Reid Detmers throws no-no in Angels’ win over Rays

Little did Joe Maddon know how prophetic he would sound when the Angels manager was asked before Tuesday night’s game to assess the progress of pitcher Reid Detmers, a 22year-old left-hander who was occasionally effective but mostly erratic in his first five starts.

“It’s better, but it’s not as good as it can be,” Maddon said. “He’s got great command, good stuff, great makeup, but I don’t think he’s actually executed a game plan with any kind of consistency. So, he’s gonna get better. But to this point, we haven’t seen the best side of him yet.” They did Tuesday night. Detmers, a first-round pick out of Louisville in 2020, threw the 12th no-hitter in franchise history during a 12-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced crowd of 39,313 in Angel Stadium, striking out only two and walking one during an efficient if not overpowering 108-pitch effort.

Mixing a fastball that averaged 92.3 mph and topped out at 93.9 mph with a 72.6 mph curve, 83.6 mph changeup and 82.6 mph slider, Detmers was in control throughout.

He took the mound for the ninth with his pitch count at 94. Vidal Brujan popped out to catcher Chad Wallach for the first out and Kevin Kiermaier grounded out to second.

Yandy Diaz followed with a grounder to shortstop Andrew Velazquez, who scooped the ball up and fire accurately to first for the final out.

The Angels poured out of their dugout and mobbed Detmers, the pile generating so much momentum it pushed itself from the mound into foul territory down the firstbase line.

The 10th individual no-hitter in franchise history was the first no-hitter since the emotional combined effort of Taylor Cole and Felix Peña on July 12, 2019, against the Seattle Mariners, the team’s first home game after the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.