Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Fiers Fires No-No
The Astros managed just one hit in a loss to the Rays on Thursday.
On Friday, Mike Fiers did them one better.
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The right-hander tossed the 11th no-hitter in Astros franchise history Friday, striking out 10 in the complete-game win over the Dodgers. And unlike the previous night, the Astros provided Fiers with some offense, hitting two homers in the 3-0 victory.
Fiers needed 134 pitches to complete the feat, and he actually got better as the game went on — six of his 10 strikeouts came after the sixth inning. Upon striking out Justin Turner to end the game, Fiers and his teammates celebrated the first no-hitter in Minute Maid Park history.
After the game, Fiers was experiencing a lot of emotions, as expected following his first no-no.
“This crowd was going insane and it got me pumped up,” Fiers said. “Man, I felt like I was in the first inning. I felt great, probably better than the first inning, honestly, but this crowd behind you and my teammates. .. My command was off a little early but I was trying to stick with it. I knew it was going to come. This game is all about your playing for your teammates and the guys in the field with you and everyone here. It’s a team win, man, it feels good to perform and do that for this team. I can’t explain it.
“I don’t know what I’m saying right now. Ask me something. I don’t know what to answer. I’ve gone through my ups and downs in this game and in life and, man, just to stick with it and to get to this point. I’m sure there are a lot of people who have doubted me my whole life and a lot of people who stood by my side and are still by my side right now. I love my family and I love my friends. It’s good to do it for them.”
The start was just Fiers’ third since joining the Astros at the trade deadline. He had been winless in three appearances — his first outing with the club was actually in a relief role — prior to Friday. It stands to reason he’ll get a few more after the historic performance.
Cespedes Has Monster Night
It’s safe to say the Mets have gotten their money’s worth from Yoenis Cespedes thus far.
Cespedes has been at the heart of the Mets’ run to a now-five-game lead in the National League East, and on Friday he put on a show for the ages. The 29-year-old homered three times and finished 5-for-6 with seven RBI and five runs scored. Cespedes also stole a base for good measure.
The accomplishments are many. Cespedes’ 15 total bases was one short of the Mets’ record set by Edgardo Alfonzo in 1999. Cespedes became one of just three players in MLB history, and the first since 1968, with five hits, three home runs and a stolen base. The grand slam in the second inning, the first of his three homers, was the second of his career.
Friday night was the high point, but Cespedes has been very good since becoming a member of the Mets at the trade deadline. The outfielder is hitting .316 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 13 runs scored and four stolen bases in August. The Mets, not coincidentally, are 12-6 in that span.
“I haven’t seen anything like that,” Mets manager Terry Collins said of Cespedes’ night.
With Cespedes’ help, the Mets may soon see another thing they haven’t in a while — the postseason.
Heston Gets To Restin’
In a bit of a surprise move, the Giants demoted one of their best starters on Friday.
The team optioned Chris Heston to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday to make room on the 25-man roster for Marlon Byrd. Heston is 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA through 24 starts with the Giants this season.
Despite the demotion, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the move isn’t a reflection on Heston’s performance. Rather, it’s a way for the club to get Heston a small break before September rolls around.
“He’ll get 10 days to get a little breather,” Bochy said. “We just want to back him off a little bit and freshen him up. He understood. He knows our situation, and he’s been great about it. He’s done a terrific job. I can’t say that enough how he’s picked us up and been a shot in the arm with (Matt) Cain going down. He’s had a really nice year, and it’s not over, but we wanted to give him a break.”
Unheralded players like Heston and Matt Duffy are a big part of why the Giants remain in contention in the National League West with a little over a month left to play. The 12th-round pick in 2009 wasn’t a top prospect in the minors, owning a 3.56 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over parts of six minor league seasons, and he wasn’t expected to contribute much this year.
But Heston came into camp throwing harder and grabbed some attention in the process. He started the third game of the year for the Giants, and on June 9 he struck out 11 in a no-hitter against the Mets.
Friday’s move aside, Heston owners should hold onto the 27-year-old in hopes he can make five or six more good starts down the stretch.
National League Quick Hits: The Mets announced their intentions to skip Matt Harvey‘s scheduled turn in the rotation on Sunday. Mets manager Terry Collins said this is the only time the team plans on skipping one of Harvey’s starts for the rest of the year … Josh Harrison was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. Harrison started at second base and batted leadoff Friday, going 0-for-2 before being replaced. He had been out since early last month due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb … Yasiel Puig (hamstring) remained out of the Dodgers’ lineup on Friday. With the team in Houston for an interleague series, they could use Puig at designated hitter at some point. Puig hasn’t played since tweaking his right hamstring Tuesday … Giancarlo Stanton (hand) was forced to skip a day of hitting against live pitching due to ongoing pain. Despite that, Stanton remains hopeful he’ll be back around the beginning of next month … looking for a jolt, the Nationals promoted top shortstop prospect Trea Turner on Friday. Turner didn’t start but got into the Nats’ lopsided loss to the Brewers, finishing 0-for-2 … Jerad Eickhoff, who was among the players acquired by the Phillies in the Cole Hamels trade, earned the win in his major league debut Friday. The right-hander blanked the Marlins over six innings, allowing just five hits while striking out five in the victory … Mike Leake (hamstring) will start for the Giants on Saturday. There was some question whether Leake would be able to pitch with his ailing hamstring, but the right-hander is going to give it a shot.
American League Quick Hits: Mark Teixeira (shin) missed another game Friday. Teixeira has been out of the Yankees’ lineup since suffering a deep bone bruise in his right shin Monday … the Red Sox aren’t sure whether Clay Buchholz (elbow) will return this year. The right-hander has been sidelined the whole second half due to a right flexor strain, and he’s yet to pick up a baseball with roughly five weeks left in the season … the Royals will move Kris Medlen into their rotation beginning Monday, the team announced. Medlen has a 2.51 ERA and 14/5 K/BB ratio over 14 1/3 innings since his return from Tommy John surgery … Carlos Carrasco strutted his stuff Friday, striking out 11 Yankees batters while allowing just one run over 6 2/3 innings in a win. Carrasco has been terrific of late, posting a 1.36 ERA and 40/6 K/BB ratio over his last five starts spanning 39 2/3 innings … Derek Norris (oblique) is expected to be sidelined at least four weeks, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. With that timeline, it’s questionable whether he’ll be back before the end of the season … Ike Davis is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his left hip. Davis ends the season batting a disappointing .229/.301/.350, but he should be healthy and ready for the start of the 2016 season.
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