The Oakland Athletics have an ace in the rotation and it’s not their opening day starter Kendall Graveman. It’s lefty Sean Manaea who no-hit Major League Baseball’s best team the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.
Shockingly it was not Oakland being stifled by Chris Sale who came in with an era of 1.23. Manaea on the other hand in his career struggled against Boston with an era of 13.50 while giving up 17 earned runs in 11.1 innings of work along with four home runs.
Manaea came close a number of times to giving up a hit. Yet, Marcus Semien got charged with an error and Andrew Benintendi was ruled after a conference by the umpire that he went out of the baseline. The ninth inning did end in a bit of drama with Benintendi drawing a two out walk and Hanley Ramirez ahead in the count 2-0.
Ramirez ended grounding out to Semien who went the short way to second to get the out.
Offensively Semien played a key role as he drew a leadoff walk in his first at-bat and stole second. He scored on a double by Jed Lowrie who continues to swing a hot bat. In the third inning he singled and scored on a double by Stephen Piscotty and in the fifth he hit a solo home run.
Those were the only blemishes for Sale who went seven innings giving up six hits and those three runs while striking out 10 and walking one. For Manaea he went 9 innings while striking out 10 and walking two. It’s the 12th no-hitter in franchise history for the Athletics.
Here’s a look some of the reactions of Manaea’s no-hitter.
The last A’s pitcher to throw a no-hitter with the newest A’s pitcher to throw a no-hitter. ????????? pic.twitter.com/7dZbIUodwz
— A’s on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 22, 2018
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The last A’s pitcher to throw a no-hitter with the newest A’s pitcher to throw a no-hitter. ????????? pic.twitter.com/7dZbIUodwz
— A’s on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 22, 2018
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Sean Manaea throws the seventh no-hitter in Oakland A’s history and does so against a team that had won 17 of past 18 games, was averaging six-plus runs per game. A’s win 3-0 over Boston. Ten Ks for Manaea.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 22, 2018
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