Happy 37th birthday to the Seattle Mariners’ Hisashi Iwakuma, who broke a streak of 12 straight National League no-hitters by throwing one against the Baltimore Orioles in 2015.
At Safeco Field on August 12, 2015, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander struck out seven and walked three while holding the Orioles hitless for a 3-0 victory. Kyle Seager made a spectacular catch for the first out in the ninth, snagging a foul ball behind his back. Iwakuma walked the lead-off batter in the eighth, but recovered with a strikeout looking and a 6-4-3 double play to make it to the ninth.
Iwakuma’s performance marked the first American League no-hitter since the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game at Safeco Field on August 15, 2012. Iwakuma, who is recovering from last year’s shoulder surgery, remains the Seattle Mariners organization and is hoping to see major league action later this year.
Also born on this date are Vic Willis and Addie Joss, a couple of old-time no-hitter throwers.
Vic Willis, born on this date in 1876, pitched a no-hitter for the National League’s Boston Beaneaters on Monday, August 7, 1899 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds. The Beaneaters topped the Washington Senators 7-1.
Cleveland Naps ace pitcher Addie Joss, born on this date in 1880, was the first pitcher to no-hit the same team twice. Joss threw a perfect game against the Chicago White Sox at home on Friday, October 2, 1908, then no-hit the White Sox again during a road game on Wednesday, April 20, 1910.
The San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum is the only pitcher to duplicate the feat (vs. Padres in 2013 and 2014).
