On Friday September 28, Homer Bailey (Homer, ironic name for a MLB pitcher, don’t you think?) of the Reds no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB’s record-tying seventh no-hitter of the 2012 season. Major League hurlers also notched seven no-hitters each in 1990 and 1991. The Reds topped the Pirates 1-0, further strengthening BBRT’s belief that no-hitters and perfect games are most often borne of stiff competition. (See BBRT post of August 16).
Of MLB’s 279 no-hitters to date, 1-0 represents the most common score of this uncommon accomplishment. Forty-four no-hitters have featured only a single run, including the April 23, 1963 game, in which Houston’s Ken Johnson no-hit the Reds and lost 1-0. Johnson’s game was one of only two no-hitter losses, the other a 2-1 defeat suffered by the Orioles on April 30, 1967 – when Steve Barber and Stu Miller combined to no-hit the Tigers.\
Here are a few additional no-hitter tidbits you might find of interest.
On September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game against the Cubs, winning 1-0 in LA. The win brought Koufax’ record to 22-7. His mound opponent – Bob Hendley (2-3) – deserved better, giving up only one unearned run on one hit. The Dodgers, in fact, has only two base runners in the game. The combined total of hits (1) and base runners (2) remains the lowest total for an MLB game.
On April 30 and May 1, 1969, the Houston Astros were in Cincinnati for a two-game series against the Reds – with both games producing no-hitters. On April 30, the Reds’ Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros 10-0. On May 1, the Astros’ Don Wilson returned the favor, setting down the Reds without a safety in a 4-0 win. This is the only time an entire, multi-game series was comprised of no-hitters.
On May 3, 2011, the Twins’ Francisco Liriano no-hit the White Sox 1-0 – still the only complete game of his career. Liriano’s ERA going into the contest was 9.13.
On June 25, 2010, Edwin Jackson of the Diamondbacks no-hit Tampa Bay (a 1-0 win), while walking eight and hitting one batter. His 149 pitches thrown are the most ever in a no-no. (A.J. Burnet holds the record for walks in a no-hitter, nine in a 3-0 Marlins win over the Padres on May 12, 2001).
The most lopsided no-hitter took place on August 4, 1884, when Pud Galvin of the NL Buffalo Bisons enjoyed an 18-0 win over the Detroit Wolverines.
For more no-hitter and perfect game factoids, see BBRT’s posts of August 16, July 12, June 14, June 9 and April 21.