Jonathan Sanchez came within a Juan Uribe error from tossing a perfect game last night against San Diego. He gave up no walks and struck out 11 (and got some help in the 9th from Aaron Rowand in center field) on his way to baseball’s first no-hitter in 2009. To put his performance in perspective, only 5 other pitchers since 1900 have thrown 11K and 0BB in no-hit bids. Unfortunately for Sanchez, he’s the only member of this group to have not recorded the perfect game (his teammate, Randy Johnson, is on that list).

While Sanchez hasn’t had much of a season otherwise (3-8, 4.69), his no-hitter last night is another feather in San Francisco’s pitching cap. The previous night, reigning N.L. Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.33), took a no-hitter into the 7th inning. Tonight, Matt Cain (10-2, 2.42) will take the mound against the Padres. And on Sunday former Cy Young winner, Barry Zito (5-8, 4.43) will start for the Giants. No stranger to no-hitters (or perfect games, for that matter), 5-time Cy Young winner, Randy Johnson (8-6, 4.81), will reclaim his spot in San Francisco’s rotation once he returns from a sore shoulder.

Sanchez’s no-hitter marked the Giants’ MLB-leading 13th shutout of the season. It should also have marked the moment Ruben Amaro committed to do everything he can (if he hadn’t already done so) to secure Roy Halladay. The Giants pitching staff (especially with Lincecum and Cain at the front end) is built like the Presidio for the playoffs. And despite Joe Blanton’s (6-4, 4.44) strong performance last night against the listless Pirates (which Brad Lidge did everything in his power to ruin), the Phillies starting rotation looks shaky and leaderless.

J.A. Happ is the only starting pitcher with an ERA lower than Barry Zito’s (3.04). He’s also the only starter with a record more than 2 games over .500 (5-0). Cole Hamels, the Phillies’ titulal ace, is 5-5 with an ERA of 4.70 and Jamie Moyer is 8-6 with a 5.99 ERA. In fact, things are in such disarray there isn’t even a 5th starter now that 2-game substitute Rodrigo Lopez is hurt.

If the regular season ended today, the Phillies first-round opponent would be the San Francsico Giants (who have 2 more wins than the Phillies). Even the most dyed-in the wool homer would be hard-pressed to successfully argue a scenario whereby the Phillies pitchers could out-duel the Lincecum and Cain-led Giants staff. The Giants have 3 pitchers with Cy Youngs (7 total) and their front two are a combined 20-4 with sub 2.45 ERAs. There are still a few months until the playoffs so for a team no longer content to win a diminished N.L. East, the Phillies front office is going to need to make some noise before the trade deadline and seriously upgrade the rotation. Otherwise, it’ll be a very short October.