Marlins’ Henderson Alvarez pitches no-hitter against the Tigers
Marlins right-hander Henderson Alvarez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan in his third major league season, pitched the third no-hitter of the season in a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in Miami.
Alvarez was in the on-deck circle in the ninth inning when Tigers reliever Luke Putkonen threw a wild pitch to pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs with two outs and the bases loaded, allowing Giancarlo Stanton to score the game’s only run.
Cincinnati’s Homer Bailey pitched the season’s first no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on July 2. The Giants’ Tim Lincecum pitched the second on July 13 in a 9-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Alvarez’s gem was the fourth no-hitter on the final day of the season, with the Angels’ Mike Witt the last to do it with a perfect game in a 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in 1984.
Alvarez made his debut in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, when he started 10 games. He went 9-14 in 2012 when he started 31 games for Toronto. He was traded to the Marlins in the blockbuster deal that sent All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes as well as starting pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson to the Blue Jays.
Alvarez improved to 5-6 in 16 starts this season with the victory and lowered his earned-run average to 3.59. He struck out four, walked one and hit a batter in 99 pitches, with one hitter reaching base on an error.
His only previous complete game was May 4, 2012, when he pitched a six-hitter against the Angels for the Blue Jays.
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