Mariners Iwakuma throws no-hitter against Orioles

Iwakuma threw the fourth no-hitter of the season, joining the San Francisco Giants’ Chris Heston, the Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer and the Philadephia Phillies’ Cole Hamels.

Against Baltimore on Wednesday, he walked two batters in the fourth inning, but struck out Jimmy Paredes to end the inning.

Wednesday’s effort was first no-hitter for both the Mariners and in the American League since Felix Hernandez on August 15, 2012, which was a flawless game. It was the 291st no-hitter in the history of the league. The end came when center fielder Austin Jackson ran down Gerardo Parra’s fly ball. Iwakuma’s historic performance was actually his first complete game in his major league career. “Whether it was 120 or 125 pitches, it was kind of what I know I was going to have to do today”. “I said about three weeks ago that I thought the Bear was back”, McClendon said, “and it’s only getting better”.

Baltimore was no-hit for the seventh time in franchise history and first since Boston’s Clay Buchholz in 2007. Manny Machado walked to lead off and Parra chopped a grounder in the hole between first baseman Mark Trumbo and second baseman Robinson Cano.

Iwakuma took the mound for the ninth to a standing ovation from the home crowd taking in the rare weekday matinee.

Seager was asked about the importance of the play and joked that he doesn’t often get asked about catches made in foul territory.

Kershaw (10-6) took a ideal game bid into the sixth inning, when Michael Taylor doubled to deep center field.

Iwakuma didn’t get much offensive help.

“To be honest with you, I never thought that I would accomplish this no-hitter”. “The ballgame was a tight ballgame, so I was trying to not think about what was going on”.

“I missed a lot of time in the first half of the season”, he said.

Salazar pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run and four hits. The 34-year-old Japan native is 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA in seven starts since returning from the disabled list.

Remember when the Mariners were supposedly shopping starter Hisashi Iwakuma before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline?

“That’s all I have in mind, come back and give it all I’ve got”. “The ball is coming out (well)”. Iwakuma then suckered Machado with an elevated fastball for strike two. The 34 year-old threw a no-hitter against the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon, the fifth such game in Mariners history. Realmuto also had his first career grand slam in the sixth and set a Marlins record with five RBIs in one inning.

PHOENIX – Cameron Rupp homered and drove in four runs and rookie Aaron Nola won his third game to lead Philadelphia over Arizona.

While the Mariners’ rotation is in place for this weekend in Boston, don’t be surprised if McClendon uses two upcoming open dates in an eight-game span to find additional rest for Taijuan Walker and/or Mike Montgomery. What did he have, three walks?

The previous record for most wins by the home team?