Turnbull twirls 5th no-hitter of MLB season, Tigers top M's

SEATTLE (AP) — Spencer Turnbull pitched the fifth no-hitter in the majors already this season, sending the Detroit Tigers to a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

Turnbull, who led the big leagues in losses when he went 3-17 two years ago, had never gone more than seven innings in any of his previous 49 starts over three seasons. But a fastball in the mid-90s (mph) and a biting slider kept Seattle batters guessing and added to a growing list of mound gems in 2021.

The five no-hitters through May 18 match the 1917 season for the most in baseball history by that date. Two have been thrown in Seattle by opposing pitchers this month.

Turnbull’s no-no was the eighth in Tigers history and their first since Justin Verlander's in Toronto on May 7, 2011.

“He was pretty relentless,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “I'm really proud of him. He’s worked really hard and deserves every bit of tonight.”

The 28-year-old right-hander got a great defensive play from third baseman Jeimer Candelario in the seventh inning and then struck out Mitch Haniger in the ninth to end it.

Turnbull (3-2) struck out nine and walked two. He issued a free pass to Jose Marmolejos leading off the ninth when a full-count curveball missed wide, just the second baserunner for Seattle. Turnbull struck out Sam Haggerty for the first out and got Jarred Kelenic to ground into a fielder's choice for the second out.

Haniger, who came closest to a hit for the Mariners earlier in the game, went down swinging on a 95 mph fastball for the final out. Turnbull screamed in joy and was engulfed in a hug from catcher Eric Haase before being overrun by teammates.

“He delivered some pretty good 3-2 breaking balls,” Hinch said. “He kept kind of answering the challenge.”

Turnbull didn't make his season...

source https://www.chron.com/news/article/Detroit-s-Spencer-Turnbull-no-hits-Seattle-in-16187234.php