Homer Bailey of the Reds named National League Player of the Week

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, who tossed the Club’s first no-hitter since 1988 on Friday, has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending September 30th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Bailey, who was selected by the Reds with the seventh overall selection in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, needed 115 pitches to record the 15th no-hitter in franchise history, the first since left-hander Tom Browning’s perfect game on September 16, 1988 vs. Los Angeles and the first by a Reds’ right-hander since Tom Seaver no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals on June 16, 1978. Bailey’s gem marked the first no-hitter tossed against the Pittsburgh Pirates since Cardinals legend Bob Gibson blanked them in 1971, snapping the second-longest streak in the Majors (behind the Cubs, who have not been no-hit since Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game). Bailey’s no-no was the seventh in the Major Leagues this year, tying the modern-era record set in 1970 and matched in 1971. It was the third thrown by a National Leaguer this year, joining New York’s Johan Santana (June 1st vs. St. Louis) and San Francisco’s Matt Cain (perfect game on June 13th vs. Houston). The 26-year-old faced just two batters over the minimum in the outing, allowing Clint Barmes to reach on an error in the third inning and a walk to Andrew McCutchen in the seventh inning. Cincinnati’s single run in the top of the first inning was all the Reds needed as Bailey outdueled Bucs starter A.J. Burnett to earn his 13th win of the season, a 1-0 victory for the N.L. Central Champions. The decision improved Bailey’s lifetime record at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA, and it marked his third career complete game, all of which have come against the Pirates. The Texas native has already set career highs this year in wins, innings pitched (204.0) and strikeouts (162), and with a 3.75 ERA thus far, he is poised to have the lowest ERA of his six-year career. This is Homer’s second career weekly award, having won previously for the week ending October 4, 2009, which, incidentally, was also the last full week of the season.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Adrian Gonzalez (.458, 11 H, 4 R, .500 OBP) and Matt Kemp (.458, 11 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1.083 SLG, .519 OBP) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Washington’s Bryce Harper (.481, 8 R, 13 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .963 SLG, .533 OBP) and Kurt Suzuki (.385, 10 H, HR, 7 RBI, .407 OBP); Pete Kozma (.476, 10 H, 3 2B, HR, 9 RBI, .762 SLG) and Lance Lynn (2- 0, 3.65 ERA, 18 SO, 12.1 IP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (2-0, 3.00 ERA, 14 SO, 12.0 IP); and Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel (1-0, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO, 3.1 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Homer Bailey will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com. /p>