Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Phils No-Hit Braves With Combined Effort

The team every Phillies fan loves to beat took a first-class beating, hurting their playoff chances Monday in Atlanta.  Somewhere, Curt Schilling was smiling. 

Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon combined to throw a no-hitter, beating the Braves 7-0 -- and it was weird, as most no-hitters are.

Hamels has NL's 3rd best ERA.
Cole Hamels started the game, but didn't have his best stuff. He walked the first two hitters he faced, five in all, and while he was getting the next three hitters out, lead-off batter Jason Heyward stole second and third. In the bottom of the second, Hamels hit Phil Gosselin.

Heyward would walk a second time in the third inning, and steal yet another base. At this early point in the game, no one was thinking no-hitter, but rather: 'How has Hamels not given up any runs so far?'

The 1-0 score and the as-yet-unrealized no-hitter were in jeopardy when Chris Johnson hit a fast-sinking bloop to right field, but Marlon Byrd made a spectacular play on the ball.

[Watch Byrd's remarkable grab: BYRD SNAG.]

After that third inning scare, Hamels threw two 1-2-3 innings, until he walked Freddie Freeman to start the sixth inning. With 108 pitches under his belt and his no-hitter intact, Hamels was pulled after six innings.

Hamels said there was little argument when manager Ryne Sandberg removed him for a pinch hitter before he could pitch the seventh.

"I understand," Hamels said. "I wasn't so caught up in the no hits because I understood my pitch counts. I was able to get away with six innings. I didn't have as much control as I would like."

His final line: six innings, zero hits, five walks, one hit batter, seven strikeouts, 108 pitches.  Hamels' game moved him into third place in the National League in earned run average at 2.50, the lowest of his nine major league seasons.

And if you were pulling your unqualified ace out of his no-hitter after six innings, what three pitchers would you want to finish it?  Phillies relievers: Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon.

They tossed three perfect innings in support of Hamels. No hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. Three of them were from rookie Ken Giles, who has quickly become a fan favorite, for good reason.

Games of 3K's or more in relief with the Phillies:
Giles rookie season is unprecedented in Philly.

Ken Giles (7 in 34 appearances)
Jonathan Papelbon (6 in 189)
Brad Lidge (10 in 214).

Diekman, the first reliever, was surprised when he got to the mound.

"I had no idea (it was a no-hitter) until I ran out and looked at the scoreboard," he said.

And just a bit confused after first baseman Darin Ruf grabbed a soft liner off the bat of Phil Gosselin for the final out and all the Phillies congregated at the mound for something less than the usual no-hitter celebration focused on one pitcher.

"I have no idea what to do right now," Diekman said after the game. 

Giles said he knew what was on the line. It didn't bother him. He struck out the side in a perfect eighth to set up Papelbon for the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.

"I didn't expect to go in, though," Giles said. "I was hoping Cole would be able to finish it by himself, but it's always OK to ask for help once in a while. It's a great thing to be a part of."

Papelbon said he wasn't even sure if he's ever been part of a no-hitter. He hadn't-- until now.

It's the third time in major league history that four pitchers have combined for a no-hitter, the most recent in 1991 by the Baltimore Orioles' Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson. The other one was in 1975 by the Oakland Athletics' Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers.

The record for pitchers in a no-hitter is six, set by the Houston Astros in 2003 at Yankee Stadium and matched by the Seattle Mariners against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, the most recent no-hitter by more than one pitcher. Kevin Millwood, who started that game for the Mariners, also pitched a complete-game no-hitter for the Phillies in 2003.

After the game, Hamels described the combined no-hitter as:

"One of the better experiences you can probably have in this sort of situation because it was a whole complete team effort. Most of the time when you see these sort of events it's one or two people, a great play.  This really took four outstanding pitchers to go out there, a good game called by Chooch and some big plays in the outfield with Marlon. It was a full team effort and I think we all can really enjoy it that much more for what it means for the organization."

