MLB - Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers: Matt Garza becomes 5th pitcher this season to throw no-hitter
Matt Garza for the Tampa Bay Rays threw a no-hitter against the helpless Detroit Tigers. This is the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay history in a year that seems to be dominated by pitchers. The Tigers have not faced a no-hit defeat since 1990.
Five no-hitters have been pitched in this season so far. The only teams who have not yet managed a no-hitter are the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres.
Tampa Bay knows everything there is to know about no-hitters because they have been on the receiving ends of no-hitters thrice since July, twice in perfect games. There have not been as many no-hitters in a season since 1991.
The spotlight falls on Matt Garza, who was an American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player two years ago. The 26 year old has had his ups and downs. He took at a serious beating at the hands of the Florida Marlins and Baltimore Orioles. The Rays defence didn’t hurt Garza’s efforts against the Tigers either. Their defence has converted almost 71 percent of all balls in play into outs. Their defensive efficiency ranks the number one in the major leagues. “The defence made great plays. I really can’t say enough about them,” he said.
Garza has a very powerful pitching arm, and he used it to the fullest to leave the Tigers without teeth. He pitched 101 fast balls in his 120 total pitches. His fastballs worked beautifully for him and gave him his only no-hitter. He got 22 of his minimum 27 outs with the fastball. He routinely pitched in the 91-93 miles per hour range. Usually, one would expect Garza to pitch fastballs at most 70% of the time. In his game against the Tigers, he went through four of nine innings pitching nothing but fastballs except once in each inning.
Tigers’ General Manager, Jim Leyland, said that he was aware of Garza’s tendency to throw fastballs, but added that he expected Garza to throw in a few breakers. “Tonight he didn't hardly do it at all,” Leyland said.
Garza sent the Tigers’ Jackson, Rhymes and Damon packing in the very first innings with 13 back-to-back fastballs. In the second, Tigers’ five times All-Star, Miguel Cabrera, succumbed to Garza’s relentless onslaught. Cabrera is in a league of his own among MLB batters and his form has not been lacking; Garza was just better. Cabrera took serious swings at him but failed against his fastballs.
Garza wasn’t always completely in control. He was hit twice, once in the fifth and then in the eight. He later said that he felt lucky to have gotten away on those occasions. “In the fifth inning I thought it was gone when he hit it to the warning track,” Garza said. Garza later admitted that he didn’t try to strike him out or do anything special. His just wanted to contain Cabrera as much as he could. After the fall of Cabrera, the Tigers really didn’t have anyone who could face Garza.
Granted the Tigers were not at their best with Magglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen being out of the game due to injuries, yet a no-hitter is a no-hitter. Garza’s form was unquestionable but the Detroit Tigers would be wondering what they are going to do until their hitters are back in playing form.
Garza threw six strikeouts and retired 22 others. Although Garza was the highlight of the game, on the Tigers’ side it was rookie Brennan Boesch. He saved the Tigers from a perfect game defeat by drawing a walk in the second innings; however, that ended in a double play for Tampa Bay.
Garza came close to a no-hitter in 2008 but was foiled by Hanley Ramirez hitting a home run in the 7th. Garza stands 37-39 and has an Earned Runs Average of 4.06. In his career so far, he has 513 strikeouts.
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