Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 30

Happy birthday to no-no thrower Bret Saberhagen

Happy 55th birthday to Bret Saberhagen, who threw a no-hitter for the Kansas City Royals in 1991.

Saberhagen threw his no-hitter on Aug. 26, 1991, during a 7-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium, but it was not without controversy.

In the fifth inning of the game, Royals outfielder Kirk Gibson got a late jump on a Dan Pasqua line drive, according to Baseball Digest. Gibson made a last-ditch-effort jump at the warning track but the ball tipped off his glove, letting Pasqua reach second. The official scorer initially ruled it a hit but changed it to a two-base error after watching replays.

Saberhagen’s no-no remained intact, and he retired 14 of the next 15 batters while issuing just his second base on balls in the eighth.

Cashner takes Padres no-no into 6th, 5 years ago today

Andrew Cashner took a San Diego Padres no-hitter into the sixth inning, five years ago today.

On April 11, 2014, at Petco Park, Cashner reached the sixth inning having allowed just two Detroit Tigers base runners — one on a walk and another on a Chase Headley error. After Cashner struck out opposing pitcher Rick Porcello, Rajai Davis stepped into the box and singled to center for Padres no no-hitter No. 7,176.

Cashner walked the next batter before finishing the game with perfection for the Padres’ 28th one-hitter, a 6-0 win over the Tigers.

Angels’ Langston, Witt combine for no-no, 29 years ago today

The California Angels’ Mark Langston and Mike Witt combined to no-hit the Seattle Mariners, 29 years ago today.

On Wednesday, April 11, 1990 at Anaheim Stadium, Langston threw seven innings of no-hit ball but took himself out of the game as his arm speed just wasn’t there. Manager Doug Rader brought in Witt, who was no stranger to no-hitters. Witt had pitched a perfect game for the Angels on the final game of the 1984 season, topping the Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium for a 1-0 win.

Witt needed to retire just six batters in this contest, and his two perfect innings closed out the combined no-hitter and secured a 1-0 victory for the Angels.

Hurst throws Padres’ one-hitter, 30 years ago today

Bruce Hurst threw the San Diego Padres’ 13th one-hitter, 30 years ago today.

On April 10, 1989, at Jack Murphy Stadium, Hurst one-hit the Atlanta Braves for a 5-2 win. Lonnie Smith killed the no-hitter with a two-run homer in the the third inning, advancing the Padres’ no no-hitters streak to 3,185 games.

Kelley flirts with no-no in Padres Game 3, 50 years ago today

The San Diego Padres’ Dick Kelley flirted with a no-hitter in the franchise’s third-ever game, 50 years ago today.

Kelley, drafted by the Padres from the Atlanta Braves in the 1968 expansion draft, got the start on Thursday, April 10, 1969, and pitched brilliantly. He held the Houston Astros hitless until the seventh, when Jim Wynn tagged him for a one-out single to left, advancing the Padres’ no no-hitters count to 3.

Kelley allowed just that one hit over 8⅓ innings, striking out seven and walking four, as Kelley, Frank Reberger and Billy McCool combined on a two-hitter to complete an opening series sweep in front of 4,922 fans at San Diego Stadium.

Indians miss no-no by 2 outs, 4 years ago today

A Cleveland Indians tandem fell two outs short of throwing a combined no-hitter against the Houston Astros, four years ago today.

On April 9, 2015, Trevor Bauer threw six innings of no-hit ball at Minute Maid Park, and Kyle Crockett and Scott Atchinson each followed with hitless innings as the Indians built a 5-0 lead. Nick Hagadome took the mound for the ninth and struck out Chris Carter before giving up a Jed Lowrie homer to left, ending the combined no-hitter. Hagadome got the next two outs to preserve the 5-1 win.

Bauer kicked off another potential combined no-hitter on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays, throwing seven innings of no-hit ball before handing the ball off to the bullpen. Jon Edwards retired two batters and Brad Hand retired one to close out the eighth, but Hand gave up a Freddy Galvis single to right-center to end the no-no bid in the ninth.

