WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn lost his bid for a no-hitter Saturday night against the Washington Nationals when Keibert Ruiz lined a clean single to center field with one out in the seventh inning.
After the base hit, Ginn was removed from the game by manager Mark Kotsay and received a standing ovation. The right-hander exited with the A’s leading 8-0 as they tried to snap a 10-game losing streak.
Ginn struck out seven and walked three during his outing, throwing a total of 82 pitches, 50 of which were strikes. Prior to the seventh inning, Washington’s only baserunners came from two-out walks in the second and fifth innings. This performance was particularly notable considering the Nationals had amassed a season-high 21 hits in their previous game against the A’s, resulting in a staggering 23-4 blowout.
The closest the Nationals had come to a hit before Ruiz’s single was in the fifth inning when Dylan Crews appeared to beat out an infield single to third baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. Initially ruled safe, the call was overturned after a successful challenge by the A’s, marking a pivotal moment in the game.
Kuroda-Grauer also showcased his defensive skills with a diving catch on a popup by CJ Abrams in the fourth inning, further solidifying the A’s defensive efforts on the night.
This outing marked another near-miss for Ginn, who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on May 18 against the Los Angeles Angels. Unfortunately for Ginn, he walked off the mound that day with a heartbreaking loss after allowing a leadoff single to Adam Frazier and a two-run homer to Zach Neto, resulting in a 2-1 defeat for the A’s.
Ginn’s performance against the Nationals improved his record to 7-6 for the season, with a 3.67 ERA. His only complete game in the major leagues came earlier this year, a testament to his growing experience in the league.
The most recent no-hitter for the Athletics was pitched by Mike Fiers against the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, during the team’s tenure in Oakland. The lone no-hitter in Major League Baseball this year occurred when four Houston Astros pitchers combined to no-hit the Texas Rangers on May 25.
As the Athletics continue their pursuit of a turnaround, fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on Ginn’s development as a key player for the team.
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