2011's Near No-Hitters

SI Staff | Jun 16, 2011

2011's Near No-Hitters /

2011's Near No-Hitters

Josh Beckett, Red Sox

Beckett was a dribbler from being perfect. The Boston right-hander pitched the first one-hitter of his career, limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to Reid Brignac's third-inning infield single in a 3-0 Red Sox victory.

Justin Verlander, Tigers

Verlander, who no-hit the Blue Jays on May 7, recorded his second two-hitter of the season in a 4-0 win over the Indians. Verlander's bid went into the eighth inning before Orlando Cabrera lined a clean single to center with one out.

Anibal Sanchez, Marlins

Another day, another Marlins pitcher with a no-hit bid. For the fourth time this season -- and the second for Sanchez -- a Marlins starter took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Sanchez fell short, though, as a line-drive single to right by Laynce Nix ended his no-hit hopes. The Marlins routed the Nationals, 8-0.

Yovani Gallardo, Brewers

On the same day Verlander threw his second career no-hitter, Gallardo made a run at his first, before surrendering his first hit of the game on a single by the Cardinals' Daniel Descalso in the eighth inning. Gallardo did earn the win, though, flipping the script on the host Cardinals, who only a day earlier had been on the positive end of Jaime Garcia's no-hit bid.

Derek Lowe, Braves

The Atlanta pitcher had a no-hitter through six innings and two strikes on Philadelphia's Shane Victorino in the seventh when he started trotting around the mound, trying to deal with a blister on his right foot. On the next pitch, Lowe gave up a single to left. Then, he gave up a double to the next batter, Placido Polanco, to end his day. Lowe had tossed a no-hitter in 2002 while a member of the Red Sox.

Jaime Garcia, Cardinals

The 24-year-old lefthander entered the eighth inning with a perfect game intact. But, after issuing a four-pitch walk to Milwaukee's Casey McGehee, Garcia gave up a single to Yuniesky Betancourt to end the no-hit bid. Using a fastball with lots of movement, Garcia still finished with his third career shutout.

Ervin Santana, Rich Thompson, Scott Downs, Angels

A two-hour, 35-minute rain delay ruined what could have been a special night. The wait forced the Angels to pull starter Ervin Santana (pictured) after four innings of no-hit, seven-strikeout ball. A pair of relievers -- Rich Thompson and Scott Downs -- held the Red Sox hitless until a single from Jed Lowrie with one out in the seventh. The Angels ultimately won 5-3 in 13 innings.

Jeff Niemann, Rays

Teammate Ben Zobrist stole the headlines during the Rays' doubleheader sweep -- becoming the fourth player ever with seven hits and 10 RBIs on one day -- but Niemann nearly made some history of his own. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the night cap before allowing a lead-off single to Minnesota's Denard Span.

Philip Humber, White Sox

A minor league journeyman against the Bronx Bombers? Sounds like a mismatch. And for 6 1/3 innings, it was. The Yankees couldn't handle Humber's offerings, as the pitcher -- on his fifth team and making only his sixth career start -- dominated one of the majors' best offenses. Alex Rodriguez grounded a single up the middle in the seventh to end Humber's hopes of completing the bid, but the White Sox still won, 2-0.

Anibal Sanchez, Marlins

Although he was agonizingly close to finishing the job against the Rockies, Sanchez could at least take solace in the fact that he already threw a no-hitter in 2006. Otherwise, taking his bid into the ninth inning and losing it on a broken-bat single by Dexter Fowler on the first pitch of the final inning could have been devastating. But Sanchez recovered and completed Florida's 4-1 win.

Tim Lincecum, Giants

Tim Lincecum won't make the Hall of Fame, but for an all-too-brief time, he could pitch better than everyone else. — Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was spotted an eight-run lead against the Rockies, and he cruised until a single by Carlos Gonzalez in the seventh broke up his no-hit bid. Lincecum struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings of work and allowed only four balls to leave the infield all night, none until a seventh-inning flyout.

Josh Johnson, Marlins

The ace was back at it in his third start, coming even closer to a no-hitter. But Braves rookie Freddie Freeman muscled an inside fastball into leftfield with one out in the eighth to ruin this attempt. Johnson was the first pitcher to take a no-hitter through six innings in two of his first three starts since the Cardinals' John Tudor in 1988. Johnson almost did it again in his fifth start of the season, lasting 5 2/3 innings before giving up a hit.

Chris Tillman, Orioles

The 22-year-old righthander lost his no-hit bid without giving up a hit. After six innings of no-hit ball against the Rays, Tillman -- who threw a no-hitter last April while in Triple-A -- was pulled by manager Buck Showalter because of his pitch count. Reliever Jeremy Accardo then gave up a two-out single to B.J. Upton in the seventh to end Baltimore's hopes of a combined no-hitter.

Josh Johnson, Marlins

The Marlins ace had a no-hitter through six innings in Florida's season opener against the Mets but the gem almost never got started. It took a barehanded play from second baseman Omar Infante to record the game's first out. From there, Johnson was in control, preserving the no-hit bid until a double to center from Willie Harris in seventh inning.

Published Jun 16, 2011

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