Where Detroit Tigers rank among MLB's 20 combined no-hitters
After an April 30, 1967, doubleheader in Baltimore, in which the two teams combined in Game 1 for two hits — with none from the winning team, Detroit Tigers manager Mayo Smith had a bit of business to finish off.
He detailed the events of his squad’s 2-1 win over the Orioles onto a lineup card, and then sealed that card in a cigar box, before speaking to reporters about the second combined no-hitter in MLB history.
“I’m sending that off to Cooperstown,” Smith said. “That’s where it belongs.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in 35 years of baseball and I don’t expect to see anything like it again.”
He was close. By the time Smith died in 1977, there had been just four combined no-hitters in MLB history. That was followed by four over the next two decades, three in the two decades after that and then a whopping nine in just the past six seasons. The latest came on July 8 when Tigers pitchers Matt Manning, Jason Foley and Alex Lange stumped the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park, allowing four baserunners and facing just 30 batters in all, three over the minimum.
Not all no-hitters are alike, of course, and that’s doubly true of the combined no-nos — 19 in the regular season and one in the World Series. In all, a combined no-hitter is actually rarer than a perfect game in MLB’s annals, 20 to 24 (with one of each this season) — though that may change soon as relievers become ever more prevalent in today’s game.
With that in mind, and looking ahead to Manning’s next start — tentatively slated for Monday night in Kansas City, Missouri — we thought we’d rank all 20 combined no-hitters, from worst to best.
(Innings by each pitcher in parentheses)
20. April 30, 1967: Tigers 2, Orioles 1
Pitchers: Steve Barber (8 2/3) and Stu Miller (1/3).
The buzz: All three runs in this one scored without hits, as the O’s took a 1-0 lead on a walk, a sac bunt, two more walks and a sac fly, then gave it back on a pair of walks, a sac bunt and a wild pitch, then let up the winning run on a dropped ball by future eight-time Gold Glover Mark Belanger at second base, from future Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio. It was a fitting finish for Barber, who issued eight walks over the first eight innings, with the Tigers getting a baserunner in every inning but the fifth.
“If I hadn’t had a no-hitter going, I’d have been out of there long before,“ Barber told reporters afterward, not entirely sounding disappointed. “I’m sore about losing the game, not because it was a no-hitter. Too many guys pitch no-hitters and you never hear of then again.” Barber and his catcher, Larry Haney, were crossed up on the final wild pitch — but afterward, they were able to agree on one thing: It was “a helluva way” to lose.
19. July 28, 1976: White Sox 2, Athletics 1
Pitchers: John (Blue Moon) Odom (5) and Francisco Barrios (4).
The buzz: Odom, just a few weeks removed from the minors and a few months removed from a nine-year stint with the A’s, walked nine and gave up a run in the fourth on a throwing error by his catcher on a steal attempt. Barrios wasn’t quite as wild, issuing two free passes. It was enough to leave A’s manager Chuck Tanner befuddled, telling reporters it was “the most tainted no-hitter I’ve ever seen … or maybe I should call it the funniest.”
Odom couldn’t disagree: “I had lost my rhythm and I didn’t know where my pitches were going. But it worked out for the best, didn’t it?” he told reporters. “I kept the A’s off balance … they didn’t know what I was going to throw.”
18. Sept. 28, 1975: Athletics 5, Angels 0
Pitchers: Vida Blue (5), Glenn Abbott (1), Paul Lindblad (1) and Rollie Fingers (2).
The buzz: The third combined no-no in MLB history was something of a planned affair, as the A’s had already clinched the AL West and then-manager Alvin Dark wanted to keep Blue’s arm fresh for the ALCS. “I knew I was coming out,” Blue said.
“It didn’t matter to me at all. All I care about is my earned run average. I’ll take my record of 22-11 and run.” Blue also allowed the only three baserunners, on two walks (in the first and fifth innings) and an error by Bert Campaneris in the fourth.
17. April 29, 2022: Mets 3, Phillies 0
Pitchers: Tylor Megill (5), Drew Smith (1), Joely Rodriguez (1), Seth Lugo (1), Edwin Diaz (1).
The buzz: The Amazins combined for 12 strikeouts and six walks, with Smith getting four strikeouts in five batters faced and Diaz needing just 13 pitches to strike out the side. He was about the only Met hurler to have an easy outing, as the quintet combined for 159 pitches, the most recorded in a no-hitter.
The no-no was just the second in franchise history, covering 9,588 games at the time, which explains first baseman Pete Alonso’s exclamation: “It’s like seeing a white buffalo or a unicorn.”
16. July 13, 1991: Orioles 2, Athletics 0
Pitchers: Bob Milacki (6), Mike Flanagan (1), Mark Williamson (1) and Gregg Olson (1).
