Wade Miley missed most of the 2020 season due to injury. Now Miley is etched in baseball history forever. On Friday night, Wade Miley became the 308th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter and the 17th in Cincinnati Reds history. He worked furiously all night long and threw a ton of strikes. Through eight innings, it was a tight 0-0 game with great pitching. Miley rock-and-rolled all night, working with a torrid pace, and it paid off.
History Is Made
As said before, this is the 17th no-hitter in Reds history. Before tonight, the last Red to achieve the feat was Homer Bailey in 2013, when he blanked the San Francisco Giants. This is the fourth (fifth if you count Madison Bumgarner, and it most certainly should be) no-hitter this season. Miley’s no-no comes on the heels of John Means of the Baltimore Orioles, who threw his first career no-no two days ago. The difference is, Miley doesn’t throw hard. He’s not supposed to hurl a no-hitter at 89-90 MPH, yet here he is. Because of his torrid pace and his Maddux-like corner painting, he achieved history.
Miley flirted with a result only achieved once by Reds pitching. He carried a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings before Nick Senzel committed a throwing error. Miley then walked the next batter, but wiggled out of trouble and finished off his gem. His official line for Friday night came to CG, nine punch outs, one walk, and no hits allowed. Watch the final out below.
Wade Miley tosses a no hitter! #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/ySyFQD2ZKp
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) May 8, 2021
Helping Out the Lefty
The Reds offense was dormant for eight innings on Friday. Only needing one run to win this game, the Reds casually put up a three-spot in the ninth. Those three runs came off of electric young Indians closer Emmanuel Clase. After surrendering back-to-back knocks to Senzel and Jesse Winker, Clase committed a critical throwing error that allowed a run. From that point on, the Reds were in his head. He balked in the next run, sending Nicholas Castellanos to second in the process. After the costly balk, Mike Moustakas lined a single to score Castellanos. Those runs proved to be just enough for Wade Miley to finish off history.
Miley’s Secret Weapon?
Yes, Wade Miley was dominant on Friday night. He may have had a little bit of outside help though. No, he wasn’t cheating or anything like that, but this help came in the form of his son, Jeb. Before the game, Jeb, 5, gave his dad a tattoo. This tattoo was of Marvel Superhero, The Incredible Hulk. He put it on Wade’s forearm, and he threw his first career no-no. Maybe from now on, Miley should have Jeb give him a superhero tattoo before every outing. This cute story, of course, didn’t help Miley have his best career outing to date, but it’s fun to think that maybe it did.
Wade Miley credited his son, Jeb, for the no-hitter good luck charm because he made him wear a “sticker Hulk tattoo” on his forearm before the game. pic.twitter.com/YGblO6aG2G
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) May 8, 2021
The Reds are now only one win away from taking the Ohio Cup back to Cincinnati. On Saturday, they send Luis Castillo to the hill to try and secure a series win over the Cleveland Indians. For now though, we will let Wade Miley bask in all his deserved glory. He pitched an electric game on Friday, and this performance may give the Reds the shot in the arm going forward. The Reds will look to get back above .500 on Saturday afternoon, and will hope Castillo can give them another phenomenal pitching performance, a la Wade Miley.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
Players mentioned:
Wade Miley, Homer Bailey, Madison Bumgarner, John Means, Nick Senzel, Emmanuel Clase, Jesse Winker, Nicholas Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, Luis Castillo
