The circumstances of Mike Fiers' no-hitter against the Reds make it one of the quirkiest in recent memory
A's right-hander
Mike Fiers a no-no. 🔥
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2019
(MLB x @YouTubeTV) pic.twitter.com/mzYhCwDBUu
This game, however, had some special quirks to it that will make it one of the more memorable no-hitters in A's franchise history. For one, the game was delayed an hour and a half due to a lighting issue in the outfield (and despite Derek Dietrich's best efforts).
Additionally, Fiers threw 131 pitches ... which is quite a lot these days, in this era of "openers" and with so few pitchers throwing complete games, let alone no-hitters. It's the most pitches thrown in a no-hitter since ... well, Mike Fiers:
Mike Fiers threw 131 pitches to complete the no-hitter. That’s the most since …
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 8, 2019
Mike Fiers threw 134 in his 1st no-no in 2015. pic.twitter.com/lBhnjy8E7q
Weird.
In an amusing twist, Fiers first no-hitter came in August 2015 against the Dodgers and opposing left-handed starter
Witnessing this Fiers no-hitter was exponentially cooler than the 1st
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) May 8, 2019
When a pitcher does manage to toss a no-hitter, it's usually easy to think back to a play or two from his teammates in the field as key moments in the game -- and that's definitely the case with Fiers' no-hitter on Tuesday. And to make it even more memorable, the two no-no-saving plays in this one came in consecutive plate appearances in the sixth inning.
First up was second baseman Jurickson Profar, who ranged into no man's land in short right field to spear a popup from Kyle Farmer that seemed destined to fall in for a hit:
Those plays right there? Those are exactly what a pitcher needs in order to throw a no-hitter. Fiers doesn't rack up a ton of strikeouts, either (his K/9 rate thus far in 2019 is 6.8), so he has to rely on the guys behind him in the field ... and they had his back on Tuesday.
An especially fun fact about Fiers' no-hitter on Tuesday night, however, is how it factors in with A's franchise history. Specifically, this little tidbit regarding the timing of Fiers' no-no and previous perfect games thrown by Dallas Braden and the late Jim "Catfish" Hunter:
Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter tonight, May 7, 2019.
— Adrian Garro (@adriangarro) May 8, 2019
Catfish Hunter threw a perfect game May 8, 1968.@DALLASBRADEN209 threw a perfect game May 9, 2010.
Wild. @Athletics pic.twitter.com/zsfKiwMLE5
That's a bit wild, right?
Baseball is a wonderful thing.
Adrian Garro joined MLB.com in 2016. Throughout his travels, both Bartolo Colon and Vin Scully have placed their hands on his shoulders. Not at the same time, though. That'd be amazing.
