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Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

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Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds
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Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

2024-08-03 14:00 Last Updated At:14:10

CINCINNATI (AP) — Blake Snell was one out away from pitching the first no-hit game in his illustrious career and had to get power-hitting Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz one more time.

Cruz jumped on Snell’s first pitch, a 97.8 mph fastball in the middle of the zone, ripping it hard to the gap in right-center field. Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski — inserted for defensive purposes in the eighth inning — ran it down, leaping to make the catch and preserve Snell's gem and 3-0 win.

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San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, celebrates with teammate Mark Canha (16) after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, celebrates with teammate Mark Canha (16) after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, right, sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, right, sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell walks to the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell walks to the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell jogs onto the field during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell jogs onto the field during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, left, speaks with catcher Patrick Bailey, right, at the pitcher's mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, left, speaks with catcher Patrick Bailey, right, at the pitcher's mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, center, throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, center, throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates with teammate Marco Luciano, right, after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates with teammate Marco Luciano, right, after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Marco Luciano scores on a double hit by teammate Tyler Fitzgerald during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Marco Luciano scores on a double hit by teammate Tyler Fitzgerald during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald hits an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald hits an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

The 31-year-old lefty, the league’s reigning Cy Young Award winner, was mobbed his teammates. It was third no-hitter in the majors this season.

“You're so amped up in the last inning there, to be able to make that throw when you are trying to throw it as hard as you can to the plate,” Snell said.

“I'm still kind of in shock,” he said. “I need to go home and let it sink in. I haven't really processed the game.”

Snell (1-3) struck out 10 and threw 114 pitches, 78 of them strikes. He said he came into the ninth inning throwing strikes because he feared Giants manager Bob Melvin would remove him at 120 pitches. He wanted the complete game, something he'd never done in 202 major league starts.

“I knew in my head I had to get it over the plate,” he said. It took him 10 pitches to strike out Santiago Espinal and get Jonathan India on a comebacker before De La Cruz swung at the 11th.

Actually, Melvin said he was ready to pull Snell if he had allowed a hit in the ninth. He was watching Snell closely because the pitcher started developing a blister around the seventh inning.

“That's as nervous as I had been in a long time,” Melvin said. "I wanted that for him so bad. If anybody has the stuff to throw a no-hitter, it's Blake Snell."

Snell was especially effective against the top of Cincinnati's order, striking out India three times, and De La Cruz and Spencer Steer twice each.

Snell recorded the 18th no-hitter in Giants' franchise history and the third in the majors this season. Houston’s Ronal Blanco no-hit Toronto on April 1, and San Diego’s Dylan Cease pitched a no-hitter against Washington on July 25.

“I don’t think it will be his only one," said Reds pitcher Nick Martinez, who played with Snell in San Diego last season. “He was commanding the ball very well. It seemed like he didn’t miss a spot all night. He has some electric stuff.”

Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald homered for the Giants on Friday.

Snell threw six perfect innings against Minnesota on July 14, before the Twins’ Manuel Margot singled leading off the seventh inning. He struck out 15 in his last outing on July 27, yielding two hits through six innings.

He won the Cy Young Award while playing for San Diego last season after winning it in 2018 as a Tampa Bay Ray. He became the seventh player in major league history to win the award in both leagues. He signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants before the season.

Snell became the fifth reigning Cy Young Award winner to throw a no-hitter, along with Jake Arrieta (2016), Clayton Kershaw (2014), Bob Gibson (1971) and Sandy Koufax (1964), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The last no-hitter for the Giants was by Chris Heston on June 19, 2015, as San Francisco beat the New York Mets 5-0.

The Reds were last no-hit on May 17, 2019, by Mike Fiers of the Oakland A’s in a 2-0 loss.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott lasted just 4 1/3 innings in Friday's game, allowing two runs and seven hits. He struck out eight.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: Activated from the 10-day injured list C Luke Maile (herniated disc). ... Emilio Pagán (right lat strain) is a Triple-A Louisville for rehab stint.

UP NEXT

Giants lefty Kyle Harrison (6-4, 3.69 ERA) faces Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.97) as the series continues on Saturday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, celebrates with teammate Mark Canha (16) after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, celebrates with teammate Mark Canha (16) after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, right, sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, right, sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell walks to the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell walks to the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell jogs onto the field during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell jogs onto the field during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, left, speaks with catcher Patrick Bailey, right, at the pitcher's mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, left, speaks with catcher Patrick Bailey, right, at the pitcher's mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, center, throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, center, throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates with teammate Marco Luciano, right, after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates with teammate Marco Luciano, right, after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Marco Luciano scores on a double hit by teammate Tyler Fitzgerald during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Marco Luciano scores on a double hit by teammate Tyler Fitzgerald during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald hits an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald hits an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Giants' Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the Reds

Next Article

Ireland is finally set to get a new government, led by a familiar face

2025-01-22 17:21 Last Updated At:17:30

DUBLIN (AP) — Veteran politician Micheál Martin is set to become Ireland's prime minister for a second time on Wednesday when lawmakers formally approve him as head of a coalition government.

The confirmation comes almost two months after an election in which Martin’s Fianna Fáil party won the most seats, but not enough to govern alone.

After weeks of talks, the long-dominant center-right parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed to form a coalition with the support of several independent lawmakers.

Under the deal, Martin. 64, will be taoiseach, or prime minister, for three years, with Fine Gael’s Simon Harris – the outgoing taoiseach – as his deputy. The two politicians will then swap jobs for the rest of the five-year term.

Members of both parties have ratified the government agreement, and Matin is set to be confirmed by members of the Dáil, parliament’s lower house, on Wednesday. He will then be formally appointed to the job by President Michael D. Higgins before appointing his Cabinet.

In Ireland’s Nov. 29 election, voters bucked a global trend that saw incumbent governments ousted around the world in 2024. Fianna Fail won 48 of the 174 legislative seats and Fine Gael 38. They’ve secured backing to govern from the mostly conservative Regional Independent Group, which will be given two ministerial positions.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil share broadly similar center-right policies but a century-old rivalry stemming from their origins on opposing sides of Ireland’s civil war in the 1920s. They formed an alliance after the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat.

Their new agreement shuts out left-of-center party Sinn Fein, which will stay in opposition despite winning 39 seats. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have refused to work with them because of their historic ties with the Irish Republican Army during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

The new government faces huge pressure to ease rising homelessness, driven by soaring rents and property prices, and to better absorb a growing number of asylum-seekers.

The cost of living — especially Ireland’s acute housing crisis — was a dominant topic in the election campaign, and immigration has become an emotive and challenging issue in a country of 5.4 million people long defined by emigration.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers during the Fianna Fail ard fheis conference at the Radisson Hotel, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers during the Fianna Fail ard fheis conference at the Radisson Hotel, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaks to the media, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaks to the media, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

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