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Sports

Watch Every Out From Homer Bailey’s No-Hitter for the Reds

Sep. 29, 2012 8:18am Madeleine Morgenstern

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey celebrates his no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates with catcher Ryan Hanigan on Sept. 28, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The Reds defeated the Pirates 1-0. (Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Homer Bailey had a certain milestone on his mind when he walked to the mound Friday night. He wound up pulling off an even bigger feat.

Bailey pitched the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The right-hander began the night with 195 innings pitched this season and was eager to reach 200 for the first time in his six-year career.

“I looked up at the scoreboard (after the fifth inning) to see if I had hit 200 and saw a couple of zeros,” Bailey said. “That’s when I knew I had a chance at a no-hitter. It’s not something you think about doing.”

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It was the 15th no-hitter in Reds history and first since Tom Browning’s perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 16, 1988.

The seven major league no-hitters match the modern record for one season, tying 1990 and 1991. There were eight no-hitters in 1884.

“I don’t think there is any reason why there have been so many,” Bailey said. “There is a real fine line there in throwing a no-hitter. A bloop can fall in the outfield or an infielder can be in the wrong position and there goes your hit. You have to be extremely fortunate to throw a no-hitter and we had luck on our side tonight.”

Bailey (13-10) struck out 10 and walked one. He threw 115 pitches and retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out pinch-hitter Brock Holt before getting pinch-hitter Michael McKenry and Alex Presley to pop out.

When second baseman Brandon Phillips caught Presley’s popup on the outfield grass, Bailey was mobbed near the mound by happy teammates and doused with water.

The 26-year-old Bailey improved to 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA in six career starts at PNC Park. All three of his complete games and both his shutouts have come against Pittsburgh.

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It was the first time the Pirates had been held hitless since Hall of Famer Bob Gibson pitched the lone no-hitter of his career in 1971 for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cincinnati, which clinched the NL Central title last Saturday, improved to 95-62. The Reds are tied with Washington for the best record in the NL.

Bailey has been touted as a future ace since Cincinnati selected him seventh overall in the 2004 amateur draft following his senior year of high school in LaGrange, Texas.

He has a 38-33 career record and has set a season high for wins. Reds bench coach Chris Speier, serving as acting manager while Dusty Baker recovers from a mini-stroke, thinks the no-hitter could serve as a benchmark moment for Bailey.

“He’s always been a good thrower, but he’s really learned how to pitch this season,” Speier said. “You saw the evolution tonight.”

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The other no-hitters this season were thrown by Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox, Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels, Johan Santana of the New York Mets, Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants, Felix Hernandez of Seattle and a combined six-pitcher effort by the Mariners. Humber, Cain and Hernandez each had a perfect game.

Pittsburgh (76-81) made its own bit of history as it was assured of a 20th consecutive non-winning season with the loss, extending its major North American professional sports record.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Bailey had more than luck going for him. Hurdle sensed Bailey and catcher Ryan Hanigan were on the same page right from the first inning.

“They were spot-on with almost every pitch,” Hurdle said. “He kept throwing fastball up and away and breaking balls down and in and it was just an effective combination.”

It was also the first no-hitter caught by Hanigan, who broke into the majors with Bailey in 2007.

“It’s very special because Homer and I have been there every step of the way,” Hanigan said. “It’s great for Homer, it’s great for the organization and it’s just great for the team because it’s another special moment in what has been a very special season.”

Bailey retired his first six batters before third baseman Scott Rolen booted Clint Barmes’ leadoff grounder in the third inning for an error. Bailey then set down 13 straight until walking Andrew McCutchen with one out in the seventh while clinging to the one-run lead.

McCutchen stole second but then was thrown out by Hanigan attempting to steal third. Garrett Jones flied out to the warning track in right field to end the inning.

Cincinnati needed to make just one above-average defensive play behind Bailey. Left fielder Todd Frazier ran down Presley’s flare toward the foul line to end the third.

With the Reds employing a defensive shift, left-handed hitter Pedro Alvarez lined out to Rolen in the eighth.

“I thought the no-hitter was gone when Alvarez hit that ball, but fortunately the shift was on,” Bailey said.

A.J. Burnett (16-9) allowed seven hits in eight innings with five strikeouts and one walk.

“The way A.J. pitched, it was going to take almost nothing short of a no-hitter to beat him,” Hurdle said.

The Reds scored in the first inning on Frazier’s sacrifice fly after loading the bases with no outs on singles by Phillips and Zach Cozart and a walk to Joey Votto.

Phillips, Cozart and Rolen all had two hits.

The loss continued the Pirates’ downhill spiral. They have gone 13-36 since moving a season-high 16 games over .500 on Aug. 8 with a 63-47 record.

NOTES: Speier said he had a telephone conversation with Baker, who has missed the last nine games. Speier said the veteran manager “is feeling very, very good and looking forward to getting back.” Baker is scheduled to rejoin the Reds on Monday night when they open a three-game series at St. Louis to end the regular season. … Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of lower back soreness that has limited him to eight games in September. … Reds LF Ryan Ludwick, who has missed eight straight games with tightness in his left groin, is expected to return to the lineup Sunday. … Cincinnati RHP Mike Leake (8-9, 4.73 ERA) will face Pittsburgh RHP Kyle McPherson (0-2, 3.54) on Saturday night.