Outside of the San Diego Padres, who have never thrown a no-hitter, the Indians have the longest active no no-hitters streak at 37 years, 10 months, 25 days. Len Barker tossed a perfect game against the Blue Jays on Friday, May 15, 1981 at Cleveland Stadium for a 3-0 win.

On this day: Hurst, Jones bid for Opening Day no-nos

Bruce Hurst and Randy Jones took Opening Day no-hit bids into the latter innings on this day.

Twenty-nine years ago today, on April 9, 1990, Hurst took a bid into the seventh before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Hubie Brooks led off the inning with a single to center. Hurst gave up four earned runs in the 4-2 loss, as the no no-hitter count advanced to 3,341 games.

On April 9, 1976, 43 years ago today, Jones walked two Atlanta Braves in the first inning before retiring the next 14 batters. Braves manager Dave Bristol sent Cito Gaston to the plate, and the former Friar dropped a one-out single into center field to kill the no-hitter. Jones finished the night at San Diego Stadium with a five-hit complete-game win, as San Diego defeated Atlanta 8-2. The Padres’ no no-hitter count advanced to 1,125 games.

Padres no no-no streak turns 50

The San Diego Padres’ no no-hitters streak celebrates its 50th birthday today.

On Tuesday April 8, 1969, in the franchise’s first game, Padres starter Dick Selma gave up a leadoff single to right to the Houston Astros’ Jesús Alou, starting the no no-hitters streak at 1.

Earlier that day, the Mets’ no no-hitters count reached 1,137 when Bob Bailey of the Montreal Expos tagged Tom Seaver for a first-inning RBI double. That streak reached 8,019 games by June 1, 2012, when the Mets’ Johan Santana no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals to pass the baton to the Padres.

Braves’ Mercker no-hits Dodgers, 25 years ago today

The Atlanta Braves’ Kent Mercker threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 25 years ago today.

Mercker, who had already thrown six innings of a combined Braves no-hitter in 1991, held the Dodgers to four walks (two of them in the first inning) on Friday, April 8, 1994 at Dodger Stadium, with only one Dodger reaching second base.

Mercker’s feat marked the 14th no-hitter in Braves history, with seven of those coming during the Beaneaters/Doves/Braves’ time in Boston, four being thrown by the Milwaukee team and three tossed by Atlanta Braves pitchers.

In the franchise’s 13th no-hitter on Wednesday, September 11, 1991, Mercker threw 6 hitless innings against the San Diego Padres at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium before turning the ball over in the seventh to Mark Wohlers. Wohlers kept the no-no going for another two innings, and Alejandro Pena closed out the ninth for a 1-0 no-hit victory.Mercker’s 1994 no-no was the last thrown by an Atlanta Braves pitcher. The only teams in a longer drought are the Kansas City Royals (1991), the Baltimore Orioles (1991), the Toronto Blue Jays (1990), the Milwaukee Brewers (1987), the Cleveland Indians (1981) and the San Diego Padres (never), as chronicled on our Most recent no-hitters by major-league team page.

Ken Forsch, Jack Morris tossed no-hitters on this date

The Houston Astros’ Ken Forsch and the Detroit Tigers’ Jack Morris threw no-hitters on this date.

On Saturday, April 7, 1979, at the Astrodome, Forsch no-hit the Atlanta Braves for a 6-0 win. Paired with brother Bob’s St. Louis Cardinals no-hitter a year earlier, the Forsch duo became the only siblings to toss major-league no-hitters. (Bob would add another in ’83.)

Check out SABR member Nelson ‘Chip’ Greene’s great story on Ken’s no-hitter.

Morris threw his on Saturday, April 7, 1984, at Comiskey Park. He no-hit the Chicago White Sox for a 4-0 win, walking six while striking out eight. Morris’ no-no broke a 26-year drought, dating back to Jim Bunning’s no-hitter in 1958.