TAMPA Chipper Jones Jersey , Fla. (AP) — to a bizarre victory for the Clearwater Threshers on Monday night.The Philadelphia Phillies‘ Class A affiliate had no hits and no walks against the Tampa Tarpons, yet it beat the New York Yankees‘ Florida State League club 1-0.Clearwater took advantage of a rule introduced this year that places a runner at second base at the start of each extra inning to cut down on marathon games. The rule has been criticized by baseball traditionalists. On Monday, it made it possible for Tampa to lose despite a nearly perfect game.Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia opened with seven perfect innings in a scheduled seven-inning game, but the scoreless contest went to the eighth.Christian Morris replaced Garcia for the eighth, and Clearwater automatic runner Luke Williams quickly went from second to third when shortstop Diego Castillo dropped the ball during a rundown. Two batters later John Smoltz Jersey , Williams scored on Daniel Brito’s groundout to first.Tampa went down in order in the bottom of the eighth. It was the first time a Florida State League team lost a no-hitter since Scott Backum of Winter Haven fell to Clearwater on Aug. 23, 1992.The extra innings rule is part of Commissioner Rob Manfred’s initiatives to boost the pace of play. Manfred has said the rule is unlikely to be implemented in the majors. Start your weekend with some of the best Astros links around"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Houston Astros NewsGame ThreadsHouston Astros Minor LeaguesAstros Game DayPodcastsAstros Crawfish BoilAstros Crawfish Boil: March 16th, 2019New,15commentsStart your weekend with some of the best Astros links aroundCDTShareTweetShareShareAstros Crawfish Boil: March 16th, 2019Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsAstros NewsYesterday was a clean sweep of the Cards in split squad action Matt Kemp Jersey , including an 11-2 beatdown (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)While the other game featured Altuve playing five innings and Forrest Whitley tossing 4 scoreless (Astros.com)Not to mention some familiar antics from thin-skinned Angel Hernandez, who tossed Hinch after the first pitch to Springer (Yahoo Sports)In addition to weighing in on Angel Hernandez’s terrible umpiring, Hinch also weighed in on the MLB rules changes (Texas Sports Nation)While the 5th starter spot is still up in the air, it seems as though Peacock is staking his claim (Houston Chronicle)Let’s have a look back at the 2019 offseason for the Astros (MLB Trade Rumors)Here are three X-factors for the upcoming Astros’ season (Clutch Points)The clock is starting to run low on Francis Martes’ chance with the Astros (Call to the Pen)Here’s the story of the crime and punishment of Astros pitcher Mark Lemongello (The Runner Sports)Around the LeagueThough on the mend, it looks like Kershaw won’t be making his customary Opening Day start (ESPN)Nor will Severino for the Yankees Hank Aaron Jersey , as he appears to be out until May (New York Post)Maybe there wouldn’t be such a problem with free agents not getting paid if they weren’t little more than slave labor in the minors (The Athletic, $$$)Would it be a better world if the National League used the DH?(538 Sports)Yasiel Puig is moving on from the Dodgers and embracing his inner-Red now that he’s in Cincinnati (Sports Illustrated)For all of its hullabaloo, the pitch clock is not making much of a difference this spring (FanGraphs)