Seattle’s Hisashi Iwakuma has no-hitter through 8 innings

Most no-hitters feature at least one incredible defensive play that either preserves the accomplishment or moves the pitcher one step closer to 27 outs without a hit.

It was the fourth no-hitter this season and the first by an American League pitcher in almost three years.

Gerardo Parra lined a first-pitch delivery to center field, where Austin Jackson made a running catch for the final out to prompt a celebration at the mound. Yesterday, fans of the game watched Iwakuma as he patiently and poetically worked his way through nine hitless innings.

Iwakuma salutes the Safeco Field crowd after the fifth no-hitter in Seattle franchise history.

The no-hitter was the seventh thrown against the Orioles and the first since Boston’s Clay Buchholz did on September 1, 2007.

Following a pair of quality starts to begin the month, the Mariners pitcher no-hit the Orioles on Wednesday in a 3-0 victory at Safeco Field. The 34-year-old struck out 7 and walked 3 in what will undoubtedly go down as the most memorable outing of his career. Three walks, the first two of which came in the fourth inning, stood in Iwakuma’s way of a ideal game.

Also attractive was the circling, over-the-shoulder catch near the wall that Seager made on the popup in foul territory for the first out of the ninth inning. There have been 15 no-hitters by National League pitchers since Hernandez’s gem, including four this season.

“I thought in the fifth inning, his stuff was really sharp, his split was coming out very crisp”, McClendon said.

Jackson led off the fourth with a double and scored on Jesus Sucre’s RBI double, again with two outs. Like Nomo, Iwakuma also began his professional career with the now defunct Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan’s Pacific League.

But he struck out Jimmy Paredes on a 2-2 sinker to end the inning. “There’s got to be a slight advantage to playing at home and I think your good teams play well at home, they win at home”.

It appeared that Gausman was heading for an early exit Wednesday, as he needed 67 pitches to get through three innings. “I’m just truly happy”.

Even with a return to form and strong starts each of his last two times out, McClendon said Iwakuma wasn’t the guy in his rotation he expected to throw a no-hitter. It was the first no-hitter thrown in the American League this season.

The key sequence came in the eighth inning after Iwakuma issued a leadoff walk to Jonathan Schoop.

The Orioles were without shortstop J.J. Hardy, who was given the day off, and catcher Matt Wieters, resting a right hamstring injury.

Orioles: After a day off, Baltimore opens a 10-game homestand on Friday.

Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman (bruised right triceps) is scheduled to make his next start on Monday at Oakland. Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.25 ERA) will get the ball for Seattle in the opener, and Joe Kelly (4-6, 5.96 ERA) will be not he bump for Boston.