Scattering four hits - he allowed no more than one in an any inning - the right-handed rookie won his seventh straight decision.

Indeed, this was the fourth time this season that the 6-foot-11-inch rookie from Croatia has won a game with a long shot to win at the buzzer.

"It's not like we need a rookie to come up in the second half and win 14 games."

The 28-year-old rookie won a loop-leading 28 games that year.

As in the previous season a rookie won the inaugural Pro Tour.

The rookie won home-court advantage back for the Rockets.

The night before, a rookie won his first big-league start.

The 39-year-old rookie won 10 games in relief and saved 12 more, tying for the league lead in that category.

When a rookie wins his first event, it gives encouragement to all the other guys who haven't won.

But no rookie has won since Biffle in 2003.