By Ben Cowlishaw
Online Copy Editor
A mere two and a half weeks after Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox threw the 21st perfect game in MLB history, Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels no-hit the Minnesota Twins in the Halo’s 9-0 win.
Weaver, now 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA, only allowed two base runners: one on a strike three passed ball, and one walk, striking out nine.
Weaver is arguably the Angels best pitcher in a fairly strong rotation. The run support, however, has been lacking, as the Angels sit last in the American League West with a 10-15 record.
Along with Humber’s perfection, Weaver’s no-no makes for the second no-hitter of the young season. An average season sees about two no hitters, with the most in 1991, when seven teams where no-hit against (five were thrown by the starting pitcher, two were team-thrown).
Who on the Rangers is most likely to throw a no-hitter?
Simple. Darvish. Already in this young season, he has flirted with throwing a complete game shut-out against the Yankees (he ended up leaving after 8 1/3 innings), and has only given up four runs since his four-run first inning of his first major league start. If his trend of improving every start, he’d be throwing perfect games by the All Star break. He still needs time to completely settle in, and when he does, he could very well be next in line in the no-hit parade.
Derek Holland also has a knack for fooling hitters, throwing an 8 1/3 inning shutout in the World Series and several equally impressive regular season starts. While he has had a rough start to the season, he has the potential to fit together nine innings of hitless baseball.
The Rangers haven’t thrown a no-hitter since 1994 when Kenny Rogers threw the 14th perfect game.