Major League Baseball Giants’ Blake Snell Revels in First Career No-Hitter: ‘I’m Still Kind of in Shock’
Blake Snell was on the verge of pitching the first no-hit game of his remarkable career, needing just one more out against the power-hitting Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. Cruz took a swing at Snell’s first pitch, a 97.8 mph fastball, sending it toward the gap in right-center field. Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski, who had been subbed in for defensive purposes in the eighth inning, made a leaping catch to secure Snell’s no-hitter and a 3-0 victory.
The 31-year-old lefty, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, was swarmed by his teammates after completing the third no-hitter in the majors this season.
“You’re so amped up in the last inning, trying to throw as hard as you can to the plate,” Snell said. “I’m still kind of in shock. I need to go home and let it sink in. I haven’t really processed the game.”
Snell struck out 10 and threw 114 pitches, 78 of them strikes. He entered the ninth inning knowing he had to keep his pitch count low to avoid being pulled by Giants manager Bob Melvin at 120 pitches. Snell was determined to achieve his first complete game in 202 major league starts.
“I knew I had to get it over the plate,” Snell said. He required just 10 pitches to strike out Santiago Espinal and get Jonathan India on a comebacker before facing De La Cruz.
Melvin admitted he was ready to pull Snell if he allowed a hit in the ninth, watching him closely as the pitcher developed a blister around the seventh inning.
“That’s as nervous as I’ve been in a long time,” Melvin said. “I wanted that for him so bad. If anyone has the stuff to throw a no-hitter, it’s Blake Snell.”
Snell was particularly effective against the top of Cincinnati’s lineup, striking out India three times, and De La Cruz and Spencer Steer twice each.
Snell recorded the 18th no-hitter in Giants’ franchise history and the third in the majors this season. Previously, Houston’s Ronal Blanco no-hit Toronto on April 1, and San Diego’s Dylan Cease pitched a no-hitter against Washington on July 25.
“I don’t think it will be his only one,” said Reds pitcher Nick Martinez, who played with Snell in San Diego last season. “He was commanding the ball very well. It seemed like he didn’t miss a spot all night. He has some electric stuff.”
Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald homered for the Giants.
Snell had nearly thrown a no-hitter against Minnesota on July 14, which was broken by a single in the seventh inning. He struck out 15 in his last outing on July 27, allowing only two hits through six innings.
Snell, who won the Cy Young Award with San Diego last season and in 2018 with Tampa Bay, became the seventh player in major league history to win the award in both leagues. He signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants before the season.
Snell joined the ranks of reigning Cy Young winners who have thrown a no-hitter, a group that includes Jake Arrieta (2016), Clayton Kershaw (2014), Bob Gibson (1971), and Sandy Koufax (1964), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The last no-hitter for the Giants was by Chris Heston on June 19, 2015, in a 5-0 win over the New York Mets.
The Reds were last no-hit on May 17, 2019, by Mike Fiers of the Oakland A’s in a 2-0 loss.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out eight.
Blake Snell finished off the Cincinnati Reds for his first career no-hitter.
The 31-year-old Snell struck out 11 and walked three as the Giants built a 3-0 lead through eight innings. Snell became the first member of the Giants to throw a no-hitter since Chris Heston in 2015.
It marks the 18th no-hitter in Giants history and the third in the majors this season. Houston’s Ronal Blanco no-hit Toronto on April 1, and San Diego’s Dylan Cease pitched a no-hitter against Washington on July 25.
“Seventh inning I felt a little tired, then I kind of looked at the scoreboard and noticed, and I said, ‘You better wake up,’” Snell told NBC Sports Bay Area as his teammates celebrated with a cold bucket of ice water.
Reporting by The Associated Press.