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Comments (32)

Dalady
Posted on September 30, 2012 at 8:47pm
I guess former GenMgr. Jim “old leather pants” Bowden was right when he referenced Bailey as a future star. Homer, you rock! REDS 2012

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kennycannon
Posted on September 30, 2012 at 6:20am
I can’t stand baseball but it should be noted that the guy only had one walk as well. 4 balls away from perfect. That’s amazing.

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LowIQGenius
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 9:58pm
Can we please rename the no-hitter separate from the no-base-er? It looks to me like this guy had a couple of hits… they just resulted as outs…….

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- Dalady
  Posted on September 30, 2012 at 8:41pm
  If the batter didn’t reach base, it’s not a hit…duh. I hate football.
  
  Report this comment
odd1
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 9:11pm
The Redlegs have been an exceptional team this year. Everyone has had eachother’s back. The NO-No by Homer could not have happened for a nicer guy. Go REDS

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WKRP_in_Cincy
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 3:12pm
Atta Boy Homer!

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HumbleMan
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 12:56pm
Nice to see something positive … thanks Blaze, and thanks Reds! That was a real team effort. Job well done.

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- Halloween
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 1:26pm
  Why was that a team effort?…The pitcher and catcher were the only ones that touched the ball.
  
  Report this comment
- Centurian
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 3:11pm
  @Halloween,
  
  You should really watch the video. His fielders also touched the ball, by catching pop flies and throwing people out at first.
  
  A perfect no hitter happens when there are no balls hit into fair play territory (and these are rare!)…
  
  Report this comment
- GoodStuff
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 3:31pm
  “The pitcher and catcher were the only ones that touched the ball.”
  
  Have you ever watched a baseball game in your life??
  
  Report this comment
ScratInTheHat
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 12:52pm
Sorry folks but at the point this is the ‘circenses’ of ‘panem et circenses’.

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- GoodStuff
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 3:32pm
  Lighten up Francis. You’re as miserable as a leftist.
  
  Report this comment
- GoodStuff
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 8:58pm
  “Go watch your game and STFU!”
  
  Now there’s the response of a rational person.
  
  You’ve been reported. Grow up and act like an adult.
  
  Report this comment
- ScratInTheHat
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:02pm
  Hey moron you came out with it you live with it! Report me to hell and gone pinhead! So you think a Francis is civil? Try a real response to a real post! The US is burning and the big game means what? Get your head out of the dark hole and look around!
  
  Report this comment
- Berbel73
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:47pm
  Hey Scrat are you so thick headed and miserable to think that the readers here don’t realize the trouble that we are in as a nation? Of course we all do, but we have to have some enjoyment in life and there is nothing more American that baseball. Baseball allows us to forget all of those troubles for just a few hours and there is nothing wrong with that. Otherwise we would all turn in to… well, you!
  
  Report this comment
- darkknight91
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:55pm
  Shut up, scrat. Go spread your misery somewhere else. The world’s problems will still be here after the game is over. Idiot.
  
  Report this comment
- ScratInTheHat
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 11:03pm
  Hey Berb! You got time for B ball? Really? There are a million things you need to be doing and you are watching games? Pop a top sit back and relax. It’s not painful if you just relax!
  
  Report this comment
- ScratInTheHat
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 11:10pm
  Dark why the F are you on the Blaze? ESPN locked up? Isn’t there a game on somewhere you can watch? Dump some chips out and pig away! That was a great play that someone else did while you F’ed off watching TBEE!
  
  Report this comment
- darkknight91
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:08am
  Scrat, why the F are you reading an article that you think is a waste of time? I know why. It’s because you just can’t but help to find something to b!tch about. That’s just what you are. A little b!tch. Now go listen to Mike Savage and get yourself worked up in a lather so you’ll have something to b!tch about tomorrow. Stupid.
  
  Report this comment
GoodStuff
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 12:51pm
Good job Batman!

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 12:28pm
That’s great. People around here in Cincinnati-land are wondering if thr Reds can take it all the way.
I don’t know why they always play the TV guys, instead of the best announcer in all of baseball, Marty Brennaman. The best duo was Marty and Joe.

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- LastAmerican
  Posted on September 30, 2012 at 10:37am
  Absolutely, Marty and Joe were the best.
  
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jimbolewis
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:57am
Sweeeeeeeeeet !!!!!

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Cincinnatea
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:50am
Way to go Homer and the Reds!!!

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NewLife56
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:47am
Goooooooooooooooo REDS!!!!

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Jay Gatz
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 9:15am
17th no hitter in Reds history.

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- booger71
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 10:22am
  It was against the pieRATS, not a big deal. GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
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justangry
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 9:15am
I grew up with the Big Red Machine it’s nice to see. I wish they didn’t take away Marge’s team because of something she said though.

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- Maxim Crux
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 12:10pm
  They banned smoking inside the locker room
  
  Report this comment
DirtyDeeds
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 8:51am
Go Reds!!! I wish I could get time off of work to go to a playoff game, I could actually get tickets this year.

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Smokepole
Posted on September 29, 2012 at 8:46am
Congratulations Homer! And I’m a Pirate fan….. yoi!

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- kentuckypatriot
  Posted on September 29, 2012 at 8:53am
  LOL thanks. I live 10 miles away from Cincy in northern KY. Sorry about Pitts friend.Hopefully you will cheer the reds in post season. Now for the Steelers…………… my next door neighbor is a huge steelers fan. GO REDS!
  
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