Matt Manning, Jason Foley and Alex Lange combine for Detroit Tigers' 9th no-hitter
Matt Manning stuggled to escape the first inning.
The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, after inclement weather delayed first pitch by more than an hour, started Saturday's game in the pouring rain at Comerica Park. There were heavy showers in the top of the first inning, but once the rain passed, Manning found the command of his three pitches and attacked relentlessly.
The 25-year-old took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and came seven outs away from an incredible personal accomplishment. Manager A.J. Hinch pulled Manning from the game after 91 pitches.
Relievers Jason Foley and Alex Lange finished the combined no-hitter, the first combined no-no in franchise history and the ninth overall.
It's the first no-hitter by the Tigers since Spencer Turnbull threw one against the Seattle Mariners on May 18, 2021.
NOT SO FAST: Tigers' Scott Harris preaches patience with prospects Parker Meadows, Colt Keith, Justyn-Henry Malloy
The Tigers, sparked by the return of Riley Greene from the injured list, scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The early offense was enough for a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays at Comerica Park, all thanks to Manning and the pitching staff.
The first inning, though, seemed almost impossible to survive.
Manning hit Bo Bichette with an up-and-in fastball and walked Brandon Belt to put back-to-back batters on base with no outs. He recorded two outs, and with runners on the corners, needed a towel from the dugout to wipe off his hands as the rain continued to pour onto the field.
HE'S BACK: In return to Tigers, Tarik Skubal shows why he can be 'one of the best pitchers'
Manning worked out of the jam by punching out Cavan Biggio with a down-and-in fastball for a called-third strike, throwing 19 pitches in the first inning. He walked Whit Merrifield to start the 12-pitch second inning, then retired the next 16 batters he faced.
There were several defensive plays — including a running catch by shortstop Javier Báez in left field — to keep the no-hitter intact.
In the seventh inning, Manning sent down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman to come seven outs away from completing a no-hitter. He walked Biggio, the next batter, on six pitches.
A batter hadn't reached safely for the Blue Jays since Merrifield's walk in the second inning.
After the walk, Hinch bounced out of the dugout and removed Manning, who allowed four opponents to reach base, from his fifth start of the season after 91 pitches. (Manning returned June 27 from a lengthy stay on the injured list.)
Manning, who threw 57 of 91 pitches for strikes, used 34 four-seam fastballs (37%), 30 sliders (33%) and 27 curveballs (30%). He generated five whiffs and 23 called strikes for a 31% called-strike-plus-whiff rate.
Right-handed reliever Jason Foley replaced Manning and needed five pitches to complete the seventh inning. Foley returned for the eighth inning and sent down the Blue Jays in order.
For the ninth inning, righty reliever Alex Lange slammed the door with three consecutive outs. The efforts of Manning, Foley, and Lange delivered a combined no-hitter, the first combined no-no in franchise history.
There have been eight no-hitters by one pitcher in Tigers history.
Return of Riley
The Tigers (39-49) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
A one-out single from Greene in his return from the injured list (stress fracture in left fibula) sparked the two-run inning. After Greene's single, Spencer Torkelson hit an RBI double and Kerry Carpenter hit an RBI triple.
Báez grounded into an inning-ending double play.
MIGGY TALKS: How Tigers' Miguel Cabrera escaped bad start, started hitting again in final season
Partly cloudy?
Partly sunny?
100 percent runs. pic.twitter.com/Fh5pJxn4zw— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 8, 2023
Greene finished 2-for-2 with two walks.
Torkelson, batting one spot behind him, finished 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Gausman allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across six innings, throwing 62 of 96 pitches for strikes. The 32-year-old has a 3.03 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 3 Detroit Tigers combine to no-hit Toronto Blue Jays
