Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 90

Céspedes shift nips Padres’ no-no in the 7th

Colin Rea made a go of it, but the rookie right-hander just missed throwing the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history on Thursday night.

With a shift behind him, Rea gave up a seventh-inning single to the New York Mets’ Yoenis Céspedes that went right through where the second baseman normally would be stationed. That marked the 7,519th Padres game with no no-hitter since the team’s inception in 1969.

With that hit, the Padres now have just 500 games to go to reach the Mets’ streak of 8,019 games without a no-hitter. The Mets had played 8,019 games from their birth in 1962 when on June 1, 2012, Johan Santana no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals.

If no Friar can notch a no-no, the team would tie the Mets’ streak in a little over three years.

Happy birthday Lee Richmond, ‘Chief’ Bender

Lee RichmondHappy birthday to a couple of old-time no-no pitchers, Lee Richmond and “Chief” Bender.

Richmond, born on this date in 1857, threw the majors’ first perfect game. The Worcester Ruby Legs southpaw retired 27 Cleveland Blues in a row on Saturday, June 12, 1880 during a National League match up at the Worcester Driving Park Grounds.

Bender, the Philadelphia Athletics pitcher born on this date in 1884, threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Naps at Shibe Park on Thursday, May 12, 1910.

Belinsky no-hits Orioles, 54 years ago today

Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky threw one of the majors’ three May 5 no-hitters, 54 years ago today.

On May 5, 1962, Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky no-hit the Baltimore Orioles for a 2-0 win that launched the former Trenton pool shark into Hollywood stardom.

On this date in 1917, the St. Louis Browns’ Ernie Koob no-hit the Chicago White Sox for a 1-0 victory at home at Sportsman’s Park. Browns teammate Bob Groom also no-hit the White Sox the next day, but Groom’s gem came in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader so the two weren’t consecutive.

On Thursday, May 5, 1904, Cy Young, pitching for the Boston Americans (Red Sox) retired all 27 Philadelphia Athletics he faced for a 3-0 win at the Huntington Avenue Grounds. It was his second of career no-hitters that would tie him for the career lead with Larry Corcoran.

‘Smokey’ Joe Williams no-hits Brooklyn Royal Giants, 97 years ago today

“Smokey” Joe Williams tossed a Negro Leagues no-hitter for the New York Lincoln Giants, 97 years ago today.

On May 4, 1919, during the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, Williams no-hit the Brooklyn Royal Giants for a 1-0 victory. The hard throwing righty from Seguin, Texas, who also took on the nickname “Cyclone” Joe, also served as the Lincoln Giants’ player/manager from 1914-1923.

Williams was widely consider the best pitcher of his day. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Champagne order jinxes Farrell’s no-no, 27 years ago today

The Cleveland Indians’ John Farrell lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning, 27 years ago today.

Farrell, who is now the manager of the Boston Red Sox, was no-hitting the Kansas City Royals through eight on May 4, 1989, when the Royals’ Kevin Seitzer led off the ninth by dropping a fly ball the dropped inside the right-field line for a base hit.

A United Press International game story noted that Indians clubhouse manager Cy Buynak jinxed the no-no just before Seitzer’s hit by calling the Stadium Club restaurant to order three bottles of champagne.

“That was the whammy,” Stadium Club manager Jim Kerlin told UPI. “I told my assistant not to take them down.”

The bottles were apparently the same three bottles the Toronto Blue Jays called for when Dave Stieb took a no-no into the ninth in 1988. Stieb had four late-inning misses before finally getting his no-no in 1990.

Twins’ Liriano no-hits White Sox, 5 years ago today

Francisco Liriano threw the Minnesota Twins’ most recent no-hitter, five years ago today.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at U.S. Cellular Field, Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox for a 1-0 victory. It was Liriano’s first shutout and his first complete game, including his time in the minors.

The southpaw from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Happy 30th birthday to Homer Bailey

Happy 30th birthday to Homer Bailey, the Cincinnati Reds hurler who tossed two no-nos in 2012 and 2013.

Bailey, who is still trying to return to the mound from Tommy John surgery, first no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, September 28, 2012 for a 1-0 win at PNC Park.

Less than a year later, on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Bailey no-hit the San Francisco Giants at home at Great American Ball Park for a 3-0 victory.

C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that Bailey has had a slight setback in his push to return after developing some inflammation following a rehab outing.

Weaver no-hits Twins, 4 years ago today

Four years ago today, the Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver no-hit the Minnesota Twins for a 9-0 win at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Weaver walked just one batter, and the only other Twins player to reach base, Chris Parmelee, did so by striking out and running out a passed ball by Chris Iannetta.

Four years before his credited no-no, Weaver was involved in an unofficial no-no on the road against the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers. Weaver threw six innings of no-hit ball on Saturday, June 28, 2008, but let the Dodgers take a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a couple of errors, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly. Jose Arrendondo threw another two innings of no-hit ball, but the Angels never scored so the game was over after 8 1/2.

(Feature photo Angel Stadium Panorama by Bryce Edwards under license CC BY 2.0.)

Baseball’s only 9-inning double no-no, 99 years ago today

Today is the 99th anniversary of baseball’s only double nine-inning no-hitter.James ‘Hippo’ Vaughn is not credited with an official no-no.

The Chicago Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds’ Fred Toney each held their opponents hitless through nine innings of baseball at Weeghman Park on Wednesday, May 2, 1917. The game went to the 10th, and the Reds scored on a single, an error and a error on a swinging bunt. Toney got the no-no and the 1-0 victory, but Vaughn had to settle for a stellar performance that’s not recognized as an official no-hitter.

Also on this date in 2012, the Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver no-hit the Minnesota Twins for a 9-0 win at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Today is the 25th anniversary of Nolan Ryan’s 7th no-hitter

Nolan RyanNolan Ryan threw his major league record seventh no-hitter, 25 years ago today.

Ryan, pitching for the Texas Rangers at the age of 44 on May 1, 1991, struck out 16 Blue Jays and held the others to no hits as the Rangers topped Toronto 3-0. Said Rangers pitching coach Tom House to the Dallas Morning News, the Blue Jays, “just got n the way of a train.”

Three other no-hitters were thrown on May 1 in other years – Al Atkinson, Johnny Lush and Don Wilson.

Here are the May Day no-nos:

21 of 295
Al Atkinson


 
Philadelphia Athletics (AA)


 
Saturday, May 1, 1886

Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Metropolitans 2

Jefferson Street Grounds (Philadelphia)

(His second of two no-hitters)


53 of 287
Johnny Lush


 
Philadelphia Phillies (NL)


 
Tuesday, May 1, 1906

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Brooklyn Superbas 0

Washington Park (Brooklyn)


170 of 295
Don Wilson


 
Houston Astros (NL)


 
Thursday, May 1, 1969

Houston Astros 4, Cincinnati Reds 0

Crosley Field (Cincinnati)

(His second of two no-hitters)


225 of 295
Nolan Ryan


 
Texas Rangers (AL)


 
Wednesday, May 1, 1991

Texas Rangers 3, Toronto Blue Jays 0

Arlington Stadium (Texas)

(His seventh of seven no-hitters, finalizing his major league record.)