The buzz: Willie Wilson almost got a hit in the sixth inning, hitting a comebacker off Milacki’s hand that the first baseman was able to field for an out. The righty finished the inning despite “tingling” fingers, then turned it over to a trio of Birds who issued just one walk; in all, the O’s picked up five strikeouts and walked four A’s.
15. Sept. 11, 1991: Braves 1, Padres 0
Pitchers: Kent Mercker (6), Mark Wohlers (2), Alejandro Pena (1)
The buzz: With two outs in the ninth, Darrin Jackson hit a chopper to short … but third baseman Terry Pendleton cut in front of shortstop Rafael Belliard, then opted not to field it, as the ball bounced off Belliard, with Jackson reaching. The official scorer in Atlanta gave an error to Pendleton despite his never touching the ball.
“The ball was lost in the lights,” Pendleton said. “I couldn’t make a play on it if I had to. But I’ll take an ‘E’ any time for a no-hitter.” At least the Atlanta pitchers allowed just two walks, both by Mercker (in the first and third innings).
14. June 24, 2021: Cubs 4, Dodgers 0
Pitchers: Zach Davies (6), Ryan Tepera (1), Andrew Chafin (1), Craig Kimbrel (1).
The buzz: Davies was plenty wild, with at least one walk in four of his innings (and five walks total), but he also picked up a hit of his own. That’s more than his relievers could say, as all three issued a walk in their innings of work as well.
Kimbrel racked up three strikeouts to close it out, unencumbered by fear of blowing the no-no: “When Willie (catcher Willson Contreras) gave a big fist bump, I knew something was up,” Kimbrel said. “And (Ryan) Tepera ran out there and whispered and he’s like, ‘You have no idea what happened.’ And then (Javier Báez) put me in a headlock. I had no clue when I came into the game that we had a no-hitter.”
13. Aug. 3, 2019: Astros 9, Mariners 0
Pitchers: Aaron Sanchez (6), Will Harris (1), Joe Biagini (1), Chris Devenski (1)
The buzz: Less than a month after getting no-hit by the Angels, the M's bottomed out against another AL West squad, as Sanchez — making his Houston debut after losing an MLB-worst 14 games with Toronto, and sporting a 6.07 ERA — issued just two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out six. His relief crew added two more strikeouts and two more walks.
12. Sept. 1, 2014: Phillies 7, Braves 0
Pitchers: Cole Hamels (6), Jake Diekman (1), Ken Giles (1), Jonathan Papelbon (1).
The buzz: Hamels was effectively wild, pairing seven strikeouts with five walks and a hit-by-pitch — he had just two 1-2-3 innings — but his bullpen was dominant, allowing just one ball out of the outfield, an easy fly to left to open the ninth. Hamels also singled and scored the Phils’ second run of the game, in the sixth inning.
11. June 8, 2012: Mariners 1, Dodgers 0
Pitchers: Kevin Millwood (6), Charlie Furbush (2/3), Stephen Pryor (1/3), Lucas Luetge (1/3), Brandon League (2/3), Tom Wilhelmsen (1).
The buzz: A groin injury ended Millwood’s evening after just 68 pitches and one walk allowed (in the fifth, followed quickly by a double play), and five M’s relivers finished it off, with some oddities. Pryor got the win despite allowing more walks (two, to open the eighth inning) than outs recorded (one), and Wilhemsen — again, the sixth Seattle pitcher — also didn’t know it was a no-hitter.
"He was surprised," M’s catcher Jesus Montero told reporters. "He didn't know. ... I jumped on him and I was like, 'Hey, it's a no-hitter!' And he went, 'What?!' And then he was so happy after that."
10. July 8, 2023: Tigers 2, Blue Jays 0
Pitchers: Matt Manning (6 2/3), Jason Foley (1 1/3), Alex Lange (1).
The buzz: After a walk to Whit Merrifield to open the second inning, Manning retired the next 16 batters (and wiped Merrifield out on a steal attempt) before his third walk of the game ended Manning’s afternoon. Just as well, as he, too, had no clue about the no-hitter: "I didn't know until (pitching coach Chris Fetter) told me I didn't give up any hits," Manning said. "I was like, 'Oh, dang.' I know Foley's not going to give up a hit, and I know Lange's not going to give up a hit, so I was pretty confident after I came out."
9. May 4, 2018: Dodgers 4, Padres 0
Pitchers: Walker Buehler (6), Tony Cingrani (1), Yimi Garcia (1), Adam Liberatore (1).
The buzz: The Dodgers played it safe in Buehler’s third career big-league start, pulling him with 93 pitches that included three walks and eight strikeouts. Cingrani got into trouble, issuing back-to-back walks in the seventh, but escaped with a strikeout and a groundout. Just one of the Pads’ next six batters got the ball out of the infield in Monterrey, Mexico.
8. April 11, 1990: Angels 1, Mariners 0
Pitchers: Mark Langston (7) and Mike Witt (2).
