Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma has just completed the fourth no-hitter of the 2015 season.
The Japanese starter walked three batters but struck out seven in a historical 116-pitch effort as the Mariners defeated the visiting Orioles 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Seattle’s Safeco Field.
Iwakuma joins Randy Johnson, Chris Bosio, and Felix Hernandez as the only Mariners starters to throw a no-no. Kevin Millwood and five relievers also combined for a no-hitter against the Dodgers in 2012.
Iwakuma was thought to be a trade candidate at the July 31 deadline, but the Mariners opted to keep the 34-year-old impending free agent and he rewarded them Wednesday by stirring up one of the loudest home crowds Safeco Field has heard this season. It’s been a disappointing summer overall for the M’s, who carried postseason expectations after an active winter but stand 54-61 even after Wednesday’s victory.
Iwakuma has also breathed some much-needed life into his open-market value. He had a stellar 3.07 in 524 innings between 2012-2014 but entered his start Wednesday with a 4.41 ERA in 63 1/3 frames.
Those nine scoreless innings have pushed his season ERA down to 3.86.
The no-hitter was also Iwakuma’s first career complete game.