead by going deep to the longest part of the park in the eighth inning.

Garza captured his 11th win of the season, improving to 11-5. He was focused, stoic if not for his natural intensity, even through the final out. When Ramon Santiago flied out to Zobrist, the Rays starter lifted his glove into the air and allowed a grin to cross his face. In a moment where any grown man should be jumping up and down like a three-year-old having drank his seventh Jolt Cola, he retained the same poise he showed throughout his remarkable night of pitching. Garza was mature and selfless in his post-game media attention as well; he credited the defense and Joyce with the win. His focus on this achievement was getting the victory, not a personal accomplishment.

“It’s a great night, a great win,” he told Todd Kalas of Sun Sports. “We played great defense tonight… timely hitting. I really can’t say enough about it. It’s just a lot easier to pitch that way when those guys play the way they did. It was awesome.”

“What can you say? Joyce… he put us ahead. Without him we’d still be playing.”

Garza told Kalas his mechanics were “all off” and that “nothing felt right” after warming up in the bullpen Monday night. If this game was an example of "all off," I shudder to think of how he will embarrass teams when he has his act together.

“The best part about tonight is that we won,” Garza said in a post-game press conference. “We’re keeping pace, keeping the heat on the Yankees up top. They come in here in three more games so that’s a little bigger right now than a no-hitter. It’s getting back to the AL East, getting back to the top of the division, winning it and getting to October.”

Truly, it was a wonderful moment in Rays history. Garza, who I’ve always liked in spite of his struggles, was four balls shy of a perfect game, not that the distinction or even the accolades would matter to him. He’s content to improve to 11-5, but more so happy with the fact that that extra digit in the win column helped his team. When it came to Garza’s potential no-hitter, I downplayed it mentally. “He’s pitching pretty well tonight,” was all I would allow myself to admit. Acknowledging the moment could spoil the moment, so I didn’t say it. I didn’t even think it. In retrospect, it wouldn’t have mattered; Matt Garza did it. He made it real, and it was going to happen no matter what.

Witness to history

This is one of many games I wish I could have seen live. Mind you, I think that about every game before it happens, no-hitter or not. However, I am a man of modest means and my presence was not in the cards for this game. For those of you who were there, you witnessed something special. Keep those ticket stubs and keep those memories fresh in your minds and hearts.

Yes, this is a departure from my typical bilious candor. It’s not often you’ll find me sentimental – okay, that’s a lie – but certain things bring it out of me more than others.

So, wow... If this doesn’t serve as a rocket-fueled catalyst to this team, I don’t know what will. They should come in to Tuesday night’s game with enough momentum to steam roll the Tigers, Yankees, and Twins in this very difficult home stand. Garza just undressed a very good Detroit team. His words ring true; this was a team effort, and he was the beneficiary of some stellar defensive play, from the impossible outfield catches by Crawford and Zobrist to the 5-4-3 double play turned by Longoria, Reid Brignac, and Pena. Everyone was in on this stellar performance and clearly everyone was psyched, based on the mob surrounding Garza after the final out, so I think everyone should come in with a head full of steam to show the Detroit Tigers that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.