WATCH: Gregory Polanco spoils Zack Greinke's no-hit bid with massive home run
Greinke was six outs away from a no-hitter when Polanco launched a solo home run
Thursday night in Arizona, two-time Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke did something he's never done before in his career: He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
Greinke faced the minimum through seven innings -- he issued a walk earlier in the game, and the runner was erased on a caught stealing -- and had only thrown 90 pitches, meaning the no-hitter was within each. Then Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco ruined the no-hitter and shutout bid with one swing.
Polanco led off the eighth with a solo homer. Here's video of Polanco's history-ruining blast:
I regret to inform you the no-hitter is no more.
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) May 12, 2017
(Don't blame us. Blame Gregory Polanco.) pic.twitter.com/kirUG7dSZM
Polanco nearly took Greinke deep earlier in the at-bat as well. He hit a high fly ball that looked very much like the home run, only it sailed just foul. I'm a bit surprised Greinke would go back to the same pitch and the same location after the near homer, but I guess he figured Polanco wouldn't be able to keep it fair if he did make contact.
Up to that point, the only solid contact against Greinke came in the very first inning, when Andrew McCutchen ripped a line drive to right field. David Peralta made a diving catch for the out. Here's the play:
Thursday night was the 357th start of Greinke's career -- 366th when you include the postseason -- yet he never made it this far with a no-hit bid. In fact, prior to Thursday's game, the deepest Greinke had ever gone into a game without allowing a hit was only five innings. That surprises me.
There have been only two no-hitters in Diamondbacks history: Randy Johnson's perfect game in 2004 and Edwin Jackson's no-hitter in 2010. The Pirates were last no-hit by Max Scherzer in 2015.
The last no-hitter in baseball history was last April, when Jake Arrieta blanked the Reds.
















