Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis was visibly disappointed following his team’s 5-1 win on Thursday night over the Oakland Athletics, as were his teammates.
The Rangers were happy about their four-run victory over Oakland as well as the complete game Lewis threw that helped the tired bullpen. However, the entire Rangers organization wanted Lewis to have a perfect game or at a minimum throw a no-hitter.
Lewis following his team’s win said that when entering the ninth inning without allowing a hit and then you give up a hit makes the outcome disappointing.
Lewis threw a similar complete game two-hitter against Oakland last September. He retired 21 straight batters to start that game until an eighth inning double by Danny Valencia ended the perfect game and no-hit opportunity.
Both Lewis and his battery mate Wilson thought there was a good possibility of a no-hitter after Lewis had retired the first 9 batters for Oakland through three innings.
Once you are through the complete lineup and there are “goose eggs” under hits for the opposition, the opportunity presents itself said Lewis.
He added that he started to think about a no-hitter during the fourth inning and continued to through at least the sixth. He also said that any pitcher who tells you otherwise is just lying, as it is always there in the back of your mind.
Texas manager Jeff Bannister told reporters after the game that the Rangers dugout was full of energy from the fifth inning forward.
Bannister said the entire clubhouse knew what was taking place and at stake for Colby.
In the eighth, Lewis had a perfect game going, but after retiring the first two batters he faced, he walked the Athletics’ Yonder Alonso but then retired the next batter to end the inning.
However, in the ninth inning Max Muncy sent a long drive to right that Nomar Mazara reached up to grab but crashed into the fence and the ball came loose.
The play was ruled a double. Lewis then surrendered a double with one out to Coco Crisp that plated Muncy.
Five times previously during the ninth inning a Rangers pitcher has lost a no-hitter, with the most recent being in April of 2013 when Yu Darvish retired 26 straight but gave up a two-out hit in the ninth.
