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Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!
Oakland A’s fans almost got treated to a no-hitter on Friday, as Sean Manaea carried one into the 8th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately it was broken up by Mike Brosseau, Manaea’s former high school teammate.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the majors that same night, another lefty starter was making a similar bid and managed to finish it off. Wade Miley threw a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds, in a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Miley issued just one walk, and in the same inning a batter reached on an error, but both runners were stranded. Every other frame was perfect, with eight strikeouts overall. He needed 114 pitches to complete the gem. Click here for the box score.
Start your morning with all 27 outs of Wade Miley's no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/DFJgmV39r7
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2021
The southpaw has also thrown an immaculate inning in his career, in 2012. That’s the term for retiring the side on nine straight strikes for three strikeouts, and it’s even more rare than a no-hitter.
As for this latest feat, he had some incredible inspiration.
The inspiration behind Wade Miley's no-hitter?
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 8, 2021
A temporary Incredible Hulk tattoo from his son, Jeb. pic.twitter.com/j0rEQA0PQB
This is already the fourth official no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season, after Joe Musgrove (Padres), Carlos Rodon (White Sox), and John Means (Orioles), and that’s not counting the seven-inning effort by Madison Bumgarner (D’Backs). The only other MLB season with four such games by May 7 was 1917, when there were five, per MLB’s Sarah Langs.
Rodon’s no-no was also against Cleveland, making this the second time they’ve been no-hit this year. Only the 1917 White Sox have ever had that happen within their first 31 games of a season, per MLB statistician Jessica Brand.
A’s Coverage
- Gallegos: 3 takeaways from eventful 17-game stretch
- Rubin: Is Elvis Andrus on the cusp of breaking one of MLB’s worst slumps? A’s hitting coach thinks so ($$$)
- Straight A’s podcast: Host Shayna Rubin joined by guest Julian McWilliams
- Nico: A’s Are A Bit Stuck With Andrus At Shortstop
- A’s place Mike Fiers on injured list, activate Burch Smith
- A’s injuries: Laureano out of Sunday lineup; Pinder nearing return
- AL West: Nightengale’s Notebook: How Albert Pujols’ final hours with Angels turned ugly
PINDER WATCH: Chad Pinder is playing shortstop and batting second for Triple-A @AviatorsLV tonight. The rest of tonight's lineup: Barrera CF, Pinder SS, Kozma 2B, Schwindel 1B, Wilson 3B, Deichmann LF, Pena C, Bolt DH, Thomas RF, Howard SP.
— Athletics Farm (@AthleticsFarm) May 11, 2021
A’s Game Highlights
- Game #33: A’s pitching implodes in loss to Marcus Semien’s Blue Jays
- Game #34: Seth Brown walk-off, Sean Manaea gem lead A’s past Rays
- Game #35: New bats lead A’s past Rays
- Game #36: A’s fall short of sweep but win season series against Rays
Off-day highlight reel
A little something something to help you get through this Monday pic.twitter.com/BYm4Zm3iXm
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 10, 2021
Almost Manaea’s second career no-hitter, and almost the A’s second perfect game against the Rays on Mother’s Day weekend
Sean Manaeachondria: Powerhouse of the mound pic.twitter.com/p4GzcJiUOs
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 8, 2021
Fuego
Frankie Montas, Overpowering 98mph Fastball...and Shimmy. h/t @CarsonDeonS pic.twitter.com/3VLJEwW2t2
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 8, 2021
First career walk-off for Brown, and he homered in his first at-bat of the next game too
!!! pic.twitter.com/9HVZPYo1ne
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 8, 2021
Got a keeper here
Thought about this last night. In 16 years covering the A’s system, I can’t think of a callup that made so many people — staff and players alike — as happy as Seth Brown’s did in 2019. It wasn’t just him who was overjoyed last night when he hit the walkoff. https://t.co/miKLZBsd7C
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) May 8, 2021
First dinger of the year for Allen!
Austin Allen pic.twitter.com/cdN4zLrfTb
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 8, 2021
... And Allen’s family was in the stands to see it
Austin Allen said he was waving to his parents and wife in the stands as he rounded the bases on his home run. Given they were unable to watch him play in person last season, Allen said: "This is their first time seeing me in an A's uniform, so they love it and they’re happy."
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 8, 2021
First career leadoff homer for Canha
Looking to leadoff today strong @Athletics x @ScottsLawn pic.twitter.com/039cNha2kI
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 7, 2021
Not all rallies wear homers
hitting and running and scoring and hitting and running and scoring#RallyBuds | @budweiserusa pic.twitter.com/6jnjDuQQJd
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 8, 2021
New high score, is that bad? What does that mean? Did I break it?
Ramón Laureano leads all of MLB in Win Probability Added in his last 162 games, meaning he's done more to help his team win than any other MLB batter.
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) May 10, 2021
WPA over last 162:
Laureano 5.5
Bryce Harper 4.9
Jose Ramirez 4.9
Chistian Yelich 4.9
Freddie Freeman 4.5
Anthony Rendon 4.5
Baseball is just a cover for the real sport: Thumb Game
Baseball players doing baseball player things. pic.twitter.com/rE79quE59m
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) May 9, 2021
MLB injuries
not Good
Medical update on Jacob deGrom. #Mets pic.twitter.com/vWEQJX2eRB
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 10, 2021
Angels lose a pitcher
#Angels Roster Moves:
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) May 9, 2021
• Alex Cobb (right middle finger blister) placed on IL (retro to May 5)
• OF Scott Schebler and RHP Ben Rowen outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake
The active roster will be at 25 for tonight’s game.
Khris Davis is back! But at the expense of a former A’s prospect.
#Rangers activate Khris Davis from the IL, option Eli White to Triple A Round Rock.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) May 8, 2021
Best of MLB Twitter
Congrats to Tom! He’s 5-for-22 with 11 walks and a 136 wRC+ so far in Pittsburgh.
First big league for Tom! pic.twitter.com/RBDpqsfoq4
— Pirates (@Pirates) May 8, 2021
Parity!
The last time no team was at .600+ at the end of any day of a full schedule was July 26, 2016 - Cubs had best record at 59-40 (.596). https://t.co/p3x2xXF06R
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 7, 2021
Former A’s pitcher finds a new home
Tanner Roark has signed a Minor League deal with the Braves, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) May 10, 2021
There’s no question that Brett Phillips will be on the A’s someday, and he should get Sam Fuld’s old locker
Even though Brett Phillips tried to drill my grandma with a baseball on Mother’s Day, you can see why he’s not only a joy to watch play the game but a dude his teammates just want to be around. He made her day at the ballpark so special just by loving the game & the fans. THX MAV https://t.co/b37xd3dtcW
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) May 10, 2021
I appreciate that, how can one not have fun in the outfield especially in Oakland when the drum line is out there laying down the tunes! They had me out there pop, lock and dropping every inning!
— Maverick Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) May 10, 2021
What a play!
ICYMI:
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 10, 2021
Tyler Matzek's No Look Double Play pic.twitter.com/SVyoIqRXpX
Stew and Steiny
Great to see Terry Steinbach chopping it up with @Dsmoke34 about the good ol' days pic.twitter.com/15jrtrWjKf
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 8, 2021
What are your thoughts on this, Athletics Nation?
The old Golds should replace the current Dark Greens, in my opinion. ♂️ https://t.co/CvxNH8ofTN
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) May 10, 2021
