Mike Fiers Fires No-Hitter; Spoils Utley's Dodger Debut

Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers fired a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers spoiling the debut of Chase Utley who was acquired from the Phillies yesterday. Utley was in the lineup as the DH. The Astros won the game 3-0.

I saw the last four innings of Fiers' no-no on the MLB Network. He got stronger as the game went on. His curveball was breaking really sharp At one point he struck out five consecutive batters and ended the game by fanning Justin Turner. Fiers had 10 strikeouts in all. It was Fiers first career complete game and first win as a member of the Astros. He was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Carlos Gomez deal at the trade deadline. 

The Astros got their runs on a two run HR by Jake Marisnick in the 2nd and a solo shot by Evan Gattis in the sixth.

It marks the first time an Astros pitcher has thrown a no-hitter since moving to the AL in 2013. Six Astros pitchers combined for a no-no against the New York Yankees in 2003. The late Darryl Kile was the last Astros pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter in 1993. Fiers fired the no-no in the presence of Nolan Ryan who threw 7 of them in his storied career, one with the Astros against the Dodgers in 1981. 

This is the fifth no-hitter of the 2015 season. San Francisco Giants rookie Chris Heston, Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, Cole Hamels in his final appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners hurler Hisashi Iwakuma have thrown the other four. 

I must say I enjoyed the Astros broadcast team of Alan Ashby and Bill Brown. They were understated and didn't mention the no-hitter by name. If a Red Sox pitcher hasn't given up a hit after three innings, Don Orsillo says there's a no-hitter. Ashby and Brown took the Mel Allen approach and said there were seven hits in the game - all by the Astros.  I hope the MLB Network gives us more Astros broadcasts. Maybe we'll see some more no-hitters.