Alex Cobb comes one out from no-hitter in Giants’ win over Reds

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Afterward, having come oh so near pitching a no-hitter together with his household within the stands prepared it to occur, Alex Cobb took a second to thank heart fielder Austin Slater for the sensational diving catch that preserved the bid.

Cobb did the identical with Giants supervisor Gabe Kapler, providing up some gratitude for being given the chance. Kapler caught with Cobb even because the pitch rely went larger than it had ever been.

Cobb got here inside one out of a no-hitter earlier than Spencer Steer doubled with two outs within the ninth inning of San Francisco’s 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night time, settling for a spectacular full sport that includes a career-high 131 pitches — 83 for strikes.

“Still right now, this is surreal,” Cobb stated. “In the moment I was just focused on the delivery and the game plan and executing pitches and then it started to become real. Had some cool thoughts going on in my mind of having my family here and thanking them. It was special, for sure.”

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Cobb almost notched the majors’ fifth no-hitter this yr, dazzling together with his split-finger fastball to close down Cincinnati earlier than Steer’s double supplied the Reds’ solely run.

Fans cheered the 35-year-old right-hander after the hit with chants of “Alex Cobb!” Once the ultimate out was recorded, Cobb hugged teammates and coaches and acknowledged the group.

Slater had made the defensive play of the sport when he chased down a shallow fly ball by Will Benson with the unbelievable catch in left-center to finish the eighth _ and Cobb raised each arms in celebration.

Even Kapler thought that might be successful.

Cobb simply missed tossing San Francisco’s first no-hitter since Chris Heston on June 9, 2015, on the Mets.

After getting Noelvi Marte’s first-pitch flyout to start out the ninth, Cobb (7-5) issued a one-out stroll to Nick Senzel earlier than one other fly to proper by TJ Friedl. Then Steer got here by means of with an opposite-field hit.

“Still fun,” stated Cobb, the sport ball safely tucked away in his nook locker with another keepsakes like his strikeout from this yr’s All-Star Game — his first. “I wasn’t mad, sad, just all right let’s finish it off kind of thing.”

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A run scored on the double, and Cobb threw a referred to as third strike previous rookie Elly De La Cruz on his career-high 131st pitch for his eighth strikeout, sixth profession full sport and second this yr.

Kapler left him within the sport, not instantly calling any relievers to get heat, assured Cobb nonetheless had his finest stuff.

“The right thing to do is to let a guy who’s going like that continue to go,” Kapler stated.

Senzel was credited with a single within the third inning on a two-hopper that third baseman Casey Schmitt snagged with a backhand seize. The rookie’s throw from foul territory was excessive and pulled a leaping J.D. Davis off the first-base bag.

Official scorer Chris Thoms initially referred to as the play successful, then modified it to an error a number of minutes later.

Did Cobb discover the hit initially went up on the scoreboard, then was later gone? “Oh yeah!”

“I was thinking about trying to go throw a 1-hitter and then challenge the play and get a no-hitter in about a week,” Cobb stated.

Fans within the crowd of 26,078 leapt to their toes and cheered as Benson stepped in to face Cobb with two outs within the eighth. After going forward 0-2, Cobb threw two straight balls to make the rely 2-2 when Benson lofted a shallow fly into left-center as Cobb threw a fourth straight splitter. Slater sprinted almost 20 toes to make the diving catch, which was instantly challenged by the Reds.

The play went to replay overview and when crew chief Bill Miller introduced moments later, “the call on the field stands,” the group roared.

“With everything on the line, what a spectacular play,” Kapler stated.

Patrick Bailey hit a two-run homer to assist Cobb win for the primary time in 9 begins since July 5. The Giants went forward within the second on a balk then Luis Matos delivered an RBI double to again Cobb.

Reds starter Brandon Williamson allowed one other run to attain on a wild pitch within the third earlier than Bailey related.

Mitch Haniger returned from the 60-day injured record and performed left discipline batting cleanup, going 0 for 4 with a strikeout in his first sport since June 13 after lacking 64.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo, sidelined by a stress response in his left tibia, will obtain a second opinion Wednesday. … The Reds despatched OF Jake Fraley to Triple-A Louisville to start a rehab project as he works again from a stress fracture within the fourth toe on his left foot.

Giants: OF Mike Yastrzemski could possibly be again within the lineup as quickly as Wednesday from a strained left hamstring after lacking the previous 26 video games. The Giants nonetheless contemplate him each day.

ROSTER MOVES

Reds: The Reds chosen the contract of INF/OF Alejo Lopez from Triple-A Louisville and optioned OF Michael Siani to Louisville whereas designating RHP Tony Santillan for project.

Giants: San Francisco optioned OF Heliot Ramos to Triple-A Sacramento after Monday’s sport and designated OF Bryce Johnson for project.

UP NEXT

RHP Hunter Greene (2-5, 5.06 ERA) takes the mound for the Reds within the sequence finale making his first profession look towards the Giants whereas pitching for the third time since coming off a 62-day IL stint.

RHP Logan Webb (9-10, 3.51) counters for San Francisco attempting to snap a four-start winless stretch.

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