Harold Reynolds explains why he loves MLB’s new rules
MLB Network commentator and 2x All-Star Harold Reynolds tells us why he loves the new rules implemented by the league this season.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider was cruising in Monday night’s game against the Miami Marlins.
The 24-year-old right-hander was perfect through six and still had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning. With one out in the top of the eighth, the Marlins’ Jean Segura reached down and poked a single into left field.
The 33-year-old, two-time All-Star smiled as he jogged to first and flipped the bat as he was running down the line. The Marlins were trailing 8-0 at the time.
Strider yielded another single to the next batter, Jon Berti, but then closed the eighth with two strikeouts to end his night. He struck out 13 on 101 pitches, 81 of them strikes.
The Braves scored three more runs in the eighth and Joe Jimenez closed out the contest to give Atlanta an 11-0 victory.
“Segura is a really good out-of-the-zone hitter, so you don’t really know where to throw it,” Strider said. “I probably should’ve thrown it over the backstop. He couldn’t have reached it. He’s got pretty good hand-eye coordination. At least I didn’t hang him a slider.”
Strider lost his chance at a perfect game in the seventh inning, when two-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman Matt Olson booted what appeared to be a routine ground ball off the bat of Jazz Chisholm Jr.
No Braves pitcher has thrown a no-hitter since Kent Mercker did on April 8, 1994.
Contributing: Associated Press
