Cleveland Indians no-hit for second time this season; This time it’s Reds’ Wade Miley
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — When a team has a .213 team batting average 30 games into a season, they run the risk of being no-hit almost every night.
Welcome to the Indians’ world.
The Indians were no-hit for the second time this season as Cincinnati’s Wade Miley blanked the Indians, 3-0, on Friday night at Progressive Field. Miley’s no-hitter was the fourth thrown in the big leagues this season.
White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon no-hit the Indians on April 14 at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Indians have never been no-hit twice in the same season. Before this year the last time they were no-hit was July 27, 2011 by Ervin Santana of the Angels.
Sixteen teams have been no-hit twice in the same season. The 2019 Seattle Mariners were the last to suffer the fate. They were no-hit by the Angels on July 12 and the Astros on Aug. 3. They were both combined no-hitters. The Dodgers were no-hit twice in 2015.
The Red scored three times in the ninth to win it when Emmanuel Clase melted down after relieving Zach Plesac. Plesac pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing three hits before leaving after 112 pitches.
Nick Senzel and Jesse Winker started the ninth with singles to put men on first and second. Nick Castellanos sent a bouncer back to the mound. Clase could have taken the easy out at first, but tried for the force at second and threw it into left field. Senzel scored on the error and Winker went to third. Clase followed with a balk that scored Winker for a 2-0 lead.
Mike Moustakas singled home Castellanos for the Reds final run.
The Indians went down in order the ninth as Miley retired Rene Rivera, Cesar Hernandez and Jordan Luplow. Miley joins Joe Musgrove, Rodon and John Means as pitchers who have thrown no-hitters in 2021. That does not include Madison Bumgardner’s seven-inning no-hitter that is not recognized by MLB.
Miley, working fast, retired 16 straight to open the game. Six went down on strikeouts and only one batter hit a fly ball to the outfield.
The Indians finally put a runner on base with one out in the sixth when Amed Rosario reached on a double-error by shortstop Kyle Farmer with one out. First Farmer bobbled Rosario’s ball, allowing him to reach first. Then his throw skipped into the Reds’ dugout to give Rosario second base.
Miley escaped with the no-hitter intact as he retired Austin Hedges on a bouncer to the mound, walked Hernandez and retired Luplow on a fly ball to left. Miley struck out eight and walked one.
Plesac, meanwhile, walked the tightrope.
Farmer opened with a single for the Reds. Shogo Akiyama sent a double-play ball to Josh Naylor at first baseman. Naylor made a quick throw to second, but shortstop Amed Rosario dropped the ball. The error put runners on first and second with no one out.
Senzel sent a grounder over second that Hernandez fielded. He forced Akiyama, but there was no chance for a double play as Farmer went to third and Senzel was safe at first. Winker, after an eight-pitch at bat, sent the second double-play ball of the inning and this time Hernandez, Rosario and Naylor turned to end the inning.
The Reds threatened Plesac again in the fourth. Castellanos started the inning with a double to the wall in left center. Moustakas moved him to third with a ground out to first. Plesac stranded Castellanos by striking out Eugenio Suarez and Tyler Naquin.
Plesac, following Castellanos double in the fourth, retired 15 straight through the eighth.
Miley came into the game 1-4 with a 4.95 ERA lifetime against the Indians. On April 18, they beat him, 6-3, at Great American Ball Park. In five innings they scored four runs on five hits against Miley. But he was a different pitcher on Friday night.
Next: Indians right-hander Aaron Civale (4-0, 3.20 ERA) will face the Reds and RHP Luis Castillo (1-3, 6.07) on Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Bally Sports Greats Lakes, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.
New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
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