Los Angeles Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval flirted with a no-hitter in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. Sandoval's no-hitter would've been the eighth of Major League Baseball's regular season, setting a record for the most ever in a single campaign.
The modern record for no-hitters thrown in a season will instead remain seven. That mark had been achieved five times over the years, including this year and in 2015. The only time the league has seen eight no-nos in a season was back in 1884. (That figure does not include seven-inning no-hitters, which are not considered official by the league itself.)
Sandoval was able to get through the first eight frames on just 100 pitches, but he gave up a knock to designated hitter Brent Rooker with one out in the ninth. Manager Joe Maddon then removed him after 8 2/3 innings and 108 pitches. Closer Raisel Iglesias then gave up a RBI double to Josh Donaldson.
Overall, Sandoval's line saw him allow one run on one hit, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch; he set a new career-high with 13 strikeouts, and did most of his work with three pitches: a mid-80s slider and changeup and a 93 mph fastball.
Sandoval, 24, entered the night with a 3.86 ERA (121 ERA+) and a 2.72 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13 games (10 starts) this season. For his career, he had a 4.66 ERA (101 ERA+) and a 2.55 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 139 big-league innings.
Sandoval's no-hitter would've been the first in the majors since June 24, when four Chicago Cubs pitchers combined for a joint effort against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to that, no-hitters had been thrown by Corey Kluber (May 19), Spencer Turnbull (May 18), Wade Miley (May 7), John Means (May 5), Carlos Rodón (April 14), and Joe Musgrove (April 9).
Sandoval's no-no also would've been the 12th in Angels franchise history, and their first since July 12, 2019, when Felix Peña and Taylor Cole combined for one against the Seattle Mariners. Jered Weaver (May 2, 2012) and Ervin Santana (July 27, 2011) have also accomplished the feat in the past decade.
