Slater’s heroic catch in Cobb’s near-no-hitter has shades of Blanco

Slater’s heroic catch in Cobb’s near-no-hitter has shades of Blanco originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Alex Cobb fell just short of his first career no-hitter in the Giants’ 6-1 win Tuesday over the Cincinnati Reds — but his teammate Austin Slater did all he could to help preserve the feat.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning and San Francisco leading 5-0, Reds outfielder Will Benson hit a short fly ball to shallow left-center field. Slater put his body on the line to keep Cobb’s no-hitter intact, laying out to take a single away from Benson in front of a roaring Oracle Park crowd (and after an unsuccessful challenge by Cincinnati).

It was a moment Giants fans won’t soon forget despite Spencer Steer’s spoiler of a double off Cobb with two outs in the ninth, especially since it was reminiscent of another famous catch that preserved a tremendous pitching feat.

Immediately, social media was abuzz with comparisons to Gregor Blanco’s incredible catch that saved Matt Cain’s perfect game for the Giants in 2012.

https://twitter.com/TonyCMKE/status/1696731576967589890

Shades of Blanco indeed.

The 2012 Giants, of course, went on to win that year’s World Series. And in the midst of a playoff push, Cobb, Slater and Co. certainly have their eye on a similar outcome this season even though the pitcher’s no-hit bid fell just short.

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