Giants rookie Chris Heston pitches first no-hitter of the MLB season
Heston notches landmark in just his 13th major league start
Chris Heston pitched the first no-hitter in the majors this season in his 13th career start, leading the San Francisco Giants over the New York Mets 5-0 Tuesday night.
The rookie allowed three baserunners, all on hit batters. He also had a two-run single for his first big league RBIs and finished with two more hits than the Mets.
The pitching-rich Giants have thrown a no-hitter in four straight seasons, with Heston following Matt Cain’s perfect game against Houston in 2012 and hitless gems by Tim Lincecum in 2013 and ‘14.
The only other team to accomplish that feat was the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1962-65, according to STATS. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched all four of those.
Heston (6-4) struck out 11 – six looking – for the defending World Series champions and allowed just two balls into the outfield.
After plunking Anthony Recker with a pitch to start the ninth, the right-hander threw called third strikes past pinch-hitter Danny Muno, Curtis Granderson and Ruben Tejada. Heston walked calmly off the mound toward home plate and was hugged by catcher Buster Posey.