Mike Fiers of the Houston Astros has not allowed a hit through six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Justin Turner jumped on a first-pitch cutter from Mike Fiers, left over the plate to begin the sixth inning, and launched it 400 feet to left field – foul.
Astros catcher Jason Castro was in a similar boat, and as he reflected on catching his first career no-hitter, he recalled his first meeting on the mound with Fiers, who was pressed into emergency relief duty when rookie right-hander Lance McCullers was roughed up by the Texas Rangers on August 3.
In Fiers’ previous three starts (we’re not including a relief appearance on August 3 because, obviously, it’s not a start), he allowed only three earned runs total. He retired the last 21 hitters in a row. Other than striking out the side on nine pitches in the fourth inning, Fiers did nothing remarkable that day.
Having never even gotten an out in the ninth inning in his five-year career, Fiers was dominant.
With Nolan Ryan watching, Fiers threw the eleventh no-hitter in Astros history.
Fiers authored the 21st no-hitter thrown against the Dodgers since they began their existence as a National League franchise in 1890 in the Astros’ 3-0 win. Amazingly, the last time the Dodgers were no-hit was June 8, 2012 in Seattle, and that too was a combined effort with five Mariners contributing.
It was Fiers’ first win as a member of the Astros. “I felt great”.
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Adrian Gonzalez watched from the railing of the Dodgers dugout as Fiers was engulfed by his teammates against the backdrop of fireworks exploding outside of the retractable-roof stadium. New Dodger Chase Utley hit another fly ball to Marisnick which required much less effort to corral. But with two outs in the sixth, the Astros struck again with a solo home run from designated hitter Evan Gattis, his 19th homer this season. Wilson struck out 13, but walked six, hit another batter and put an eighth base runner on via an Astros error.
