Matt Moore of the San Francisco Giants nearly threw a no-hitter against NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers! The Giants won the game over the division leading Dodgers 4-0 behind the gem spun by their biggest trade deadline acquisition. Moore went eight and two-thirds innings, walking three and striking out seven, all without allowing a hit until he had two outs in the 9th inning.
Denard Span made a tremendous catch in the ninth inning to record the first out and save the potential no-hitter. Santiago Casilla came in to record the final out following the base hit by Dodgers’ shortstop Corey Seager.
Following a four-game losing streak for the Giants, and a four-game win streak by the Dodgers, the Giants had fallen three games behind their big time rivals. They still hold on to the first wild-card slot, but winning the division is obviously the goal, and this game is certainly a step in the right direction. The game was the final game of a three-game series in Los Angeles.
Matt Moore was acquired by the Giants on August 1st to help bolster their rotation as they geared up for the playoff run, as well as the playoffs themselves. He was traded over from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a package headlined by third baseman, Matt Duffy.
Up to this point, he had struggled with his new club. In his first four starts, he had posted an ERA of 4.70 and a WHIP of 1.48. Control has been the main culprit for Moore, as he has been walking batters left and right. To be exact, he had walked 17 batters over the course of 23 innings while wearing a Giants uniform up until the no-hitter.
But this could be the jolt both the Giants and Moore needed to turn things back around. Having such a big moment come against their main rivals will surely spark some energy in the clubhouse. Moore showed he has some electric stuff, but he will still need to limit the walks as the season goes on. Also, his health should be monitored going forward, as he is an injury prone pitcher who was asked to throw 133 pitches in this game.
Moore would have been the second pitcher to throw a no-hitter this season. The only one came way back on April 21st with Chicago Cubs’ ace Jake Arrieta threw a no-no against the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 win.
The victory moves the Giants to 69-58, and the Dodgers fall to 71-56. That places the Giants two games back of the Dodgers in the West. The Dodgers will remain at home to take on the Chicago Cubs tomorrow night, while the Giants will travel home to host the Atlanta Braves.
Despite missing out on the no-hitter, the Giants picked up a major victory. The tide could be swinging back towards the Giants in the NL West!