The phenomenal year for pitchers in Major League Baseball continued on Sunday, as Brandon Morrow of the Blue Jays came within one out of a no-hitter, striking out 17 in a 1-0 win against the Rays.

The only hit Morrow allowed was was an infield single by Evan Longoria with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Aaron Hill, the Jays' second baseman, just could not corral the seeing-eye single, which bounced off his glove as he dived in the hole between first and second. Morrow struck out the next batter, Dan Johnson, to end the game.

Morrow is the ninth pitcher this season to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Five of those pitchers have completed no-hitters, and of those, two have thrown perfect games.

In an age that has been dominated by offensive outbursts on the diamond, and scandal related thereto, this year is certainly special. It is wonderful to see dominant pitching making its triumphant return to Major League Baseball.

After all, our national pastime was founded on pitching and defense. As these two dimensions of the game take center stage, so does the relentless strategy that attracts me so strongly to baseball. If the guy on the mound is lights out, and the defense isn't making any blunders, all of a sudden every single base runner becomes crucial. "Small ball" becomes the name of the game, as each team tries to outsmart, rather than physically overpower, its opponent on the way to victory.

Here's hoping this upward pitching trend continues. Baseball needs great pitching to put the steroid scandal in the rearview mirror once and for all.