The buzz: Facing a lineup with two future Hall of Famers in it — Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez — Langston issued four walks to his former teammates (he was traded at the 1989 trade deadline), including two in the first. The M’s didn’t even get a ball out of the infield over the final three innings, with six groundouts, two strikeouts and a popup to second base.
7. June 11, 2003: Astros 8, Yankees 0
Pitchers: Roy Oswalt (1), Pete Munro (2 2/3), Kirk Saarloos (1 1/3), Brad Lidge (2), Octavio Dotel (1), Billy Wagner (1).
The buzz: After Oswalt was injured, Munro’s three walks (one each in innings 2-4) were almost the only blemishes in the first no-hitter against the Yanks in the Bronx in 51 years. Alfonso Soriano provided a scare when his fly ball in the fifth forced Lance Berkman to make a tumbling catch — “It wasn’t that close,” Berkman said. “It probably looked more spectacular than it was.” — and reached on a one-out wild pitch third strike in the eighth. But Octavio Dotel whiffed Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi for four strikeouts in the inning, part of a 13-strikeout effort by Houston.
6. July 12, 2019: Angels 13, Mariners 0
Pitchers: Taylor Cole (2), Félix Peña (7).
The buzz: It was already an emotional night, as the Angels were playing their first game at home since the death of teammate Tyler Skaggs 11 days earlier. The full roster wore No. 45 jerseys and after Pena induced a grounder to second for the final out — the M’s mustered just one baserunner, on a walk in the fifth inning — his teammates gathered around the mound, covering it with their jerseys on the eve of what would have been Skaggs’ 28th birthday.
"I feel like this is partly Skaggsy's no-hitter," manager Brad Ausmus told reporters. "I don't think it's something that even crosses your mind, on a night that you're honoring a fallen teammate that you could score 13 runs or throw a no-hitter."
5. June 25, 2022: Astros 3, Yankees 0
Pitchers: Cristian Javier (7), Hector Neris (1), Ryan Pressly (1).
The buzz: Javier did the heavy lifting here, with 13 strikeouts and one walk (in the first inning) amid his 115 pitches. Neris almost blew it, with walks to two of the first three batters he faced before getting Joey Gallo (on a flyball to deep right) and Aaron Judge (on a lineout to second).
Javier’s catcher, Martín Maldonado wasn’t surprised: "We call him 'The Reptile,' because he doesn't show any emotion, no matter how big the stage — playoffs, World Series. He walks in the same. Like, you ever get scared? It really doesn't matter. He can give up five or he can throw a no-hitter, and he's still the same guy.”
4. July 12, 1997: Pirates 3, Astros 0 (10)
Pitchers: Francisco Córdova (9) and Ricardo Rincon (1)
The buzz: Cordova, who’d thrown a two-hitter against Houston three weeks earlier, was even more dominant, allowing just two walks, a hit batter and striking out 10. Unfortunately, the Bucs’ bats were almost as stymied, managing just five hits over the first nine innings as Cordova’s pitch count hit 121.
“You never want to take a guy out during a no-hitter, but it wasn’t a hard decision for me,” Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said. Rincon plowed through the Astros in 18 pitches, with a walk and a strikeout, to get the win after Mark Smith’s pinch-hit homer ended the 10th with two outs.
3. Sept. 11, 2021: Brewers 3, Cleveland 0
Pitchers: Corbin Burnes (8), Josh Hader (1).
The buzz: Burnes dominated, piling up 14 strikeouts with just one walk (to open the seventh inning, for Cleveland’s only runner), but also hit 115 pitches with an inning to go. Hader then needed just nine pitches for the ninth inning, getting two strikeouts in the process. If there’s a knock on this one, it’s the opponent; this was Cleveland’s third time being no-hit during the 2021 season.
2. Nov. 2, 2022: Astros 5, Phillies 0
Pitchers: Cristian Javier (6), Bryan Abreu (1), Rafael Montero (1), Ryan Pressly (1).
The buzz: “The Reptile” was nearly as cold-blooded in Game 4 of the World Series, striking out nine while walking two (one each in the second and third innings) on 97 pitches. His bullpen allowed only one walk while striking out five.
Javier received some unlikely motivation, pitching in the majors in front of his father for the first time. Before the game, his parents predicted a no-no. "When they told me that, obviously I got a lot more motivated," he told reporters. "I kept my faith in God and obviously I knew I had a big commitment today being down 2-1 in the series.”
1. June 23, 1917: Red Sox 4, Senators 0
Pitchers: Babe Ruth (0) and Ernie Shore (9).
The buzz: The first combined no-no is arguably the most famous — After leadoff hitter Ray Morgan walked, Ruth got upset with the call and was ejected by umpire Brick Owens. (Ruth then got his money’s worth, punching Owens in the head.) In came Shore, and on his first pitch, Morgan broke for second, only to be thrown out. Shore then retired the next 26 batters (albeit with only two strikeouts), for a not-quite-perfect game.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' combined no-hitter in an elite class; where it ranks
