04/16/26 07:22:00
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04/16 19:20 CDT Guardians rookie Parker Messick has no-hitter through 8 innings
against Orioles
Guardians rookie Parker Messick has no-hitter through 8 innings against Orioles
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick has a no-hitter
through eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles.
The 25-year-old left-hander has walked two and matched a career high with nine
strikeouts while throwing 106 pitches, 73 for strikes. The Guardians lead 4-0
on Thursday night.
Messick is attempting to throw the first no-hitter in the majors since Sept. 4,
2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined to beat the
Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0.
Eight innings marks the longest outing of Messick's career. He pitched seven
shutout innings against Tampa Bay last season.
Cleveland has the majors' longest current gap between no-hitters. The team's
most recent one was Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the
Toronto Blue Jays.
Carlos Carrasco went 8 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on July 1, 2015, and Gavin
Williams had a no-hitter for 8 1/3 innings last season on Aug. 6 against the
New York Mets.
Carrasco came within one strike of a no-hitter when Rays left fielder Joey
Butler lined a slider on an 0-2 count that just eluded the glove of leaping
Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis.
Juan Soto broke up Williams' no-hit bid with a home run to center.
Messick has faced one batter more than the minimum. He walked leadoff hitter
Taylor Ward before retiring the next 15 batters. Ward hit a deep flyball to
center field in the third inning that Steven Kwan caught at the wall, and Jos
Ramrez made a nice stop on a grounder by Coby Mayo deep in the hole at third
to end the fifth.
Messick walked Leody Taveras leading off the sixth, but Ward grounded into a
double play to end the inning.
Ramrez also made a terrific grab in foul territory to retire Samuel Basallo
leading off the eighth.
Messick is making his 11th career start. He was the 54th overall pick in the
2022 amateur draft out of Florida State and made his big league debut last year.
Messick came into the game with a 5-1 career mark and a 2.04 ERA. He was 2-0
with a 0.51 ERA in his first three starts this season.
The Guardians have backed up Messick with Ramrez's two-run homer in the first
and RBI singles by Kwan in the fifth and George Valera in the sixth.
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