Seattle's six-pack produces no-hitter
SEATTLE — Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan popped his head into the clubhouse interview room and insisted his normally stoic manager enjoyed the history that just took place.
“It’s OK to smile skip, we just got a no-no,” Ryan shouted to Seattle manager Eric Wedge, bringing a smile and chuckle to Wedge’s face.
There were plenty of smiles to go around the Seattle clubhouse late Friday night, mostly because so many had a hand in the third no-hitter in Seattle’s history.
Kevin Millwood pitched six no-hit innings before leaving with a groin injury, and a of Seattle relievers continued to hold the Dodgers in check until Tom Wilhelmsen closed out a 1-0 win over Los Angeles for his third save.
Seattle’s six-pack of arms joined the Mets’ Johan Santana, the Angels’ Jered Weaver and White Sox right-hander Philip Humber on the no-hit list of 2012. It was the second no-hitter at Safeco Field this season after Humber’s perfect game against the Mariners in April — the first two in the park’s 13-year history.
The 10th combined no-hitter in major league history tied the record with six pitchers used and was the first since a six-pack of Astros no-hit the New York Yankees in June 2003. Three combined no-hitters happened in a two-year span of 1990 and 1991, including then California Angels’ Mark Langston and Mike Witt combining to no-hit the Mariners 1-0 on April 11, 1990.
This time it was Seattle’s turn to add another bit of baseball lore to its history. Seattle had not thrown a no-hitter since Chris Bosio did it against the Boston Red Sox on April 22, 1993. Since that day, the Mariners had been no-hit twice, including earlier this season when Humber tossed the 21st perfect game in major league history and the Mariners were left to watch the White Sox celebrate at Safeco Field.
On Friday night, after Wilhelmsen got Andre Ethier to ground out to second for the final out, it was rookie catcher Jesus Montero running around with his arms in the air looking for someone to celebrate with.
“It was really fun. I was praying at the last inning,” Montero said. “It was one of my dreams. It was amazing, an amazing feeling.”
Seattle’s six-pack of arms joined the Mets’ Johan Santana, the Angels’ Jered Weaver and White Sox right-hander Philip Humber on the no-hit list of 2012. It was the second no-hitter at Safeco Field this season after Humber’s perfect game against the Mariners in April.
The six pitchers tied the record for the most used in a no-hitter and each played an important role, from Charlie Furbush quickly entering the game after Millwood left in the seventh to Brandon League finding the nasty splitter that had eluded him in recent weeks to Wilhelmsen being so oblivious that teammates had to tell him he just completed a no-hitter.
