Cincinnati Reds pitcher Wade Miley has no-hitter through eight innings

© The Associated Press Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Wade Miley throws during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati on Friday, April 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

CLEVELAND – Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Wade Miley had the lowest ERA over the first month of the season among Reds starting pitchers. But Friday’s start against Cleveland has been his best start yet.

Miley had a no-hitter through eight innings of a scoreless game with Cleveland.

Miley has leaned on his changeup and his cutter this season, but it has taken every one of his pitches on Friday, including the ones Miley has stayed away in a few games this season. 

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When Miley’s changeup is at its best, he has said that allows him to sneak in his fastball late in counts for outs. Against Cleveland, Miley threw a changeup on four of his first five pitches. The pitch was working, and Miley got three outs with his fastball over the first two innings. 

During his second time through the order, Miley used his secondary pitches to get the biggest outs of the inning. In the fifth inning, he got out Cleveland’s first two hitters with cutters late in the count, and he finished the inning with a curveball that Cleveland center fielder Harold Ramirez rolled over for a groundout.

In the sixth, Miley got two more groundouts with his cutter. He lost his perfect game after second baseman Nick Senzel couldn’t complete the play on a sharp ground ball up the middle, but Miley held onto the no-hitter with a fastball that Cleveland right fielder Jordan Luplow lined out to right.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Wade Miley has no-hitter through eight innings