Rookie Reid Detmers posted the second major league no-hitter this season, and the Los Angeles Angels thrashed the Tampa Bay Rays 12-0 Tuesday night.
Detmers sailed smoothly after benefiting from a tight scoring decision by making an error in the seventh inning.
The 22-year-old left-hander threw a career-high 108 pitches in his 11th major league start. He dished out a couple of strikeouts and gave away a walk.
He completed the 12th no-hitter in franchise history when Yandy Diaz grounded out to shortstop Andrew Velázquez to end the game.
“My mind was blank, I didn’t know what happened,” Detmers said.
He received key help from the official scorer in the seventh inning.
Brett Phillips reached with one out when first baseman Jared Walsh juggled his ground ball. The 39,313 spectators at Angel Stadium called for a fumble.
Walsh applauded moments later when the scoreboard noted that an error was indeed called on the play.
“It was a mistake,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “No one would have felt worse about this than Jared.”
Otherwise, Detmers (2-1) faced few predicaments. He retired his first 15 opponents before Taylor Walls drew a walk in the top of the sixth inning.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon then made a great jump to grab a line drive from Vidal Bruján. Kevin Kiermaier hit an inning-ending double play groundout.
Detmers made a good defensive play in the fifth inning to seize a ground ball from Cuban Randy Arozarena down the center of the diamond.
“I don’t know if I’ve fully assimilated this,” Detmers said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I can’t even process it right now.”
Detmers, the son of a pitcher who played in the minors for the St. Louis Cardinals organization, was the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Louisville and made his major league debut last year.
He entered the game going 2-4 in his career with a 6.33 ERA. In his first five starts this season he had gone 1-1 with a 5.32 ERA.
The Rays just didn’t get anywhere against Detmers, who combined a fastball that averaged 92 mph with a curveball that moved a lot, as well as a good changeup and an outstanding slider.
The previous no-hitter by the Angels dated back to July 12, 2019, when Taylor Cole and Félix Peña combined to get it against the Seattle Mariners.
That was the Angels’ first home game since the sudden death of starter Tyler Skaggs. Detmers is the youngest Angels pitcher to record a double zero.
Five New York Mets pitchers combined for the first no-hitter of this year, on April 29, against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The year before, he set a major league record with nine no-hitters.
Mike Trout had a pair of home runs and three RBIs for Los Angeles, which has won six of its last seven games.
Corey Kluber (1-2) was the losing pitcher.
For the Rays, the Cubans Diaz 4-0, Arozarena 3-0. The Dominicans Wander Franco 2-0, Bruján 3-0. Colombian Harold Ramírez 3-0.
For the Angels, Venezuelan Luis Rengifo 4-2 with a run scored.