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Mike Fiers a No-Hitter versus Dodgers, 11th All-Time for Astros

By Eric Huysman |
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Mike Fiers a No-Hitter versus Dodgers, 11th All-Time for Astros

Aug 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers (54) waves after pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Many baseball fans have anticipated the Los Angeles Dodgers versus Houston Astros series as a clash between two interleague powerhouses. MLB Network was also broadcasting the game to a national audience, but the elite pitching matchups were supposed to be Saturday and Sunday. Mike Fiers in his third start with the Astros, was given the ball to open the series versus the former rivals in the 80’s. It was supposed to be a regular start for Fiers, but it turned into much more.

Mike Fiers had started his major league career with the Milwaukee Brewers before he was traded to the Houston Astros along with Carlos Gomez. They were traded for a package that included Brett Phillips, Josh Hader, Domingo Santana, and Brian Houser. Many fans, including myself, balked at the deal because these guys weren’t the star players that would justify the prospects given up. However, if Jeff Luhnow stayed pat and didn’t make any more trades besides Scott Kazmir, he would have answered questions the rest of the season and offseason.

Fiers has been a decent pitcher early in his career, but can be susceptible to the occasional stinker. When he was traded to the Astros, I thought it was good to get a player with a track record early in his career of success. Fiers is also under team control until the 2019 season. He has shown an ability to strike hitters out, despite having not having overpowering stuff.

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Before we talk about Friday’s start, let’s talk about Wednesday’s game. In the top of the 13th inning, Fiers was told to get his cleats on and head out to the bullpen as the Astros only had Tony Sipp available. Fiers did head out to the bullpen knowing that he probably would not be starting on Friday night if he came into the game. However, Josh Fields struck out the two batters he faced to retire the Tampa Rays. Carlos Correa got the game-winning hit to score Colby Rasmus for the winning run. Had Correa not gotten that hit, Fiers could have come into the game and would never have meet with his destiny.

Next: Friday August 21, 2015

Friday, August 21, 2015

Aug 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers (54) reacts after pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to last night’s game, Julia Morales of Root Sports made a comment that Fiers could be pitching to save himself in this current six-man rotation. If this was the case, did Fier’s outing on Friday help his odds of making the playoff roster/rotation?

Pitch count was an issue during Fier’s start yesterday, as he was already at 97 pitches after six no-hit innings. His previous high this season and his career was 113 pitches against the Cincinnati Reds on July 1st. He has topped 100 pitches nine times in 2015, so to be at 97 pitches after six in the middle of a no-hitter was troubling. However, A.J. Hinch left Fiers in the game for 133 pitches.

Is Fiers the first Astros pitcher to throw a no-hitter? No, he is the 11th pitcher wearing an Astros uniform to pitch a no-hitter. Take a second and see if you can remember all 11 pitchers to throw a no-hitter? That was a trick question because the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Roy Oswalt plus bullpen for the combined no-hitter versus the Yankees. The late Daryl Kile was also another Astros pitcher to throw a no-hitter.

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With the Astros and Dodgers rivalry, did an Astros pitcher ever throw a no-hitter against the Dodgers. Let’s see what a Tweet from ESPN had to say, “before Mike Fiers, the only Astro to no-hit the Dodgers was Nolan Ryan on September 26, 1981.” Fiers now has something in common with Nolan Ryan, I know that has made his day even better. In fact, Fiers got to meet Nolan Ryan after the no-hitter.

More amazing information from MLB.com, “Mike Fiers is the 1st pitcher to throw a no-no after being traded that season since Jim Bibby in 1973.” In fact, this was Fiers’ first career complete game and first win with the Houston Astros since the trade. He retired the last 19 batters he faced and ended up striking out ten hitters all night. As Fiers was over his career high in pitch count, could he have been tiring in the eighth and ninth inning? He showed no signs of slowing down as he struck out the side in the eighth and struck out the last hitter of the game.

Next: Mike Fiers, the Astro

Mike Fiers, the Astro

Aug 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers (54) is doused with powder after pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

If you wipe out the bullpen appearance in his debut where he got knocked around a little, Fiers has been very effective with the Astros. In three starts, Fiers has gone 21 IP/ 1 ER/ 19 SO with the Astros. This no-hitter is great for the Astros and Fiers, but does this cement him into the rotation for the rest of the regular season or beyond? I believe that the poise that he has shown and the way he has bounced back after the poor debut with the Astros says a lot. I see him as being the third or fourth pitcher in the rotation right now, so Scott Feldman could be the odd man out.

The effect of Fiers no-hitter was felt in Milwaukee, as the Brewers stayed in uniform to watch their former teammate get the no-hitter. This shows the respect the Brewers players have towards Fiers, and he made a joke in Brian McTaggart’s Tweet below.

Some of you who follow @astrosCTH Twitter handle understood my situation. I was at an impromptu nacho night at a friends house for my wife’s birthday on Sunday. They have three young kids, but I couldn’t leave the house because I didn’t want to mess with anything going on at Minute Maid Park. I told my wife to take the kids home and I would walk home. I stayed in my friends house until the final out, it was a good bonding moment with my friend Richard and his wife Tammy.

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I have to give mad props to the 33,833 Astros fans who went to the ballpark last night. You were rocking the stadium all night, but especially during the final innings of the game. I talked about how fans can impact the game here: Houston Astros: The Players Need Fans’ Support, Be Loud! You had the impact on the game last night, you helped Fiers find his place in Astros history. Hopefully, this will be the start of a great career with the Houston Astros for Fiers.

Fiers on the crowd from a Tweet from Evan Drellich,”The crowd helped me definitely. Everyone was on their feet…Kind of looked around for a quick second, everyone just going crazy”

Apparently Fiers told Hinch that he would have to throw him into the clubhouse and lock him up because he wasn’t coming out of the game via McTaggart’s Tweet. You keep fighting Fiers, and Houston will continue to support you through this magical run by the Astros. The Astros may lose the next two games, but they won tonight behind an impressive Fiers.

Next: The Houston Astros Face a Challenge Against L.A. Dodgers’ Aces

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