The Boston Red Sox have the most hits (201), runs (123), doubles (56), total bases (341), runs batted in (116) and best batting average (.282), on-base-percentage (.350) and slugging percentage (.478) in the MLB. This Saturday, April 21 they fell victim to the no-hitter.
The last time the Red Sox were no-hit was April 22, 1993 by Chris Bosio and his Seattle Mariners. The Mariners lineup included Ken Griffey, Jr., Tino Martinez, Omar Vizquel and Bret Boone. They shut the Sox out 7-0.
On Saturday, Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea no-hit the best team in baseball. He struck out 10 batters, and was three batters over the minimum. The 26-year-old lefty is in his third year in the majors. Last year in Oakland he posted a record of 12-10 and had an ERA of 4.37. Manaea’s no-hitter could not have come at a better time for the anti-Boston crowd as it ended the Red Sox eight-game winning streak.
Though it is early in a lengthy season, Manaea’s 1.23 ERA is fourth best in the American League. The man on the other end of the pitching duel that resulted in a 3-0 victory for Oakland was Sox ace Chris Sale. Sale matched Manaea’s 10-strikeout mark in just seven innings of work. He allowed three runs on six hits. There was diversity in Sale’s dominance in the game as his 10 strikeouts were dispersed among seven different Oakland batters.
Manaea’s 10 strikeouts were split by five Red Sox batters, including a three-strikeout game for outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. Manaea is the first pitcher for the Athletics to throw a no-hitter since Dallas Braden’s perfect game in 2010. Manaea joins Braden, three-time World Series champion Dave Stewart, Cy Young award winner Vida Blue and Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter as Athletics pitchers who have performed the feat.
The Oakland Athletics have been no-hit 14 times, which is the second most only to the Baltimore Orioles’ record of 15 no-hitters against. Manaea’s no-hitter is the 12th no-hitter against the Boston franchise. Matt Snyder of CBS Sports said of Manea’s no-hitter, “The stuff was on display Saturday night, just as it has been throughout April this season. Manaea isn’t really doing anything different on the mound in terms of velocity or pitch selection. He’s just commanding his pitches better and staying more consistent. Given his age and experience level, this is exactly what a breakout season looks like. The no-hitter was just the tip of the iceberg. He was already breaking out, as I pointed out last Sunday. Now it’s a national story, thanks to the no-no.” Manaea’s .130 batting average against is the third lowest in the MLB, his 0.60 WHIP is the second lowest in baseball, and he leads the majors with 36.2 innings pitched. Manaea’s skill will be tested again in his next start he is expected to make against the 2017 World Champion Houston Astros.
