Homer Bailey
photo by Major League Baseball
PITTSBURGH -- Reds pitcher Homer Bailey did what he usually does to the Pirates at PNC Park by dominating on Friday night. But Bailey took it to another level this time, one much higher.
A no-hitter.
During a 1-0 Reds win over Pittsburgh, Bailey became the first Reds pitcher to no-hit an opponent since Tom Browning threw a perfect game against the Dodgers on Sept. 16, 1988, at Riverfront Stadium. It's the 16th no-hitter in club history.
Bailey went 7-1 for the 2006 Chattanooga Lookouts.
With three outs to go and 99 pitches entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Bailey struck out pinch-hitter Brock Holt on a 1-2 fastball, 92 mph and high above the strike zone. Pinch-hitter Michael McKenry worked a 3-2 count before popping out to shallow left field, where Chris Heisey called off two others to make the catch.
The final batter, Alex Presley, skied a popup behind second base, where Brandon Phillips made the routine catch to secure the no-hitter.
Reds teammates mobbed Bailey -- who struck out 10 and walked one -- near the mound as 34,796 fans applauded. It was a strong way to start the final road trip of the regular season as the 95-62 National League Central champions prepare for the playoffs.
The Pirates hadn't been dealt a no-hitter since Hall of Famer Bob Gibson did it for the Cardinals on Aug. 14, 1971.
Bailey's first baserunner came at the start of the third, when third baseman Scott Rolen unsuccessfully tried to backhand Clint Barmes' ground ball on a short hop. The ball scooted away and Rolen was charged with an error.
The next 12 Pirates were retired in order until Andrew McCutchen drew a one-out walk from Bailey in the seventh. McCutchen stole second base, but was thrown out a pitch later by catcher Ryan Hanigan trying to swipe third.
Through the first six innings, Bailey had only one ball leave the infield on Presley's fly out to Todd Frazier near the left-field line that ended the third. Garrett Jones flied to right field to end the seventh and pinch-hitter Travis Snider flied out to left to begin the eighth.
The Reds took a 1-0 first-inning lead against Pirates starter A.J. Burnett after loading the bases on singles by Phillips and Zack Cozart and a Joey Votto walk. Frazier got the run in with a sacrifice fly to right field. The threat ended when Jay Bruce grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
Burnett gave up a leadoff single in the second and escaped with another double play and did a good job to avoid danger as he sprayed seven hits over eight innings with only the one early run. He walked one and struck out five.
But even with only the slightest of leads to support him, Bailey could not be outdone -- and he had his track record on his side. Entering the night, he was 7-2 lifetime vs. the Pirates, but 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA in four career starts at PNC Park, which included both complete games of a career that began in 2007.
The last complete game Bailey threw came this season on May 29 when Bailey limited Pittsburgh to one run and four hits. He is expected to be the fourth starter for the Reds in the postseason. With one start remaining in the regular season, he is 13-10 with a 3.75 ERA.
A first-round pick by the Reds in 2004, Bailey has long been one of the club's prized prospects, but hasn't had a season where he put it all together. On Friday, he certainly had it all going.
--- Source: MLB.com