Brewers: Former Brewer Mike Fiers no-hits Dodgers
By Phil Watson
Mike Fiers was the “other guy” in the July 30 trade that sent former All-Star center fielder Carlos Gomez to the Houston Astros for a plateful of prospects, but the former Milwaukee Brewers right-hander stole the spotlight Friday night.
Fiers struck out 10 batters while firing his first career complete game—a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers that was the first no-hitter in the history of Minute Maid Park, which opened in 2000.
ALSO ON DAIRYLAND EXPRESS: Milwaukee’s Best: The Best Of Braves, Brewers
The 134 pitches Fiers threw were 20 more than he had recorded in an outing. It was the first time in his career he had pitched in the ninth inning of a start.
Before striking out Justin Turner to seal the no-hitter, Fiers took a step back off the rubber.
More from Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers are making a bold bet with Jackson Chourio
- 5 Pitchers Milwaukee Brewers Should Trade For
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the New York Mets could make for Corbin Burnes
- This former player will eventually manage the Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the Baltimore Orioles could offer for Corbin Burnes
“Oh man, my chest was beating hard,” Fiers told ESPN.com. “The crowd helped me, definitely. Everyone was on their feet. I kind of looked around for a quick second, everyone’s just going crazy and I’m just trying to get it done that much more.”
Fiers’ gem is the 11th no-hitter in Astros’ history and the 10th of the complete-game variety.
Houston’s last no-hitter was a combined job with six pitchers against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 11, 2003. Roy Oswalt started, but left with an injury in the second inning, with relievers Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner left to finish.
The last no-hitter by a Houston starter was by the late Darryl Kile against the New York Mets at the Astrodome on Sept. 8, 1993.
Don Wilson threw two no-hitters for the Astros, June 18, 1967, over the Atlanta Braves at the Astrodome and May 1, 1969, against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field.
Don Nottebart threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, a 4-1 win for the then-Houston Colt .45s over the Philadelphia Phillies at Colt Stadium.
Ken Johnson threw a no-hitter against the Reds for the Colt .45s on April 23, 1964, at Colt Stadium, but lost the game 1-0.
Wilson threw the first no-run, no-hit game.
The other no-hitters for the Astros include:
- July 9, 1976: Larry Dierker over the Montreal Expos at the Astrodome.
- April 7, 1979: Ken Forsch over the Atlanta Braves at the Astrodome.
- Sept. 26, 1981: Nolan Ryan over the Dodgers at the Astrodome (Ryan’s record fifth no-hitter; he finished his career with seven).
- Sept. 25, 1986: Mike Scott over the San Francisco Giants at the Astrodome (to clinch the National League West title).
His former teammates celebrated from half-a-continent away, catching the final outs of Fiers’ gem in the clubhouse at Nationals Park after their 10-3 win over the Washington Nationals.
“The guys were all gathered around the TV,” manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com. “It was a pretty neat scene, actually.”
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
“It’s really cool,” right-hander Jimmy Nelson said. “He always competes. A lot of stuff has to fall into place for something like that and I’m glad he could accomplish that.
“I’ve seen him go through some ups and downs, so it’s nice to see a guy like that who battles accomplish something like that.”
It was just Fiers’ third start since the trade and his first win for the Astros. He has a 2.42 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 26 innings for Houston after going 5-9 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.356 WHIP in 21 starts and 118 innings for the Brewers prior to the trade.
He was a 22nd-round pick by Milwaukee out of Nova Southeastern University in Florida in the 2009 amateur draft but made his big league debut a little more than two years later, in September 2011.
The Brewers have just one no-hitter in their history, thrown by left-hander Juan Nieves on April 15, 1987, against the Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.
Next: Santana Homers In Memorable Crew Debut