Tyler Anderson was on the brink of MLB history earlier this month as he got through eight no-hit innings in his start against the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series finale.
The left-hander started the ninth inning at 117 pitches and struck out Mike Trout before Shohei Ohtani’s line drive to right field fell for a triple. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then pulled Anderson after throwing a career-high 123 pitches.
While Anderson exited having only allowed the one hit, MLB made a scoring change on Wednesday that effectively ended his no-hitter a couple of innings earlier.
Jared Walsh was credited with a hit on his swinging bunt in the top of the seventh inning that Anderson fielded before throwing the ball into the ground and watching it role to the outfield. The play was switched from Walsh reaching on an error to a single and advancing to second base on Anderson’s throwing error.
Walsh revealed that he appealed the scoring decision after Anderson lost his no-hitter, but wouldn’t have done so if the 32-year-old went the distance, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“There were a few people on the field, teammates, other people, who encouraged me to do it, saying ‘Hey, that’s a pretty tough play for a left-handed pitcher, gotta pick it up, spin 180 and throw a strike,’” Walsh said.
“If that breaks up no-hitter, I wouldn’t have appealed it. In the game, the official scorer ruled it an error quickly. I was fine with that. I hit the ball 20 mph for about three feet. Had he still had the no-hitter, I wouldn’t have fought it.”
Had Walsh’s swinging bunt been ruled a hit in real time, Anderson would not have set a career high in pitches thrown and potentially some wear and tear on his arm. His line now stands at 8.1 innings pitched, two hits, one run, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Anderson returned to the mound on Wednesday for his first start since nearly throwing a no-hitter, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) in five innings pitched against the Cincinnati Reds.
Roberts wanted Anderson to complete no-hitter
That Anderson was left in the game to finish off his potential no-hitter came as a mild surprise considering Roberts’ decision-making history.
“I think in each of those situations, there was a reason,” Roberts reiterated when discussing previously removing a pitcher from a no-hitter but leaving Anderson in.
“Whether it’s a guy that’s never done it and coming off surgery, or a guy that’s got a finger that’s bleeding every throw he makes.
“In this situation, like I mentioned it was short the start before and he’s got two extra days. It was stress-free, so I just felt he earned that opportunity. A lot of times I look at each individual situation.
“I know I’ve got this reputation as the Grim Reaper, but I’m a sports fan too. I really felt I wanted that just as much as Tyler and his teammates wanted that for him.”
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