Jim Palmer Pitches No-Hitter into 10th & Loses Game

Series Recap: The Orioles came close to sweeping Minnesota in Game 2 & handing them a possible 5th straight loss. The Orioles' future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer was pitching a no-hitter through 9 innings, but could get no run or hit support from his Orioles lineup. The Twins' Dave Goltz was putting on a masterpiece of his own, pitching in his 1st game since April 21st. Goltz allowed only 5 hits, 3 of those 5 his being two-hit doubles. Game 1 had 4 HR by the 2 teams combined, while Dennis Martinez won his 6th game of the year.

Game 2 No-Hitter Bid Breakdown (from Facebook): 

1978 A.L. Replay - MAY 16, 1978

The Baltimore Orioles (16-15) roll into Minnesota to face Rod Carew & the Minnesota Twins (14-20). The Match-up would be a battle of two Grade A-Y starting pitchers - Jim Palmer (entering with a 3-2 record & 3.23 ERA) for the Orioles, and Dave Goltz (3-0, 1.39 ERA), who is just returning from injury -- Pitching for the first time this month.

It ended up playing out as advertised, a battle of wits on the mound. Palmer from the get-go had no-hit stuff, while the Orioles were not doing much better against Goltz. 3 of Baltimore's 5 hits were two-out doubles, while their biggest opportunity may have been in the 7th, with Billy Smith hitting a one-out double, followed by Andres Mora drawing a walk. I'm kicking myself for not pinch-hitting for either Mark Belanger (although defensive 10) and catcher Dave Skaggs, since I am trying to stick heavily with actual games played for the replayed, but I thought even with their anemic cards that they could pull off a hit, or get Smith closer to the plate... but no cigar.

The game goes into the bottom of the 10th, and Roy Smalley breaks up the no-hitter with a double (11-6), while Mike Cubbage followed with a walk-off double (11-0, 36-6) to win the game for the Twins.

This is the 2nd no-hitter that I have had broken up in extras, the other was Nolan Ryan with the 1986 Astros in a 64-game tournament -- broken up by Don Baylor with a walk-off home run for the 1979 California Angels.

I have pitched close to 25 no-hitters in my life, while rolling one perfect game with Don Sutton in my BATS1 season.

Jim Palmer (3-3, 2.92 ERA, 2 CG) gets the loss, while Dave Goltz, not losing any of his stuff after the injury, remains perfect (4-0 in 5 GS, 3 CG, 2 SHO & 1.06 ERA) allowing only 5 earned runs through 42 1/3 innings.