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

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.

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