Matt Moore was within one out of the San Francisco Giants’ 18th no-hitter in franchise history until Corey Seager hit a single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
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“It was one of the most fun games I’ve ever pitched in”, Moore said.
Moore, who was obtained from the Rays last month, just smiled after the hit.
Moore struck out seven and walked three.
Bochy said he would have pulled Moore with the no-hitter intact had he walked Seager, or anyone else, in the ninth. Giants manager Bruce Bochy had been pacing in the dugout for a couple of innings as Moore’s pitch count climbed – he missed most of the past two seasons after Tommy John surgery.
“He was excited to have a chance at it. He pitched his heart out”.
Seager picked a good time to rise to the occasion – as Thursday was also “Corey Seager Bobblehead Night” at Dodgers Stadium.
“Yesterday there were just things that were available to us that aren’t going to be there every night”, Moore said.
Moore started the eighth with a four-pitch walk of Grandal, and he had trouble putting pinch-hitter Chase Utley away. Losing two of three and getting swept, there’s a huge difference. The Giants won the game over the division leading Dodgers 4-0 behind the gem spun by their biggest trade deadline acquisition.
Matt Moore #45 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
In the end, Moore, 27, threw a career-high 133 pitches in a 4-0 win against the Dodgers, but his final pitch was a costly one. Still, when he and Posey played catch before Moore’s start against the New York Mets, Moore threw some cutters to give Posey a look at the movement.
Moore arrived three-and-a-half weeks ago from Tampa Bay at a cost of Matt Duffy and two minor leaguers. This was the start that introduced him to a clubhouse that very much needed to get out of here with a win, as there’s no telling if the Dodgers believe in inevitable. The only one came way back on April 21st with Chicago Cubs’ ace Jake Arrieta threw a no-no against the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 win. They ve simply slugged their way to a 20-15 record since the break, and allowed the Giants to do the rest while gaining 9 games in the NL West.
“I’m happy. It’s a happy room in there”, said Moore of the Giants’ locker room. Just in general to have an opportunity for a complete game, that’s what pitchers want. “I’m sure we’re going to see him two more times”. “We were not ready for that”.
NATIONALS 4, ORIOLES 0: Max Scherzer allowed two hits over eight innings, Bryce Harper had a two-run double and Washington avoided a four-game home-and-home sweep against Baltimore.
Span ran a long way into the left-center field gap in the second inning, reaching below his knee to catch a slicing drive by Adrian Gonzalez near the warning track.
In the ninth, Span rushed over to grab a sinking liner by Enrique Hernandez. Moore’s left fielder was Stephen Vogt, and the opposing pitcher was Jarrod Parker.
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The Dodgers’ hitters showed the most consistent direction Thursday night. He wasn’t at all anxious, noting that these things are cumulative and he only threw 92 pitches in his last start.
