Mariners Throw 3rd No-Hitter in Team History

Oh boy, oh boy.  19 years after the last no-hitter... Chris Bosio's 1993 game ending in the famous Visquel play, the Mariners notched their third no-hitter in history.  But this time, it was a highly unusual combined no-hitter.  It is only only the 10th combined no-hitter in MLB History.  Even more rare than a perfect game, 4 homer game, or unassisted triple play!

Dodgers (37-21)

Gordon SS

Herrera 3B

Ethier RF

Rivera DH

Abreu LF

Hairston 2B

Loney 1B

Ellis C

Gwynn CF

Eovaldi (0-2, 2.64)

Mariners (26-33)

Ichiro RF

Ackley 2B

Seager 3B

Montero C

Smoak 1B

Saunders CF

Jaso DH

Carp LF

Kawasaki SS

Millwood (3-5, 3.90)

We came in after a 5-4 road trip in which we absolutely crushed the ball, scoring 64 runs, including a 21-8 drubbing of Texas.  So all thoughts were that we'd finally found our groove and were hoping that it would carry over to Safeco.  It wasn't the case, but we were able to get just enough offense to win 1-0.

Millwood started out superbly, with only 68 pitches through six innings against the best team in the National League.  He retired the first 12 men he faced until a leadoff walk by Rivera in the 5th, who was immediately erased on a double play grounder.  Millwood didn't allow another batter.  He came out in the 7th inning, tossed one warmup, then left the game.  We weren't exactly sure what was going on... speculation on the radio and twitter was that it was a blister.  I was glad to find out later that it was a mild groin strain.  If he had left a no-hitter for a stinking blister?  Sheesh.  Anyway, at that point it was still a scoreless game, and I was pretty sure the chance at seeing a no-hitter was over.  But... five guys from our bullpen all came out and got the job done.  Furbush came on for the injured Millwood, got a fly ball for the first out, then made a two-base error on a chopper back to the mound.  But he struck out Ethier, and Rookie Stephen Pryor came on to finish out the 7th with a strikeout of his own.  He throws in the upper 90s.

We scored the lone run of the game in the 7th inning, so Pryor picked up his first ML win.  We scored when Ichiro got a two out single (his third single of the game), followed by a walk to Ackley and then an RBI single by Seager.  It was his 23rd two out RBI of the year (our of 37 total), which leads the AL.

In the top of the 8th, Pryor walked the first two batters, so was relieved by Luetge who in 13 innings has yet to give up a run.  He faced one batter, a sacrifice to advance runners to 2nd and 3rd with one out.  Next followed League.  He lost his closing job a couple of weeks ago, and anytime he comes in I get really anxious. Well, Ellis hit a shallow ball to left but Figgins (who had come in that inning as a defensive replacement) was able to get to it, and quickly throw home.  It was a high throw, but Montero was able to save the run by snagging it out of the air.  League struckout Gwynn to finish the inning, and we were only 3 outs from History!!! 

Ryan came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth, and it was a good thing he did.  The dude is insane, I don't care if he is batting below the Mendoza line.  He is probably the best shortstop in the league.  Wilhelmsen came in to close out the game, and all 22,028 on hand were on their feet.  Every no-hitter has one or two spectacular defensive plays.  Seager had one to leadoff the fourth, and Ryan came through in the ninth.  Gordon hit a 0-2 pitch slowly, but Ryan charged it and was just able to get the play at first.  It was damn close, Gordon was incensed but... hell we were on the bad end of a call for the perfect game.  So even if he was safe, that's baseball!!  He sure looked out to me.  Herrera lined out to Ryan, and the final out was a ground ball to Ackley.  History was made, and the celebration commenced!

I think it is pretty cool that I have been to a perfect game and combined no-hitter this year, after 18 years of griping about leaving the Bosio no-no early... I'm rewarded with this.  I felt like the Baseball Gods decided to give something back, after the torture of the perfect game.  It wasn't the most spectacular pitching performance I've ever seen, but truly bizarre.  I think Washburn gave up one hit in a complete game, and that hit was erased on a double play so he faced the minimum batters.  That was better.   This one had a few walks and an error, but it was a great team accomplishment.  And, as it was only the 10th combined no-hitter ever, extremely rare!  I can now finally shut up about the Bosio no-hitter!

The Mariners are now 7-8 when I attend
Time of Game: 2:48
Attendance: 22,028