Game Scores and No-Hitters, Sponsored by Jonathan Sanchez

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 11, 2009 7:32 AM EDT in History & Hall of Fame

While many of us on the East Coast were sleeping (or out doing exactly the opposite of that), Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants threw a no-hitter against the Padres (nice live-blogging by Dave Pinto.) And if Juan Uribe hadn't committed a fielding error, it would have been a perfect game. Sanchez struck out eleven, and more impressively for him, didn't walk or hit a single batter. 28 up, 27 down, no hits, no walks, no nothing, except for that Uribe error. Of course, the Giants defense might have helped out on some other batted balls, I'm not sure.

It's so nice that after the frustration of the Royals and Mets stupidity yesterday, we're also able to celebrate a part of baseball history. According to Baseball-Reference's Play Index, there have been 123 9+ inning performances by starting pitchers where they allowed no hits (a "no-hitter" in my book.) Well, make that 124 after last night. The highest Game Score for these no-hitters is 101. That feat belongs to Nolan Ryan and his 16 strikeout, 2 walk performance against the Blue Jays in 1991, and Sandy Koufax' 14-strikeout perfect game against the Cubs in 1965. Sanchez clocked in at 98 last night, a number that had only been reached 14 other times:

GmSc	Player	Tm	Opp	Date
101	Nolan Ryan	TEX	TOR	5/1/91
101	Sandy Koufax	LAD	CHC	9/9/65
100	Randy Johnson	ARI	@ATL	5/18/04
100	Nolan Ryan	CAL	@DET	7/15/73
100	Warren Spahn	MLN	PHI	9/16/60
99	Nolan Ryan	TEX	@OAK	6/11/90
99	Don Wilson	HOU	ATL	6/18/67
98	Eric Milton	MIN	ANA	9/11/99
98	David Wells	NYY	MIN	5/17/98
98	Mike Scott	HOU	SFG	9/25/86
98	Len Barker	CLE	TOR	5/15/81
98	Denn Eckersley	CLE	CAL	5/30/77
98	Catfish Hunter	OAK	MIN	5/8/68
98	Sandy Koufax	LAD	@PHI	6/4/64

Yes, that's three appearances by Nolan Ryan and two by Sandy Koufax.

The lowest Game Score for a no-hitter since 1953 is 88, belonging to three guys: Joe Cowley, Ken Holtzman, and George Culver.

Welcome to the club, Jonathan Sanchez, now let's see if you can join the twice-in-a-row club.

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Comments

And sure, I'll say it...

This will probably help the Giants ranking in Justin’s power rankings.

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by Sky Kalkman on Jul 11, 2009 7:37 AM EDT reply actions

It better

/shakes fist

Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.

Fuck Juan Uribe. Dios es grande.

by marcello on Jul 11, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish I had an earlier flight!

I landed when this game started, but I caught the last 3 or 4 innings on TV. Fantastic stuff with his Dad there, that was really cool.

by Harry Pavlidis on Jul 11, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

Giants Defense

With one out in the 9th, Aaron Rowand made that one defensive play that always seems to happen during a no-hitter. Going back, at the wall, he snagged it just at the top of the fence. Great stuff.

by Tommy Bennett on Jul 11, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Renteria's play right before wasn't bad either.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bdalebs on Jul 11, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Ex-Sox giveth, taketh away

Uribe ruined the perfect game, but without Rowand’s defensive play it would have been all for naught.

The Chicago Bulls.....the more profitable Los Angeles Clippers.

by Ozzie Montana on Jul 11, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

Terry Mulholland's Imperfect Game - 1990

On August 15, 1990, Mulholland gave up no runs, no hits, no walks, hit no batters, made no errors himself, and only faced the minimum 27 batters. However, he didn’t pitch a perfect game because Charlie Hayes made a throwing error allowing Rick Parker, a guy I’ve never heard of, to reach first. Dave Anderson hit into a 6-4-3 double play in the following at-bat to erase Parker on the bases.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jul 13, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions