OAKLAND, Calif. — Mike Fiers of the Oakland Athletics pitched his second career no-hitter, getting help from two spectacular defensive plays to shut down the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 Tuesday night.
Fiers followed up his 2015 gem for Houston against the Dodgers with a 131-pitch masterpiece to become the 35th pitcher with multiple no-hitters in his career. He walked two, struck out six and ended it by fanning Eugenio Suarez with a big curveball.
The A’s poured out of the dugout to mob Fiers in celebration after the final out in front of a few thousand fans remaining — the game started more than 1 ½ hours later because of a light malfunction at the Coliseum. Fiers tipped his hat to the crowd and raised his arms in triumph as he walked off.
“I’m glad they got the lights working,” Fiers said.
A journeyman for much of his career, the 33-year-old Fiers (3-3) raised his lifetime record to 57-58.
The first no-hitter of the 2019 season didn’t come without tense moments as Fiers was bailed out by back-to-back great defensive plays in the sixth inning. Second baseman Jurickson Profar made a diving catch on Kyle Farmer’s popup into short right field for the second out, prompting Fiers to throw up his arms in celebration.
Joey Votto followed that with a drive to center field, but Ramon Laureano leaped at the fence to pull the ball back and rob the Reds star of a home run.
This was the 13th no-hitter in the history of the Athletics franchise, which started in Philadelphia, moved to Kansas City and shifted to Oakland. Sean Manaea pitched the previous no-hitter for the A’s on April 21, 2018, at home against Boston.
The Reds were no-hit for the 10th time, most recently by Jake Arrieta of the Cubs in 2016.
Fiers issued his only two walks in the seventh, but also got Jesse Winker to hit into a double play. Fiers needed only nine pitches to get through the eighth and zipped through the ninth, retiring rookie Josh VanMeter on a popup, getting Votto on a routine grounder and striking out Suarez.
ANGELS 5,
TIGERS 2
DETROIT — Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once in his season debut as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers Tuesday night.
The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and looking very eager to make an impact, Ohtani swung so hard at times that his helmet flew off his head.
The 24-year-old two-way player isn’t expected to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in October. But the Angels, who are under .500, are hoping Ohtani can provide a boost as their designated hitter.
Griffin Canning (1-0) earned the win in his second career start, giving up two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven. Hansel Robles pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.
Daniel Norris (1-1) took the loss.
CUBS 5, MARLINS 2
CHICAGO — Kris Bryant hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs over Miami.
With runners on the corners, Bryant drove a 1-2 pitch from Adam Conley (1-4) through a strong wind and into the bleachers in left-center for his third career game-ending homer.
YANKEES 5,
MARINERS 4
NEW YORK — Cameron Maybin narrowly beat right fielder Jay Bruce’s throw home on DJ LeMahieu’s game-ending, ninth-inning single, capping New York’s three-run rally.
Gio Urshela hit a tying, two-run off Anthony Swarzak (2-2) to begin the late comeback.
PHILLIES 11, CARDINALS 1
ST. LOUIS — Bryce Harper hit a grand slam, his first with the Phillies, and Rhys Hoskins added four hits, including a homer, to spark Philadelphia.
Harper’s homer capped a six-run second inning. Philadelphia took advantage of two errors and two walks as all six runs were unearned.
BREWERS 6,
NATIONALS 0
MILWAUKEE — Lorenzo Cain’s three-run double with two outs in the seventh inning broke a scoreless tie and Milwaukee won its fifth in a row.
Washington star Anthony Rendon returned to the lineup after missing 14 games because of a bruised left elbow caused when he was hit by a pitch. His first time up, he was plunked in the upper ribcage.
RED SOX 8, ORIOLES 5
BALTIMORE — Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer and J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts also connected for Boston.
The Red Sox won for the seventh time in nine games.
ROYALS 12, ROYALS 2
HOUSTON — Whit Merrifield and Ryan O’Hearn each hit a grand slam to lead Kansas City. It was the first time the Royals had two grand slams in a game since 2004.
Danny Duffy (1-1) allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings for his first win this season in his third start after missing the early part of the season with a shoulder injury.
GIANTS 14, ROCKIES 4
DENVER — Mac Williamson wasted no time after being promoted from Triple-A Sacramento, homering and driving in four runs to help San Francisco beat Colorado.
It was just the Giants’ third win in the team’s last 21 games at Coors Field.
Evan Longoria and Kevin Pillar also homered in support of Madison Bumgarner (2-4), who went six innings and allowed three runs on eight hits.
Charlie Blackmon homered to lead off Colorado’s first inning. Chris Iannetta also homered for Colorado and Ian Desmond tripled twice.
INDIANS 2,
WHITE SOX 0
CLEVELAND — Lucas Giolito carried a shutout into the eighth inning and James McCann stayed with hot with an RBI single for Chicago.
Giolito (3-1) didn’t have to work hard against Cleveland, which came in batting an AL-low .213 — 13 points lower than the next closest team.
The Indians wasted a strong outing by starter Jefry Rodriguez (0-2). Cleveland has been shut out twice in three games and scored just one run in the past 27 innings.
RAYS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brandon Lowe homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the first, opener Ryne Stanek and five other relievers combined on a seven-hitter and Tampa Bay Rays moved to a season-high 11 games over .500.
After Stanek struck out four in two innings, winner Jalen Beeks (2-0) gave up one run and three hits in 3 1/3 innings.
PIRATES 5, RANGERS 4
PITTSBURGH — Gregory Polanco hit his first home run in eight months, and spot starter Steven Brault and six relievers did just enough to help Pittsburgh edge Texas.
Polanco sent a two-run shot to the first row of seats in right-center off Adrian Sampson (0-2) in the fifth, his first since dislocating his left shoulder in an awkward slide last September. Melky Cabrera added a pinch-hit two-run double off Sampson as the Pirates won for the fifth time in six games.
TWINS 3, BLUE JAYS 0
TORONTO — José Berríos allowed four hits in seven innings, Mitch Garver homered and Minnesota shut out Toronto for the second straight night.
Berríos (6-1) won a career-best fifth consecutive start as the AL Central-leading Twins won for the eighth time in 11 games.
DODGERS 9, BRAVES 0
LOS ANGELES — Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed a four-hit shutout, Justin Turner homered three times and Los Angeles routed Atlanta for its ninth straight win at home.
Tyler Flowers singled to left leading off the sixth for Ryu’s first baserunner of the game. Former Dodger Charlie Culberson grounded into a double play that quickly cleared the base paths.
Turner’s three homers and six RBIs were career highs. His last blast came in the eighth, a three-run shot into the left field pavilion that extended the lead to 9-0. He went 4 for 5 with a strikeout and scored three runs.
