A’s J.T. Ginn Loses No-Hitter and Game in Dramatic Ninth Inning

In a heart-wrenching turn of events on Monday night, Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn appeared poised to etch his name in the record books. As he took the mound in the bottom of the ninth against the Los Angeles Angels, Ginn had not allowed a hit and had racked up ten strikeouts, leading his team with a slender 1-0 lead.

However, just six pitches later, his hopes for a no-hitter—and the game itself—slipped away. The first sign of trouble came when Adam Frazier, the Angels’ number nine hitter, stepped up to the plate. With an 0-2 count, Frazier connected, sending a pitch over the shortstop’s head for a single that broke up Ginn’s bid for baseball immortality.

Things quickly escalated from there. Zach Neto, the very batter Ginn had hit with a pitch earlier in the game, was next to face him. With the count at 2-0, Neto capitalized on a 93-mph sinker, launching it deep into center field. The ball sailed past the outfielders, sealing a 2-1 victory for the Angels and leaving Ginn with a bitter taste of defeat.

Despite his stellar performance through the first eight innings—where he allowed only two batters to reach base—Ginn’s night ended in disappointment. This loss dropped his season record to 2-2, a stark contrast to what could have been a triumphant moment in his young career. Had he completed the no-hitter, he would have joined the ranks of those who have achieved this rare feat, the first since Shota Imanaga and the Cubs’ bullpen combined for a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on September 4, 2024.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.