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

 

A Perfect Game

Wow, what can I say?  We saw history at the ballpark today, as Philip Humber threw the 21st Perfect Game in MLB history.  27 up, 27 down, and I saw every minute of it.  Sometimes you just have to tip your cap, and appreciate the moment.

19 years ago, almost to the day, I had been at Chris Bosio's no-hitter but left early (didn't realize it was a no-no), this afternoon I was aware of every single moment.  It was probably around the third inning, after we'd been through our lineup once, that I noticed how well Humber was pitching (or was it our ineptness?).  It wasn't until the 5th inning when we went down on 8 pitches that I knew something special was going on.  You could feel it, he was in the zone and we were at a loss offensively.  

Philip Humber - 21st Perfect Game in ML History!

Lost in the game, another great performance by Beavan and our pitching staff, but who really cares how well they pitched, or a rundown of the White Sox scoring... in ten years nobody will remember.  Hell, in two months!

After the pile the celebration continued

The game ended with controversy as it looked like, to me and several others, that pinch hitter Ryan had checked his swing on a wild ball four... but Home Plate umpire Brian Runger said he went around, and Pierzynski was able to hunt down the ball and throw Ryan out at first.  Humber collapsed to the ground, his teammates piled on top of him.  I tried to take in the moment, and also tried to capture it on my camera phone... but it doesn't really do justice.  Everyone in the stadium was really excited to be a part of history, most of the crowd was cheering Humber on when the bottom of the 9th began.  I couldn't... I was hoping we would at least get a walk.  I can take a no-hitter... but a Perfect Game against my team?  Hard to digest.

It is still a bit surreal, I'm not sure what to think about what I just witnessed.  From the seventh inning on I was a bundle of nerves and kept making mistakes on my scoresheet!  I didn't know Lillibridge had come in as a defensive replacement for Viciendo in the 8th inning until he came up to bat in the 9th (and scored the final run).  I put Jaso in as pinch hitter for Saunders instead of Olivo!  My hands were shaking, my heart was racing... I think I am still in shock.  Not many people can say they've seen such a game live and in person, but now I have.

One of the reasons I love baseball is that, as I have mentioned before, you never know what you are going to see at the ballpark.  There is always a chance for History, and today proved that.  Humber isn't one of the elite pitchers in the game, but now his name will live on forever.  Congrats to Humber, now let's shake this off and win tomorrow.

The Mariners are now 2-4 when I attend
Attendance: 22,472
Time of Game: 2:17

Chicago White Sox Scoresheet for Humber's Perfect Game

4-21-2012 - 27 Up, 27 Down, Humber's Name is Hall of Fame Bound as he is Perfect

The No-No No-No.

Do you remember where you were on April 22, 1993? I do. I was one of 13,603 other fans at the Kingdome to watch the Mariners play the Boston Red Sox. I can't believe it has been 18 years. I was a month shy of turning twelve years old, it was a Thursday night and I had school the next day, in the sixth grade.

The lineups:

Boston

Ernie Riles 2B
Carlos Quintana RF
Mike Greenwell LF
Andre Dawson DH
Mo Vaughn 1B
Ivan Calderon CF
Scott Cooper 3B
John Valentin SS
Tony Pena C

Joe Hesketh P

Seattle

Mike Felder LF
Henry Cotto DH
Ken Griffey CF
Jay Buhner RF
Bret Boone 2B
Tino Martinez 1B
Mike Blowers 3B
Dave Valle C
Omar Vizquel SS

Chris Bosio P

You'll notice Edgar was not in there... he injured his leg at the end of spring training on bad turf in Vancouver, he was coming off winning the batting title in 1992 and this injury led to him becoming the best DH in the history of the game.

At that point we had our season tickets on the third base side, I believe in the third or fourth row. The angle was perfect to watch Omar work his magic on a daily basis (and eventually some young dude named Alex). In those days the Kingdome was often pretty empty. You could drive up and park on the street outside the North Lot with five minutes to spare, and get to your seats with no problem before the first pitch.

What I remember about the game is that it wasn't particularly entertaining, in fact I remember being a bit bored. In the top of the 6th (or was it the 7th?) we decided to leave because I was tired and had school the next day. Other season ticket holders asked "are you leaving!" and we shared that yes, it was a school night and I had to get to bed. If only they had said "look up at the scoreboard" instead of just letting us leave. We were probably the only people to leave that night early... it wasn't until we got back to the car and turned on the radio that we realized what a mistake we had made. It was the top of the 8th and Dave shared that Bosio still had not allowed a hit in the game. My mom and I both looked at each other with a "holy shit" look on our faces. It was too late to go back to the game, we hadn't gotten our hands stamped when we left. That was the first and only time I will ever leave a no-hitter.

We won the game 7-0, Bosio walked the first two batters and then was perfect the rest of the way.

On any given day... you may see something special at the ballpark... a triple play, a cycle, an amazing catch.... I did that day, just didn't know it until it was too late. How many people can say they left a no-hitter? I think this ends up being the better story. I was there, and I left... I'm not afraid to admit it. I've been to a few "almost" no-hitters over the years, each time hoping that "this will be the day!" Maybe April 22, 1993 was my chance. As of this writing it is the last no-hitter to have been thrown by a Mariner pitcher. We have all seen those replays of the final out, Omar bare-handing a chopper over 2nd. I would have had an awesome view.