I meant to post this last week, on the anniversary of the only no-hitter I’ve ever seen live. But then I forgot. So here we go, one week late:
On Aug. 4th, 2010 I saw Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pitchers Joe Newby and Jim Ed Warden combine to no-hit a Newark Bears lineup that included former major leaguers Carl Everett, Daryle Ward, Brian Barton, Eric Munson and Pablo Ozuna.
Newby was cruising along for the first six innings – a third inning walk was all that separated him from perfection.
A seventh inning error and a walk presented a bit of a challenge, but a caught stealing and a double play kept the Bears from really threatening. In the eighth, Newby hit Everett to start the inning. However, he was able to strand him at third base.
By the ninth inning, Newby ran out of gas. He walked the leadoff batter, hit Ozuna and walked Kennard Jones and Barton to force in a run. If Newby hadn’t been throwing a no-hitter, I’m sure Butch Hobson wouldn’t have left him in so long. Still, in a 3-1 game, the Blue Crabs’ skipper had his limits.
With the bases loaded and no one out, Hobson brought in his closer. Warden got Ward to fly out to shallow right field, struck out Everett and got Isaiah Kaaihue to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
It was an unconventional no-hitter, but who knows if I’ll ever see another one?
(Click the images to enlarge)
PaulHadsall.com 