Mariners pitcher Paxton makes third no-hitter of season

Mariners pitcher Paxton makes third no-hitter of season
AFP

Los Angeles (AFP) – James Paxton became only the second Canadian in Major League Baseball history to throw a no-hitter on Tuesday as the Seattle Mariners dominated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0.

The 29-year-old lefty became the fifth player in Seattle history to hurl a no-hitter, which was the third no-no of the 2018 season.

Oakland’s Sean Manaea had thrown the first solo no-hitter of the year last month while the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a combined no-hitter last Friday against the San Diego Padres.

Paxton had never pitched a complete game before Tuesday, but made short work of the Blue Jays, completing his feat with just 99 pitches.

The Canadian’s superb performance had been foreshadowed last week, when he struck out a career-best 16 in seven scoreless innings against the Athletics.

Paxton had some superb fielding from his team-mates to thank for Tuesday’s heroics, including a spectacular diving stop from Kyle Seager from a fierce drive down the line to prevent a hit at the end of the seventh inning.

Paxton closed it out in the ninth inning, finding two 99 mile-an-hour fastballs before Josh Donaldson grounded out to Seager.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.