Blake Snell Throws Historic No-Hitter for Giants

CINCINNATI — In an impressive performance, Blake Snell pitched the 18th no-hitter in Giants history during a game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park on Friday night. His stellar outing came after a lot of trade rumors, showing that the Giants made the right call by keeping him.

The game started after a one-hour rain delay, but that didn’t faze Snell. He was sharp from the beginning, striking out all three batters in the first inning with just 11 pitches. He went on to collect an amazing total of 11 strikeouts while allowing only three players to reach base due to walks.

By the time he wrapped up eight innings, Snell’s pitch count hit 108, a new career high for him. But he wasn’t done yet. He went back out for the ninth inning, where he struck out Santiago Espinal swinging, got Jonathan India to hit a weak comebacker, and finally, Elly De La Cruz lined out to complete his 114-pitch masterpiece.

Backing up Snell’s incredible performance, Tyler Fitzgerald went 3-for-5 at bat, hitting a solo home run and an RBI double, while Casey Schmitt also added a home run to the mix. Since returning from injury, Snell has been on fire with a remarkable 0.54 ERA over his last five starts.

This no-hitter was the Giants’ first since Chris Heston threw one against the Mets back in June 2015. It was also a significant milestone for Snell, marking him as the first pitcher to no-hit the Reds since Mike Fiers of the Athletics did it in May 2019.

Snell, who was once the reigning Cy Young Award winner, expressed his disbelief after the game. “I’m still kind of in shock,” he said. “I need to go home and let it sink in.” He was especially cautious in the ninth inning, wanting to make the most of his chance to finish the game without being pulled.

Giants manager Bob Melvin admitted he was nervously watching Snell as his pitch count grew. He was prepared to bring in a reliever if Snell gave up a hit, especially since Snell had developed a blister earlier in the game. “That’s as nervous as I had been in a long time,” Melvin shared.

In the end, Snell recorded his first complete game in 202 major league starts, a feat even more extraordinary considering he had never thrown a complete game before. Along with the no-hitter, Snell’s two-game strikeout total now ties for the second-highest recorded by a Giants pitcher.

What a night it was for Snell, solidifying his spot as a key player for the Giants.