Wade Miley Tosses 4th No-Hitter in 2021 & Second No-No in 48 Hours

Cincinnati Reds southpaw Wade Miley tossed a no-hitter last night against the Cleveland Indians last night en route to a 3-0 victory. 

Miley's gem is the fourth no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season and second within 48 hours. On Wednesday, Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means no-hit the Seattle Mariners. Last month, Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history against the Texas Rangers while Chicago White Sox hurler Carlos Rodon no-hit Cleveland Indians five days later. So this is the second time in less than a month that the Tribe have been on the wrong end of a no-hitter.

Miley's no-hitter is the second thrown in interleague competition this season along with Musgrove. It is also the third of four no-hitters thrown on the road this season. Only Rodon's gem was thrown in front of the home fans. This was the first no-hitter for a Reds pitcher since Homer Bailey no-hit the San Francisco Giants in 2013. Not nearly as long a wait as a 30-year drought for the Orioles and more than half a century for the Padres, but a treat for Reds fans just the same.

Of course, there are many who believe the no-hitter tally should be at five with Madison Bumgarner throwing one in the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves last month. The problem is that doubleheaders are now only 7 innings apiece but MLB only recognizes 9 inning no-hitters. 

Miley, 34, is in his 11th season in MLB. A first round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, he made his big league debut in 2011. A 16 win season in 2012 earned him his only All-Star team selection and enough votes to be runner in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting to Bryce Harper. But since 2015 Miley has bounced around - Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros before signing with the Reds as a free agent prior to the 2020 season. 

During the COVID shortened 2020 season, Miley struggled going 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in six appearances. However, in six starts this season Miley is 4-2 with a 2.00 ERA.

One notable thing about Miley's no-no. At the urging of his 4-year old son, Miley sported a temporary Hulk tattoo on his pitching forearm. Under the circumstances, Miley will probably now have to do this for the rest of his career. Perhaps it will turn him from a .500 pitcher into the next Sandy Koufax or maybe the next Charlie Morton.