Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ervin Santana recorded an unusual type of no-hitter Wednesday afternoon, conceding an unearned run in the first inning before shutting down the Indians in a 3-1 win in Cleveland.
The complete-game no-hitter is the first for the 28-year-old Santana, whose 2011 record moves to 6-8.
The Indians got a base runner in the first inning on a fielding error by Erick Aybar, and runner Ezequiel Carrera eventually scored on a wild Santana pitch. But Santana settled down after that, allowing only one other base runner (on a walk), striking out 10 batters and allowing no hits as the Angels rallied for the win at Cleveland's Progressive Field. (See SI.com box score.)
Los Angeles trailed through four innings before tying the game in the fifth and taking the lead in the sixth.
Santana told Fox Sports West after the game that he didn't start thinking about a no-hitter until the eighth inning.
"Anybody can (do that) into five, six innings, but after eight, that’s when things get a little complicated and … more intense, and that's when I (felt) it,” Santana told Fox Sports West, getting interrupted midsentence by a teammate who dumped a bucket of ice and water onto him.
Angels second baseman Howard Kendrick made a crucial play to keep Santana's no-hitter alive in the sixth inning, diving to stop Jason Kipnis' grounder and throwing out Kipnis just in time.
Santana's outing Wednesday was the first solo no-hitter for the Angels since Mike Witt threw a perfect game in 1984, according to  MLB.com.
Santana, who has an 82-63 record in seven seasons with the Angels, had a no-hitter through five innings in his previous start, at Baltimore last week, according to MLB.com. He ended up conceding three hits in more than seven innings in that game, which the Angels won 6-1.
@brandon having that many fans in the stands is normal where I come from dumb dumb
Way to go Ervin!! Close so many times before.
Ervin Santana may have pitched a no hitter but he ain't no Dock Ellis.
http://www.Isreal is becoming a nation.com