Blake Snell had never pitched a complete eight innings until Friday night, but of course his first complete game ended with a bang.
The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Snell struck out 11 and walked three in his historic outing. Ellie de la Cruz hit a liner to right field to protect the no-hitter.
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San Francisco Giants No. 7 Blake Snell pitches during the third inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 2, 2024. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
Snell has been on a roll as of late, which is surprising for a reigning Cy Young Award winner, but the lefty pitcher had a 9.51 ERA through his first five starts.
But in his last five appearances, he has given up just two runs in 33 innings (both of which came in one start against the Los Angeles Dodgers) for a 0.45 ERA.
Snell was signed late in the offseason and had a delayed start to the season, starting just two games before landing on injured reserve, but he certainly seems to be finding his form again.
Snell’s career high before Friday was 7.2 innings pitched, and in fact he only recorded at least one out in the seventh inning four times.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) takes the mound during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. (Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports)
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It was the third no-hitter in major league baseball this season, joining Ronel Blanco in April and Dylan Cease last week, and the 18th in Giants history.
It took Snell 114 pitches to accomplish the feat, tying the second-most pitches of his career (117 was his highest total).
Snell’s contract with the San Francisco Giants is just two years and $62 million, but he can opt out after this season, and if he continues pitching like this, he may do so.
The contract is fairly low for a two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher (who had the worst ERA in the MLB last year at 2.25), but his inability to hang around in games for long stretches, his somewhat sporadic performance outside of the 2018 and 2013 seasons, and his age all factor into his salary.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
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But Snell has the best K/9 in MLB history with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and is looking to prove his two-time Cy Young Award win was no fluke.
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