The Detroit Tigers used five different pitchers to no-hit the Boston Red Sox for 8 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Anibal Sanchez started the game for the Tigers and threw six scoreless while recording 12 strikeouts and six walks. Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras and Drew Smyly came in relief to pitch the seventh and eight innings. Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit came in to pitch the ninth.
The Red Sox would record their first/lone hit of the night when Daniel Nava reached on a single with one out in the ninth. Quintin Berry came in to pinch run for Nava.
Entering Saturday night there had been two postseason no-hitters. The first happened in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series when Don Larsen accomplished it against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The last time a post season no-hitter happened was on Oct. 6, 2010 when Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw one against the Cincinnati Reds.
Sanchez threw a no-hitter on Sept. 6, 2006 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in just his 13th career start. He had a no-hitter broken up after 8 1/3 innings on May 24 against Minnesota when Joey Mauer reached on a single.
Coupled with a 1-0 win by the St. Louis Cardinals over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series it marks the first time two Championship Series games ended by a 1-0 score on the same day.
The Tigers are up 1-0 in the series with Game 2 to take place Sunday night. The first pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 8:07 pm ET. (7:07 pm CT)
