San Francisco Giants lefthander Blake Snell threw his third no-hitter of the major league season, defeating the Reds 3-0 in his first career complete game on Friday night.
The NL Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 Reds and walked three as the Giants took a 3-0 lead through eight innings at Great American Ball Park. Snell, 31, threw a total of 114 pitches, striking out 78.
“In the seventh inning, I was feeling a little tired, and then I looked at the scoreboard and that’s when I noticed (the no-hitter), and I said to myself, ‘You better wake up,'” Snell told NBC Sports Bay Area on the telecast.
“It’s a great feeling,” Snell added happily.
Snell, 31, recorded the 18th no-hitter in Giants history.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Snell had never completed eight innings before throwing a no-hitter, giving him the first complete game of his 202nd career. Only two pitchers have started more before their first nine-inning complete game, and no pitcher has started more at the time of their first complete game, which was a no-hitter.
Snell’s total of 26 strikeouts in 11 outings Friday and 15 strikeouts in his previous outing tied for the second-most in a two-game span by a Giants pitcher since 1900.
Casey Schmitt And Tyler Fitzgerald finish for the Giants.
Snell threw six perfect innings on July 14 against the Twins Manuel Margot singled to open the seventh inning. He scattered 15 batters in his last outing on July 27, allowing two hits in six innings.
Houston’s Ronal Blanco no-hit in Toronto on April 1, and San Diego Dylan stopped. threw a no-hitter against Washington on July 25.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
