Anibal Sanchez No-Hits D'Backs

I was really hoping Eric Byrnes could break it up at the end, and for sure he ran his heart out on that 9th-inning, two-out grounder to short. But it was the last out of the first no-no since Randy Johnson's perfect game on May 18, 2004. Johnson, at the time, was a Diamondback. 

And if Byrnesie couldn't spoil the no-no, I'm glad no one else did, because it was obvious from the first inning that Sanchez, a 22-year old right-hander, was dealing. (I've never seen a no-hitter before).

The no-hit-saving defensive plays were a forward diving catch of a sinking Chad Tracy liner by left-fielder Josh Willingham in the 4th, a leaping snare of a Byrnes line drive in the 6th by third baseman Miguel Cabrera, and a great grab of a ground ball that seemed destined for center field by shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who then threw out Stephen Drew in the 7th. It was at that point that I had a feeling Senor Sanchez had an appointment with history.

There was also a slightly unusual double play that ended the 8th: Craig Counsell, batting for Edgar Gonzalez, walked. (Sanchez walked 4 in the game). Orlando Hudson hit a shallow grounder to second baseman Dan Uggla, who picked up the ball in front of Counsell, freezing him, then threw to first for out number one. Counsell proceeded toward second, but was tagged out when first baseman Mike Jacobs threw to shortstop Hanley Ramirez. It wasn't even close. That's actually the best part of a no-no, the fact that the defense will go all out to preserve it.

A couple of times toward the end, they showed a nervous Marlins manager Joe Girardi. He had Tankersley warming up. The score was only 2-0 and Sanchez was not used to going past the 7th inning. But you've got to figure that Girardi, a former catcher who himself was on the receiving end of two no-no's, had to be hoping he was watching history.

In the on-field post-game interview, catcher Miguel Olivo claimed not to have realized what was happening until he looked at the scoreboard in the 8th inning. The Marlins made no effort to leave Sanchez alone in the dugout, and the TV cameras seem to love watching the young Venezuelan pick his nose as he waited to close it out--we could have done without that--but the Marlins broadcasters who were announcing the game on MLB.tv, made sure they did not utter the word "No-hitter", even though they said and showed enough to let you know what was in progress. I appreciate that acknowledgement of tradition.

The big concern for the Marlins was the time they took in the bottom of the 8th. Sanchez kept a warm up jacket over his pitching arm between innings, but it seemed that they were taking forever to get him back on the mound, especially since they did not score any runs in that half-inning.

Edgar Gonzalez and Juan Cruz turned in a fine performance for the D'Backs. EdGon allowed only 2 runs and Cruz none. But a no-hitter is the ultimate in lack of support for a pitcher. This time the D'Backs pitching staff didn't blow it.

This game was another demonstration of one of the most beautiful things in baseball: you never know who's going to come up big. Here is this rookie, making only his 13th Major League start, on a young, low-budget, mediocre team--the victory puts them at .500--who started the season in Double A. And he goes and throws the first no-no we've seen in a while.

A tip of the cap to Anibal Sanchez for throwing a no-hitter.

Kéllia Ramares
Oakland, CA