Cardinals' Miles Mikolas comes within one strike of MLB's third no-hitter of the season

Veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas came agonizingly close to the St. Louis Cardinals' first no-hitter in more than two decades Tuesday night in a 9-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a doubleheader.

Mikolas, 33, held the Pirates without a hit until rookie Cal Mitchell, down to his last strike with two outs in the ninth, laced a double just beyond the reach of Gold Glove center fielder Harrison Bader.

Mikolas (5-4), who frequently had Pirates hitters off-balance by changing speeds, did give up an unearned run in the fourth inning on a two-base error by left fielder Juan Yepez and a pair of groundouts.

After giving up the two-out double, Mikolas left to a standing ovation after throwing a career-high 129 pitches. Reliever Packy Naughton got the final out to secure the victory.

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"It stinks to get that close and then come up empty-handed," Mikolas said in an interview with MLB Network. "I really can't be upset. You've got to tip your cap to that guy (Mitchell)."

The Cardinals completed the sweep as first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs in the nightcap -- after hitting another homer in the opener.

The last Cardinals no-hitter was on Sept. 3, 2001, when rookie left-hander Bud Smith blanked the San Diego Padres in a 3-0 victory.

There have been two-no hitters in the majors this season: a combined no-no by five members of the New York Mets on April 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels rookie Reid Detmers’ gem against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miles Mikolas barely misses Cardinals' first no-hitter since 2001