It took 88-career starts, but Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma finally threw both a complete game and a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. The Mariners went on to win 3-0 over the Orioles. It is only the fifth no-hitter in Mariners club history.
Iwakuma joins Hideo Nomo as only the second Japaense-born pitcher toss a no-hitter in MLB history. Iwakuma is the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter this season, joining Cole Hamels, Chris Heston and Max Scherzer. It was the 291st no-hitter in the history of the league.
Iwakuma threw 116 pitches, allowing three walks and striking out seven. The ninth innning consisted of a David Lough pop-up, Manny Machado grounder and a Gerardo Parra fly to center. The last three AL no-hitters have come from Mariners pitchers.
Iwakuma has twice before come within one out of a complete game, including his most recent start on Aug. 2. Per CBS Sports, Lough's pop-up in the ninth was particularly tricky and it took a great play from Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager to keep things on track for Iwakuma.
The Orioles had not been no-hit since 2007 against the Boston Red Sox and Clay Buchholz.
