Carlos Rodón pitches a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, just barely missing the perfect game.
In his first full complete game win in seven years of playing, Rodón finishes up the no-hitter with seven strikeouts, and an 8-0 win. Rodón just missed his second start of this season due to a stomach bug, but was more than able to bounce back in this start.
Rodón has also overcome a lot throughout his career, with two Tommy John surgeries, and the White Sox non-tendering him this past offseason. When asked about it earlier in spring training, Rodón said, “the way I look at it is, go out there and compete and things will take care of themselves.”
And they certainly did take care of themselves. The only thing between him and the perfect game, was a HBP in the ninth inning as his pitch hit off the foot of batter Roberto Perez. This was just after an incredible play by José Abreu at first, fielding a chopper and just barely making it back to the bag in time to make the tag.
Still, a no-hitter is an incredible feat on its own, and perfect game or not, that is an excellent feather in a pitcher’s cap. The last pitcher that threw a perfect game was Felix Hernandez in 2012, so it has been almost ten years at this point. Perfect games are scarce for a reason, but it takes absolutely nothing away from the gleam of a no-hitter. Though, the season is just beginning and we have already seen some tremendous events taking place this early in the season.
This is also the second no-hitter in five days, after Joe Musgrove of the Padres threw one last week against the Texas Rangers. And, similarly enough, Musgrove’s perfect game bid also ended by way of an HBP, although his came in the eighth inning instead of the ninth.
This marks the 20th no-hitter in White Sox history.
The White Sox finish up their four-game series with the Indians tomorrow, on Jackie Robinson Day. The Sox are currently up 2-1 on the series.
