Memorable broken-up no-hitters in MLB history after Sean Newcomb becomes the latest victim

Jay Asser 15:33 30/07/2018
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  • Mike Mussina lost a perfect game to Carl Everett and the Boston Red Sox in 2001.

    Imagine reaching the precipice of history, only to see it slip through your fingers.

    Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb experienced that frustration on Sunday, when his bid for a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers was broken up with two outs in the ninth inning on a single by Chris Taylor. After tossing 134 pitches across 8 2/3 innings without a hit, Newcomb had to settle for nothing more than a win.

    Here, we pick out five memorable instances in which a no-hitter or perfect game (no hits, walks or errors) were broken up on what would have been the last out of the game.

    Pedro Martinez, Montreal Expos: June 3, 1995

    In just the 34th start of his Hall-of-Fame career, Martinez was perfect through nine innings. The problem, however, was the Montreal Expos scored no runs until the 10th and that’s when the San Diego Padres finally managed to get a hit off Martinez to deny him history.

    Mike Mussina, New York Yankees: September 2, 2001

    During the height of the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, Mussina nearly blanked Boston at Fenway Park with a perfect game. Carl Everett would play spoiler though, stepping to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and singling to ruin perfection.

    Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers: June 2, 2010

    While Galarraga’s bid for a perfect game technically ended on an infield single, the real reason was a missed call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce, who called the runner safe when replays showed he was out. Truly heartbreaking for the Detroit Tigers pitcher.

    Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers: May 9, 2014

    A little more than a year after losing a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning, the Texas Rangers pitcher cruelly lost a no-hitter in the same exact fashion. This time, it was Red Sox slugger David Ortiz beating the defensive shift, leaving Darvish to question the universe.

    Rich Hill, Los Angeles Dodgers: August 23, 2017

    Hill holds a special place in history after becoming the first pitcher to lose a no-hitter on a walk-off home run, surrendering it to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th inning. Even more painful was Hill’s perfect game being spoiled in the ninth on an error by third baseman Logan Forsythe.

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