Sidney Ponson was the hard-luck loser and struck out Chris Stynes swinging to begin the top of the first inning. Trot Nixon ripped a single to right over the head of Jerry Hairston. Sox manager Jimy Williams tried a hit and run but it failed badly, Everett struck out swinging and Nixon was gunned down at second to end the inning. Nomo began his historic outing by getting Brady Anderson to fly out to Troy O'Leary. Mike Bordick popped up to Craig Grebeck in foul territory. Delino DeShields took a four pitch walk but David Segui grounded out to second to end the inning.
Ponson blew away the Sox in the top of the second. He struck out Manny Ramirez, Troy O'Leary and Jason Varitek all swinging in short order, sheesh. Chris Richard grounded to Brian Daubach who flipped it to Nomo for the out to start the bottom of the second inning. Melvin Mora flied out to Everett in deep center. Shea Hillenbrand booted a ball hit by Cal Ripken Jr and it was ruled an error. Ripken Jr reached second on the wild pitch by Nomo but Brook Fordyce struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third. Ripken Jr went "Ole!" on a ground ball by Shea Hillenbrand. Brian Daubach made Ponson and Ripken pay by smashing a 2 run home run to left field on a pitch 3 feet off the ground to give the Sox the lead. Craig Grebeck struck out looking and Stynes flied out to right. David Segui nabbed a line drive by Nixon to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Nomo whiffed Hairston to open the bottom of the third. Anderson flied out to Nixon at the wall in right. Bordick struck out swinging on a nasty splitter to end the inning.
Ponson blew away the Sox again in the top of the fourth. Everett, Ramirez and O'Leary struck out swinging in short order to end the inning. DeShields walked to open the bottom of the fourth. Segui beat out a double play ball and Richard popped up to Stynes. DeShields tried to steal but Varitek cut him down at second to end the inning.
Varitek popped up to begin the top of the fifth inning. Hillenbrand flied out to the wall. Bordick then said "Ole!" on the ground ball by Daubach. Richard then made a running stab on a ball by Grebeck to end the inning. Mora grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fifth. Ripken lined out to right and Fordyce grounded out to third to end the inning. It didn't feel like it due to the walks, but Nomo hadn't allowed a hit yet.
Stynes grounded out to third to begin the top of the sixth inning. Nixon popped up to short and Everett grounded out to first to end the inning. Nomo had the O's all out of sorts in the bottom of the sixth. Hairston struck out swinging as Anderson and Bordick both looked at strike three to end the inning. Nomo needed just 9 more outs for the no-no.
Ramirez and O'Leary flied out to left to begin the top of the seventh inning. Varitek walked but Hillenbrand grounded into a force to end the inning. Could Nomo get the final 9 outs? DeShields was rung up for strike three on the outside corner to start. Segui struck out swinging but Richard walked. Mora struck out swinging for the sixth straight strikeout as O's fans began to cheer. Nomo was 6 outs away.
Inspired by Nomo's effort, Daubach swatted his second home run of the night, this one just over the right field scoreboard. Grebeck whiffed but Stynes doubled to right. That was it for Ponson and he was replaced by lefty BJ Ryan. Sox manager Jimy Williams pinch ran Stynes with Mike Lansing. Nixon struck out swinging as Everett was intentionally walked. That was it for Ryan as Mike Trombley replaced Ryan to pitch to Ramirez. Manny walked to load the bases. Unfortunately O'Leary looked at strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Nomo got the 22nd out on a check swing bunt to second by Ripken to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Fordyce became Nomo's 10th strikeout victim and Hairston became the 11th to end the inning. Nomo was 3 outs away.
Willis Roberts was brought in for the top of the ninth. Varitek flied out to left field but Hillenbrand doubled down the right field line. Daubach flied out to left and Grebeck struck out looking to end the inning. Could Nomo pitch the no-no? Anderson grounded right back to the mound for out number one to start. Lansing then saved the no-hitter by making a great running catch in shallow center.
DeShields flied out to short left field and that was it. HIDEO NOMO PITCHED A NO HITTER! The Red Sox had won the game 3-0
Hero of the night is easy. Hideo Nomo was outstanding, striking out 11 and not allowing a hit in the complete game, no hit shut-out.
The Good:
Mike Lansing recorded no at-bats but made the no-no saving catch in the ninth inning.
Brian Daubach was 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 total rbi's.
The Bad:
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
Craig Grebeck was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Chris Stynes was just 1 for 4.
Chris Stynes was just 1 for 4.
Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4.
Carl Everett was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Manny Ramirez was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Shea Hillenbrand was just 1 for 4 but scored a run
Final Thoughts:
If Monday's loss to the Orioles left a bitter taste in the mouths of Sox fans, this more than made up for it. This was the first Boston Red Sox no hitter since Dave Morehead in 1965. Nomo obviously isn't going to pitch THAT good again but if the can be a dependable number two behind Pedro Martinez, this may be a good year for Sox fans. Between Nomo and Pedro, they've allowed 1 run in 16 innings to start the season. The offense has been meager the first two games but it'll come around. Especially when Manny Ramirez heats up and Nomar Garciaparra comes back. Lansing made a heck of a catch in the ninth and Daubach supplied the offense. The Sox look to take the rubber game tomorrow night when Frank Castillo makes his Red Sox debut up against Jason Johnson of the Orioles. The game behins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.
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