Homer Bailey Tosses No Hitter

For the 280th time in the history of Major League Baseball, a no-hitter has been thrown. It happened on July 2nd, 2013 and it was tossed by Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds, in a 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. It was the first no-hitter of the 2013 season, and the 2nd of Bailey's career. Ironically enough, Bailey was also the last pitcher in the Majors to throw a no-hitter, as he threw the last one in the big leagues on September 28th, 2012 in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bailey's official stat line for his latest no-hitter was as follows: 9 IP 0 R 0 H 1 BB 6 K'S. Bailey (5-6) dominated the defending champs, who are going through quite a slump. It was so tidy that there weren't many close calls.

He was able to get a little help in this one from a very smart, heads up play made by Joey Votto. Buster Posey hit a soft one-hopper that pulled Votto away from first base. Bailey got a slow break off the mound to cover the bag, setting up what would have been a close play. Maybe Posey beats Bailey to the base for an infield hit. Instead, Votto saw Blanco break for third and threw him out. the play was ruled a fielders choice, keeping Bailey's no-hitter in tact.

Bailey threw the last of the majors' seven no-hitters last season, and now the first of 2013. The last pitcher to throw one no-hitter and then another before anyone else in the majors accomplished the feat was Nolan Ryan, according to STATS. Baseball's career strikeout king did it for the California Angels on Sept. 28, 1974, against Minnesota, and June 1, 1975, vs. Baltimore.It was the 16th no-hitter in Cincinnati history. No Reds pitcher had thrown a no-no at home since Tom Browning's 1-0 perfect game against the Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium on Sept. 16, 1988. Bailey became the third pitcher in the history of baseball's first professional franchise to get more than one. Johnny Vander Meer threw the only back-to-back no-hitters in major league history in 1938, beating the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers. Jim Maloney had a no-hitter at Wrigley Field in 1965 and one at home against Houston in 1969.

Bailey isn't the only active pitcher with more than one no hitter under his belt. Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle and Roy Halladay are the only other active pitchers with a pair of no-hitters. Halladay, of course, threw one of his in the postseason against the Reds in 2010. After Tuesday's no-hitter, Homer Bailey now has a 4.36 career ERA -- the worst career ERA for any pitcher in history with multiple career no-hitters. Thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau, here is the top five worst career ERA's for pitchers with multiple career no hitters:

1. Homer Bailey 4.36 ERA 2 No-Hitters
2. Hideo Nomo 4.24 ERA  2 No-Hitters
3. Bill Stoneman 4.07 ERA  2 No-Hitters
4. Carl Erskine 3.99 ERA 2 No-Hitters
5. Mark Buehrle 3.86 ERA 2 No-Hitters

The win pulls the Reds record to 48-36, which is good for 3rd place in the NL Central, four and a half games back of the division leading Pittsburgh Pirates.

Congratulations once again to Homer Bailey on throwing his 2nd career no-hitter!