ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 9: Miles Mikolas #39 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 9, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Miles Mikolas came within inches of no-hitting the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mikolas threw 129 pitches and got the Pirates final hitter in Cal Mitchell down to a 2-2 count before Mitchell hit a line drive to center fielder Harrison Bader, who had been playing very shallow in the outfield in anticipation of a bloop hit.
Bader came within inches of the ball but the diving effort would not quite be enough.
Miraculously, the Pittsburgh Pirates were just one strike and a few inches away from being no-hit for the second time this season and we are just two months into the year.
What makes this an event that could’ve been even more incredible is the fact that the club was so close to being no-hit twice in one year in a game that they scored a run. Hunter Greene and Art Warren of the Cincinnati Reds no-hit the Buccos back on May 15th of this year in a game that the Pirates won in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel.
Mikolas, in his fourth season with the Cardinals and seventh in Major League Baseball, turned in his best career outing tonight, throwing 129 pitches and allowing just a single base hit, coming oh so close to the Cardinals first no-hitter since 2001.
Earlier in the game, the Pirates were able to score a run when Cardinals left fielder Juan Yepez made a costly two-base error that allowed Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds to come around to score.
Miles Mikolas nearly no-hits the Pirates, loses bid with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning.
Mikolas said in a post-game presser, “yeah it kinda sucks, I don’t have one under my belt just yet and I have friends that have one. I’m in the best shape of my life and I feel like I had a real chance to get it done tonight.”
Left-handed reliever Packy Naughton came on and was able to retire the final batter of the night, rookie outfielder Jack Suwinski.