Mariners: Notes On An Unconventional No-Hitter

When Kevin Millwood and five relievers collaborated for a 1-0 combined no-hitter Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it marked the 10th combined no-no in major league history, the first such thrown by the Mariners, the third no-hitter in franchise history, and the second thrown at Safeco Field in 2012 — after none had been thrown in the park from its opening in mid-1999 through 2011. A closer look at an unconventional game:

• Second no-hitter thrown at Safeco, following Philip Humber’s perfect game against Seattle April 21.
• Six pitchers — Millwood (6.0), Charlie Furbush (0.2), Stephen Pryor (0.1), Lucas Luetge (0.1), Brandon League (0.2), Tom Wilhelmsen (1.0) — used tied the major league record for the largest no-hit collaboration in major league history.
• 10th combined no-hitter in major league history and first since Houston defeated the New York Yankees 8-0 June 11, 2003, also using six pitchers.
• First no-hitter by the Mariners since Chris Bosio shut down Boston April 22, 1993, and third in franchise history (also Randy Johnson, June 2, 1990 vs. Detroit).
• Millwood, who worked the first 6.0 innings before exiting with a groin pull, had a solo no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies against San Francisco April 27, 2003.
• Millwood joins Vida Blue, Mike Witt and Kent Mercker as the only pitchers in major league history to pitch complete-game no-hitters and be involved in a combined no-hitter.
• Blue threw a solo no-hitter Sept. 21, 1970 vs. Minnesota and collaborated in one Sept. 27, 1975; Witt threw a solo no-no Sept. 30, 1984 and collaborated in one April 11, 1990; Mercker threw a solo no-hitter April 8, 1994 and collaborated in one Sept. 11, 1991; Millwood threw a solo April 27, 2003 and collaborated in one June 8, 2012.
• Millwood also took a no-hitter into the sixth inning May 18 at Colorado and finished with a two-hitter.
• Mariners were victimized by a combined 1-0 no-hitter April 11, 1990, thrown by former Mariner Mark Langston and Mike Witt of the Angels.
• Mariners join the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros as the only teams in history to both win and lose a combined no-hitter.
• 42nd 1-0 win in Mariners history and first since April 21, 2011 vs. Oakland.
• Dodgers entered the game with the best record in the major leagues (37-21) and the second-highest batting average in the National League (.266).

Combined No-Nos

1. June 23, 1917: Ernie Shore of the Boston Red Sox relieved starter Babe Ruth, ejected for arguing with the umpire after walking the first batter of the game. Runner was subsequently caught stealing and Shore retired the next 26 batters. Boston 4, Washington Senators 0.

2. April 30, 1967: Baltimore’s Stu Miller recorded the final out in relief of Steve Barber, a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, just one of two losing no-hitters.

3. Sept. 27, 1975: Oakland’s Vida Blue combined with Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad, and Rollie Fingers to no-hit the California Angels 5-0.

4. July 28, 1976: Blue Moon Odom of the White Sox threw five no-hit innings against the Athletics. Francisco Barrios completed the no-no, a 2-1 Chicago win. The pair combined for 11 walks, most in a no-hitter.

5. April 11, 1990: California’s Mark Langston (7.0 IP) and Mike Witt (2.0) combined for a 1-0 no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners.

6. July 13, 1991: Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson of Baltimore combined to no-hit the Oakland Athletics 2-1.

7. Sept. 11, 1991: Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena of the Atlanta Braves combined to no-hit the San Diego Padres 1-0.

8. July 12, 1997: In the only combined extra-inning no-hitter, Pittsburgh pitchers Francisco Cordova (9.0 IP) and Ricardo Rincon (1.0) combined to no-hit the Houston Astros, 3-0. Victory secured with a three-run walk-off home run by pinch hitter Mark Smith in the bottom of the 10th inning.

9. June 11, 2003: Houston Astros set a record with six pitchers in a a combined no-hitter, an 8-0 win over the Yankees. Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, and Billy Wagner collaborated on the gem. Oswalt was removed after one inning due to injury (a pulled right groin muscle, same as Millwood). Munro pitched the most innings, 2.2. He also allowed five of the six baserunners, giving up three walks, hitting a batter and seeing another reach on an error by third baseman Geoff Blum.