When you go down the list of current Major League pitchers, San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnathan Sanchez is probably the least likely to throw a no-hitter this season. However, that is what he did Friday night as he allowed hits to the San Diego Padres.
Sanchez was demoted from the Giants starting rotation earlier in the season and only got the start against San Diego due to an injury to Randy Johnson. Sanchez’s night ended with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. Pretty good for a pitcher who had never pitched a complete game on the Major League level prior to this one.
Sanchez’s statistics on the year before this start: 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA. There have been only four other pitchers in Major League history to have thrown no-hitters with a below .500 record. He can now officially add his name to that list.
Sanchez had a perfect game going into the 8th inning until an error by 3rd baseman Juan Uribe ended that dream but Sanchez did not let that get to him as he completed the no-no in sterling fashion.
Only a few short days ago, Sanchez was being talked about as trade bait as the San Francisco Giants were looking for a power-hitter. I have a sinking feeling that the Giants will keep him in the starting rotation with this recent development.
Postscript: Sanchez’s father and brother were in attendance for the game. Giant outfielder Aaron Rowand saved the no-hitter in the 9th robbing pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzales of a home-run. The last San Francisco Giants no-hitter came from John Montefusco back in 1976 and it was the first no-hitter thrown in AT&T Park.
The Most Unlikely No-Hitter
