SI:AM | Michael Lorenzen’s Remarkable No-Hitter

Plus, previewing the next stage of the Women’s World Cup.

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I think it’s about time to declare the Yankees toast after dropping two of three to the White Sox.

In today’s SI:AM:

🔔 Michael Lorenzen’s memorable home debut

🏈 College football’s most intriguing QBs

🌏 WWC quarterfinals preview

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Quite the debut

Michael Lorenzen’s first home start as a Phillie was one no one will ever forget.

Lorenzen, acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline Aug. 1, made his home debut in Philadelphia last night against the Nationals and pitched the 14th no-hitter in franchise history. (You can watch all 27 outs here or the full final inning here.)

It wasn’t easy. Lorenzen struck out five and walked four as he threw a career-high 124 pitches. The pitch count is perhaps the most notable thing about Lorenzen’s game. It’s the highest of any pitcher this season. Since the start of the 2020 season, only 11 players have thrown at least 120 pitches in a game. Pitchers don’t normally go that deep into games anymore, but the Phillies showed faith in Lorenzen to get it done.

The high pitch count was especially notable for Lorenzen specifically. His previous career high was 107, in a five-inning outing during his rookie year with the Reds in 2015. Lorenzen posted a 5.40 ERA in 27 appearances (21 starts) that season and then was moved to the bullpen. He was almost exclusively a reliever during his final six seasons in Cincinnati before the Angels signed him last year and gave him a chance to start.

Lorenzen was average last year, posting a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts, but he took a big step forward this season and was named to the All-Star team for the first time. (As The Athletic’s Jayson Stark points out, Lorenzen was the only All-Star to get traded this year.) He has a 3.23 ERA and 1.035 WHIP in 20 starts. As he prepares to hit free agency this winter, it’s been a life-changing season for Lorenzen. He’s proved that he’s capable of being a reliable big league starter and should command the biggest contract of his career.

Regardless of what happens after this season, last night will likely be the high point of Lorenzen’s career. “I’ve watched every single one of Nolan Ryan’s no-hitters, because I’ve always wanted to throw a no-hitter,” he said in a postgame interview on the Phillies broadcast. His mom and wife were there to witness his dream finally come true, hanging on every pitch until Dominic Smith popped out to center for the 27th out.

Lorenzen mentioned several times how much of an impact the Philadelphia fans had on him as he tried to close it out.

“It was incredible,” he said. “Walking out for the seventh, eighth and ninth, man, these fans. I’ve never been part of an organization where fans are a part of the team. And they gave me that boost that I needed. ... If you are feeling fatigued, you don’t feel it at all in front of these fans.”

Phillies fans had plenty to cheer about last night. They took a 3–0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Lorenzen’s no-hitter wasn’t even the only dream moment of the night. Leading off the second inning, Weston Wilson hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance. As a 17th-round draft pick in 2016, he spent seven years toiling in the minors before finally getting called up a month shy of his 29th birthday. What a magical night of baseball in Philadelphia.

The best of Sports Illustrated

Mike Watters/USA TODAY Sports

• Pat Forde has a list of the most intriguing quarterbacks to pay attention to during this college football season.
• Ahead of the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, Clare Brennan and Andrew Gastelum offer up reasons why each of the eight teams left could win—and lose—the tournament.
• Overlooked in all the conference realignment madness is the impact on college basketball. Kevin Sweeney breaks down how the demise of the Pac-12 affects hoops.
• Chris Herring explains how defense will be the key for the Mavericks as they attempt to bounce back from a disappointing season.
• Joe Burrow is still “several weeks” away from a return, according to Bengals coach Zac Taylor.
• It’s been rumored for months, but Tottenham has reportedly accepted a bid from Bayern Munich for star striker Harry Kane.
• UConn star Paige Bueckers is cleared to play after missing all of last season with a knee injury.
• The NHL announced its first preseason games in Australia.

The top five...

… things I saw last night:

5. Every tweet the Nationals sent during Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter. (None. They posted the lineup and then the final score.)

4. Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez’s awareness to avoid a pitch clock violation.

3. Luis Robert Jr.’s foul ball that he hit clear out of the stadium.

2. Czech outfielder Tomas Chadim’s catch where he slid through a fence.

1. The ball that disappeared into a light bulb on the Green Monster.

SIQ

On this day in 2004, which Mets pitcher lost his two front teeth while riding in a taxi from LaGuardia Airport to Shea Stadium?

• John Franco
• Al Leiter
• Tom Glavine
• Duaner Sánchez

Yesterday’s SIQ: On Aug. 9, 1976, Cal Hubbard became the first—and thus far only—person inducted into which two Halls of Fame?

• Baseball and Pro Football
• Hockey and Basketball
• Baseball and Rock and Roll
• Basketball and College Football

Answer: Baseball and Pro Football. Hubbard (6'2", 250 pounds) was among the biggest players in the NFL in his day, but was renowned for his impressive speed at that size. He used his combination of speed and size to pioneer the modern linebacker position in addition to playing offense as a left tackle. He won four NFL championships (one with the Giants and three in a row with the Packers) during a 10-year career from 1927 to ’36. He’s considered one of the finest linemen in the history of the NFL.

Hubbard spent his football offseasons umpiring baseball games. After retiring as a player, he immediately took a job umpiring in the American League. He was known for his ability to call balls and strikes with accuracy, and was respected by players and coaches for not losing his temper and knowing the rules. When a hunting accident permanently damaged his vision in 1951, Hubbard moved into a new role as the AL’s supervisor of umpires.

Hubbard was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and the Baseball Hall of Fame in ’76, becoming the fifth umpire to receive the honor.