Parker Messick's No-Hitter Bid Falls Short as Guardians Extend Drought

Parker Messick's No-Hitter Bid Falls Short as Guardians Extend Drought

The Cleveland Guardians faced a heart-wrenching moment on Thursday night as rookie left-hander Parker Messick narrowly missed achieving a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. The bid ended in the ninth inning at Progressive Field when Leody Taveras hit a leadoff single, sealing the fate of the Guardians who ultimately won the game 4-2. This loss marks the continuation of the longest no-hitter drought in baseball, extending to 7,055 games since the Guardians last achieved this feat with Len Barker’s perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981. The Blue Jays currently sit in second place with a no-hitter drought of 5,548 games. In the game, after Taveras’ single, closer Cade Smith took the mound to finish, but he allowed both inherited runners to score, finishing with two runs on two hits and two walks over eight innings, striking out nine. Messick, who has an impressive 1.05 ERA in his four starts this season, previously ranked fourth in rookie power rankings. Key highlights include: José Ramírez provided early support with a two-run homer in the first inning, marking his 289th career home run. The Guardians have not experienced a no-hitter since 2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Cubs relievers no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates. Messick's effort was the longest no-hit bid this season, as no other pitcher has taken a no-hitter into the seventh inning in 2026. Despite the near miss, Messick’s performance continues to bolster the Guardians as they strive for success in the AL Central.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-17