Matt Moore put to bed any ideas of a Dodgers sweep on Thursday night, coming within one out of a no-hitter to lead the Giants to a 4-0 win in the series finale at Dodger Stadium, pulling to within two games in the National League West.
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Adrian Gonzalez denied that there was an emotional spillover when the Dodgers took the field Thursday, but others were willing to bare their soul, starting with rookie Corey Seager, the guy who broke up Moore’s no-hitter with two out in the ninth.
Hamels (14-4) allowed a two-out single to Francisco Lindor in the first inning and retired the next 19 batters he faced, finishing with eight strikeouts as the Indians managed to get only four balls out of the infield against him until the eighth.
Moore was pulled immediately. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy had been pacing in the dugout for a couple of innings as Moore’s pitch count climbed – Moore missed most of the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery.
The 27-year-old lefty is seeking his first win since being traded from Tampa Bay to the Giants earlier this month.
The Dodgers were down to their final out with Matt Moore on the verge of throwing the Giants’ first no-hitter against them in more than 100 years. He made a face and slapped a wall when informed that it would’ve been the first by a Giant against the Dodgers since Rube Marquard in 1915.
That was plenty for Moore, who cruised through the first six innings on just 73 pitches, the lone baserunner being a Yasmani Grandal walk. The speedy outfielder came running to his right tracking a low fly ball that appeared to hover in the air, giving Span just enough time to make the catch.
“It’s definitely nice to know he has it now, considering we are going to see him a few more times”, Seager said.
On his bobblehead night, it all came down to Seager to prevent Moore from making history. The mix of pitches and his large variety of pitches kept the Dodgers hitters on their toes all night and forced some very weak swings all game. “We won the series and lost a game that’s how we look at it”.
It’s tricky business lamenting your own emotional day when the opposing pitcher authored the kind of classic Moore did Thursday.
Bochy said he was concerned about Moore’s pitch count, but Moore had told him he felt great.
“I’m happy. It’s a happy room in there”, said Moore of the Giants’ locker room.
Los Angeles (71-56) had its four-game winning streak halted. Moore’s left fielder was Stephen Vogt, and the opposing pitcher was Jarrod Parker. That places the Giants two games back of the Dodgers in the West.
BRAVES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1: Matt Wisler, called up from Triple-A in time to start for Atlanta, didn’t allow Arizona a hit for six innings.
Dodgers: Andre Ethier (broken right tibia) began a rehab assignment at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Mets on Sunday, the longest such bid of his career.
Seth Lugo (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings for his first big league win.
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The Red Sox also served as spoilers back on September 2, 2001, as Yankees ace Mike Mussina was one strike away from tossing a ideal game at Fenway Park.