"This is a really good moment to cherish," Hamels said. "We're with each other seven or eight months a year. I know how difficult it is to go out there, throw nine innings, keep a pitch count within reason. And knowing that you're playing a competitive team that's fighting for a playoff spot, you know they aren't going to take it lightly. I think to be a part of something so special with these three guys and the whole team, there's no better way to sum it up.  It sums up the fight all year, even though it hasn't gone the way we wanted."

Hamels told reporters that the game ball will be given to team president David Montgomery, who recently took a leave of absence to recover from jaw bone cancer surgery.

The Phillies followed Monday's win with another shutout in Atlanta Tuesday, 4-0.

Through The Years: Phillies No-Hitters

Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon combined for just the 12th no-hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history on Monday. The others:

YearPitcherOpponent
2010Roy Halladayvs. Reds
2010Roy Halladayat Marlins
2003Kevin Millwoodvs. Giants
1991Tommy Greeneat Expos
1990Terry Mulhollandvs. Giants
1971Rick Wiseat Reds
1964Jim Bunningat Mets<<
1906John Lushat Brooklyn
1903Charles Fraserat Cubs
1898Red Donahuevs. Boston
1885Charles Fergusonvs. Providence

DatePitcherFinal scoreBase-
runners		OpponentCatcherUmpireNotesRef
August 29, 1885Ferguson, CharlesCharles Ferguson1–0unknownProvidence GraysClements, JackJack ClementsCurry, WesWes Curry [9]
July 8, 1898Donahue, RedRed Donahue5–0unknownBoston BeaneatersClements, JackJack ClementsGaffney, JohnJohn Gaffney [10]
September 18, 1903Fraser, ChickChick Fraser10–0unknownChicago CubsDooin, RedRed DooinEmslie, BobBob Emslie
  • Largest margin of victory for the Phillies in a no-hitter
  • First Phillies no-hitter in a road game
[11]
May 1, 1906Lush, JohnnyJohnny Lush£6–0unknownBrooklyn DodgersDonovan, JerryJerry DonovanO'Day, HankHank O'Day
  • First Phillies no-hitter by a left-handed pitcher
[12]
June 21, 1964Bunning, JimJim Bunning*6–00New York MetsTriandos, GusGus TriandosSudol, EdEd Sudol [13]
June 23, 1971Wise, RickRick Wise4–01Cincinnati RedsMcCarver, TimTim McCarverDale, JerryJerry Dale
  • Two home runs also hit by pitcher Rick Wise
[14]
August 15, 1990Mulholland, TerryTerry Mulholland£6–01San Francisco GiantsDaulton, DarrenDarren DaultonGregg, EricEric Gregg [15]
May 23, 1991Greene, TommyTommy Greene2–07Montreal ExposFletcher, DarrinDarrin FletcherQuick, JimJim Quick [16]
April 27, 2003Millwood, KevinKevin Millwood1–03San Francisco GiantsLieberthal, MikeMike LieberthalEveritt, MikeMike Everitt
  • Smallest margin of victory in a Phillies no-hitter (tie)
[17]
May 29, 2010Halladay, RoyRoy Halladay1–00Florida MarlinsRuiz, CarlosCarlos RuizDiMuro, MikeMike DiMuro [18]
October 6, 2010Halladay, RoyRoy Halladay4–0§1Cincinnati RedsRuiz, CarlosCarlos RuizHirschbeck, JohnJohn Hirschbeck [19]
September 1, 2014Hamels, ColeCole Hamels£ Jake Diekman£
Ken Giles
Jonathan Papelbon		7–06Atlanta BravesRuiz, CarlosCarlos RuizBaker, JordanJordan Baker
  • Labor Day
  • First combined no-hitter in Phillies history
  • Hamels pitched six innings; each reliever threw a single inning
  • Carlos Ruiz catches National League record-tying third no-hit game
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