CLEVELAND (AP) – Parker Messick, making his 11th major league start, nearly achieved a no-hitter but had it broken up in the ninth inning as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Thursday night.
Messick (3-0) dominated the game, allowing just one hit until Leody Taveras broke through with a single, while José Ramírez contributed his third home run in four games, helping the Guardians start a seven-game homestand with a win.
Messick’s Performance
Throughout eight innings, Messick faced one batter more than the minimum, striking out nine and walking two. He concluded his outing with a total of 112 pitches, 78 of which were strikes, and was charged with two runs in his longest major league appearance.
Late Inning Drama
In the ninth inning, after Taveras’s single, Blaze Alexander added another hit, prompting Messick’s exit to a standing ovation from the crowd of 14,748. Closer Cade Smith entered the game, facing challenges as Taylor Ward’s single loaded the bases, and Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly allowed Taveras to score.
Following this, Pete Alonso hit an RBI double, placing runners at second and third with one out. Smith, however, managed to retire pinch-hitter Colton Cowser on a fly out and Samuel Basallo on a ground out to secure his fourth save of the season.
Guardians’ Scoring
The Guardians initially took a 2-0 lead when Chase DeLauter walked, and Ramírez hit a first-pitch fastball from Orioles pitcher Shane Baz into the right-center stands for a home run. Additional runs came from Steven Kwan’s RBI single in the fifth inning and George Valera’s run-scoring single in the sixth.
Historical Context
The last no-hitter in Major League Baseball occurred on September 4, 2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined for a 12-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Guardians currently have the longest active gap between no-hitters, with their last one being Len Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Looking Ahead
The Guardians will continue their series against the Orioles, with RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38 ERA) set to face Orioles RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA) in the next game.