Brewers' Hader starts off 2020 season with relief no-hitter
It doesn't count as a no-hitter, but Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader has started off the 2020 season without allowing a hit through 9 1/3 consecutive innings.
Here's how the 26-year-old's campaign has played out so far:
| Date | Opponent | Hitter | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 27 | Pirates | Bryan Reynolds | Groundout |
| July 27 | Pirates | Guillermo Heredia | BB |
| July 27 | Pirates | Gregory Polanco | K |
| July 27 | Pirates | Jacob Stallings | Flyout |
| July 29 | Pirates | Erik Gonzalez | K |
| July 29 | Pirates | Adam Frazier | Groundout |
| July 29 | Pirates | Phillip Evans | Flyout |
| Aug. 5 | White Sox | Jose Abreu | Flyout |
| Aug. 5 | White Sox | Yasmani Grandal | Flyout |
| Aug. 5 | White Sox | Eloy Jimenez | K |
| Aug. 11 | Twins | Max Kepler | K |
| Aug. 11 | Twins | Jorge Polanco | K |
| Aug. 11 | Twins | Nelson Cruz | BB |
| Aug. 11 | Twins | Eddie Rosario | K |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Steven Souza Jr. | BB |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | David Bote | HBP |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Josh Phegley | K |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Nico Hoerner | Flyout |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Ian Happ | K |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Anthony Rizzo | BB |
| Aug. 14 | Cubs | Javier Baez | K |
| Aug. 16 | Cubs | David Bote | K |
| Aug. 16 | Cubs | Javier Baez | Groundout |
| Aug. 16 | Cubs | Nico Hoerner | Flyout |
| Aug. 18 | Twins | Eddie Rosario | Flyout |
| Aug. 18 | Twins | Marwin Gonzalez | K |
| Aug. 18 | Twins | Ildemaro Vargas | K |
| Aug. 24 | Reds | Joey Votto | BB |
| Aug. 24 | Reds | Nick Castellanos | K |
| Aug. 24 | Reds | Eugenio Suarez | Flyout |
| Aug. 24 | Reds | Matt Davidson | ROE |
| Aug. 26 | Reds | Eugenio Suarez | Flyout |
| Aug. 26 | Reds | Mike Moustakas | Groundout |
| Aug. 26 | Reds | Matt Davidson | Lineout |
In total, Hader's line for the season is no runs on no hits and five walks, racking up 13 strikeouts while facing 34 batters and collecting seven saves. That's good for a 0.00 ERA and 2.28 FIP over 9 1/3.
Josh Hader is now 7-for-7 in save chances and through 9 outings, he has yet to allow a run or a hit.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 26, 2020
Tonight's save means another $2,000 for the @Players4planet Save the Ocean program supported by @SCJohnson, @Bruter24, Corey Knebel and the Brewers!#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/2Wnq1MvApc
Hader is two outings away - when going by games - from tying the record for most consecutive games without allowing a hit to start a season. Three different pitchers (Justin Wilson, Scott Aldred, and John Franco) sit tied at 11.
However, by innings pitched, Hader needs 2 1/3 frames to tie current record-holder Brad Clontz, who threw 11 2/3 scoreless frames to start the season for the 1998 Los Angeles Dodgers.
The left-hander owns a 2.31 ERA for his career, striking out 362 batters over 214 total innings while notching 26 saves.
Despite Hader's best efforts, the Brewers sit at an underwhelming 13-15 - 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Chicago Cubs and ninth overall in the National League.