Nine Atlanta Braves pitchers teamed up for a Spring Training 10-inning no-hitter against the Houston Astros, five years ago today.
On Sunday, March 8, 2015, Cody Martin (2), Jim Johnson (1), Josh Outman (1), Brandon Cunniff (1), Ian Thomas (1), Mauricio Cabrera (1), Lucas Sims (1), Justin Jackson (1), Jairo Heredia (1) combined to allow two earned runs on nine walks while striking out nine at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida, in a 10-inning game that ended in a 2-2 tie.
The Astros’ runs came in the seventh inning when Cabrera walked the first two batters he faced and hit another, then issued a fielder’s choice and an RBI groundout. An A.J. Pierzynski RBI single in the first inning and a Todd Cunningham sacrifice fly in the eighth provided the Braves’ runs.
Note that only one official major league no-hitter ended in a tie, way back in 1884, and that one also lasted 10 innings. In that Oct. 4 game, the Brooklyn Atlantics’ Sam Kimber no-hit the Toledo Blue Stockings in an American Association game at Brooklyn’s Washington Park called with a score of 0-0.
The Braves are the undisputed king of spring no-hitters. The franchise notched two spring no-nos while representing Boston:
- On Tuesday, March 4, 1947, Jim Bilbrey (3), Sam Zoldak (4) and Mulbrey Sanford (1) no-hit the St. Louis Browns at Westside Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- On Sunday, April 6, 1952, Warren Spahn (7) and Ernie Johnson (3) no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers at City Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
While representing Milwaukee, Dick Kelley (3), Larry Maxie (3) and Phil Niekro (3) no-hit the University of MIami on Saturday, February 29, 1964, for a 1-0 win at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium.
And while representing Atlanta, the Braves threw a total of four spring hitters, including these three others:
- On Monday, March 11, 1974, at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium, Ron Reed (3), Dave Cheadle (2), Joe Grzenda (2) and Jamie Easterly (2) no-hit the New York Yankees for a 4-0 win.
- On Monday, March 6, 1995, during the replacement players spring season, Jose Alvarez (3), Phil Harrison (2), Eric Mora (2), Keith Brown (1) and Daren Brown (1) no-hit the Replacement New York Mets for a 5-0 win at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium.
- On Wednesday, March 2, 2005, Zach Miner (2), Daniel Curtis (2), Macey McBride (2), Anthony Lerew (2), Kevin Berry (1) on-hit Georgia Tech for a 12- win at Cracker Jack Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida.
Of course Spring Training no-hitters don’t count, but here are the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves no-hitters that do count: Braves No-hitters.
