San Francisco Giants: Matt Moore Flirts With A No-Hitter

Matt Moore of the San Francisco Giants was one out away from joining the long list of pitchers who have thrown no hitters, but Corey Seager had other plans.

Games between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are usually “must watch” events, especially in recent years. The teams are longtime rivals and are currently duking it out for first place in the National League West division—the Dodgers recently took over lead from the Giants and were up by three games in the standings going into the game on Thursday night. Matt Moore, who was only traded to the Giants a month ago, singlehandedly made sure the rivalry was taken to a new level by nearly throwing a no-hitter.

Before the game, the big news was of veteran catcher A.J. Ellis‘ trade from the Dodgers to the Philadelphia Phillies for another veteran catcher, Carlos Ruiz. The trade seemed to cast a pall over Dodger Stadium. Fans were left stunned and reports had emerged that reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and Ellis cried at the news.

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When Moore stepped onto the mound at Chavez Ravine in the bottom of the first inning, he was hoping to improve upon his last four performances. Heading into Thursday’s game, Moore was 1-3 with his new team and only lasted five innings in his last outing, a 9-5 loss to the Mets on August 20. It hasn’t been an easy transition going from Tampa Bay to the San Francisco Bay and Moore needed a good start. So did the faltering Giants, who were 11-25 since the All-Star break.

They got one.

The misery that had begun before the game for the Dodgers and their fans continued throughout the game. Moore was mowing down the Dodgers batters from the get go and by the time the ninth inning rolled around, it seemed to be fated: The no-hitter would happen.

The first out of the ninth inning came courtesy of a sliding catch from Denard Span on a line drive to left-centerfield that could have easily turned into a double if it had been missed. If you’ve watched baseball a long time, you’ll know that in nearly every no-hitter, or perfect game, someone on the defense will make a spectacular play to preserve the no-no. Span did just that and the buzz began. Out number two was a weak grounder to third by Howie Kendrick. And just as the idea of Matt Moore throwing a no-hitter was an out away from becoming a reality, Corey Seager blooped the third pitch of his at bat, into shallow right center to end Moore’s bid.

Dodgers fans were elated and everyone else watching the game thought, “This seems very familiar.” Losing a no-hitter happens all the time. You always hear of guys getting into the seventh and eighth inning without surrendering a hit only to give up a flare to center or a bloop to right field. But losing it with only one out to go seems extra cruel. Manager Bruce Bochy took Moore out of the game after his 133rd pitch and called upon reliever Santiago Casilla to close out the game. And he did, on one pitch. The Giants won 4-0 and cut the Dodgers’ lead to two in the division.

Losing a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning has become a bit common of late. In fact, five other players have gotten that close since the start of the 2013 season alone. Michael Wacha, Yusmeiro Petit, and Yu Darvish suffered the same fate during the 2013 season—Darvish repeated the feat in 2014—and Carlos Carrasco and Shelby Miller experienced it in 2015.

In April 2013, Yu Darvish had set down 27 Astros in order—striking out 14 of them. On the 111th pitch of his outing, Marwin Gonzalez hit a single up the middle, just out of the reach of Darvish’s glove, and broke up the no-hitter. Darvish threw up his hands as if to say, “Oh well,” and his manager Ron Washington went to the mound and removed him from the game. Afterwards, Darvish, through a translator told reporters, “I think my teammates were more disappointed than I was,”

Amazingly, Darvish would suffer the same fate just over a year later against the Boston Red Sox. The culprit on May 9, 2014 was David Ortiz, who hit a single with two outs in the top of the ninth. Darvish also has the distinction of being one of only three players who have lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning twice: Bill Burns of the Washington Senators did it way back 1908 and ’09) and Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays did it twice in 1988.

Michael Wacha lost his no hitter with two outs in the top of the ninth against the Washington Nationals on September 24, 2013. His bid was lost on an infield single by Ryan Zimmerman. Wacha, who was only 22 and a rookie at the time said after the game, “I guess I just wasn’t meant to throw one tonight.”

On September 6, 2013, Yusmeiro Petit, who was pitching for the Giants, lost his no-hit bid with two outs and two strikes, in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Eric Chavez was the culprit who hit a ball that was just out of the reach of Hunter Pence. Earlier that season, Pence would make a no-hitter preserving catch for Tim Lincecum.

Shelby Miller was victimized on May 17, 2015 by Justin Bour of the Miami Marlins. Bour hit a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to keep the game going and to end Miller’s no-hit bid. Miller would have to settle for a two-hit, complete game shutout.

And finally, Carlos Carrasco’s effort came on July 2, 2015. He no-hit the Tampa Bay Rays for 8 2/3 innings when he gave up a single to Joey Butler on an 0-2 count. Manager Terry Francona removed Carrasco from the game and the Indians went on to win 8-1.

On Thursday night, Moore seemed pretty diplomatic about the whole thing telling reporters, “A comeback, a walk-off hit, something like this can spark you,” He continued, “It can get the ball rolling. … I was happy. It’s a happy room in there.” His catcher, Buster Posey, on the other hand, was more disappointed than his battery mate, “It stinks, no way around it. It’s obviously a great win, but when you get to that point, you’re pulling for the guy to get it done.”

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Maybe Moore is right. Maybe this is the game that gets him, and more importantly the Giants going. After all, it is an even year. But regardless, with six head-to-head match-ups left between these two teams, the race for the National League West Division title should be a fun one to watch down the stretch.

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