Burnes, Hader make history
CLEVELAND — Milwaukee ace Corbin Burnes combined with reliever Josh Hader to pitch baseball’s record ninth no-hitter this season, breaking a mark set when pitchers began throwing overhand in 1884 as the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0 on Saturday night.
Juan Nieves pitched the Brewers’ previous no-hitter on April 15, 1987, at Baltimore.
Burnes (10-4) struck out 14 with 115 pitches over eight innings, taking a perfect game into the seventh while overpowering the Indians, who were no-hit for a record third time in 2021. All of those came with starter Zach Plesac on the mound.
This time, Cleveland was stymied by Burnes — who has become a Cy Young contender as the Brewers run away with the NL Central — and Hader, one of the game’s top closers. The Brewers improved to a franchise-record 33 games over .500 while slimming their magic number to clinch the division to eight.
“Anyone would want to keep pitching in that situation, but if there was anyone I would want out there for the ninth, it would be Josh Hader,” Burnes said. “There were no nerves with him. It was more like a done deal when he came in.”
The righthanded Burnes was in control from the start, striking out 11 of his first 14 hitters and retiring the first 18 in order. After walking former Astros outfielder Myles Straw to start the seventh, the 26-yearold got through the eighth thanks to a diving catch by center fielder Lorenzo Cain on Owen Miller’s liner.
“I was definitely on my horse, ready to go get that one,” Cain said. “You need a little bit of everything to go right in a no-hitter.”
Burnes dropped his ERA to 2.25 and has more than doubled his career high for strikeouts with 210 in 152 innings.
“Corbin felt good after the eighth, but knowing you’re putting in Josh Hader to finish it played a part in the decision,” Counsell said.
The Progressive Field crowd booed as Hader came on in the ninth. He overpowered Oscar Mercado, striking him out to start the inning. Then, first baseman Jace Peterson went into foul territory to making a lunging catch for the second out.
Hader ended the no-hitter by getting Straw to flail at a pitch in the dirt for his 31st save. The Brewers stormed the field to share hugs and high-fives with a signature victory in their runaway season.
“To share that with Josh was obviously awesome,” Burnes said. “He was the first guy I congratulated.”