Lorenzen Throws First No-Hitter Of His Career
Michael Lorenzen made quite the impression on Philadelphia Phillies fans in his first home start at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, tossing the 14th no-hitter in franchise history.
Less than a week after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the August 1st trade deadline, the 31-year-old righty matched up against the rebuilding Washington Nationals in his highly-anticipated home debut, which had everyone on the edge of their seat across all nine innings.
Lorenzen, who pitched eight innings of two-run ball in his Phillies debut versus the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3, took things up another notch in his second post-trade start. He held the Nationals lineup hitless over nine shutout innings, walking four while striking out five en route to a 7-0 victory.
The 6-foot-3 hurler blew past his previous career-high in total pitches (107), needing 124 to cap off the club’s first no-hitter since Cole Hamels in 2015, and the first at home since Roy Halladay blanked the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series.
As a kid that grew up in Anaheim, CA, Lorenzen had always dreamt of throwing a no-hitter in the major leagues. He idolized Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who completed seven no-hitters during his legendary career, and now he has one of his own.
Things looked a tad dicey early, though, as the former Tiger needed 38 pitches to work around a pair of walks over the first two innings. But he was incredibly efficient from there on out, throwing no more than 15 pitches per inning to reach the finish line.
The veteran righty didn’t have his best stuff, as evidenced by his four walks allowed. That didn’t matter, though. He found a rhythm with catcher J.T. Realmuto and didn’t look back. He threw every pitch that was called via PitchCom, not shaking off his backstop once – continuing that trend from his first outing with Philadelphia.
Once the ninth inning came, Lorenzen recorded the 25th, 26th and 27th outs with ease, releasing a giant roar in celebration as centre-fielder Johan Rojas caught a shallow fly ball to complete the historic achievement.
As everyone celebrated on the field, nothing was more special for Lorenzen than capturing the moment with his wife, Cassi, daughter, June, and mother, Cheryl.
“As I’m walking out — I’m telling you — the fans going crazy, it’s hard not to get a little emotional,” Lorenzen said post-game. “This is what I’ve worked for. This is a dream come true. I’m walking out for the ninth inning. I have no hits. I’m in a city like Philly, and these guys are going crazy. I can’t hear the PitchCom. The PitchCom is all the way up to the highest level. It got a little emotional before that ninth inning started. It gave my body that boost that it needed.
“That was the coolest moment of my baseball career.”
It wasn’t long ago that Lorenzen’s childhood dream seemed unrealistic. Despite debuting with Cincinnati as a starter in 2015, he spent most of his time in the bullpen from 2016-21 before returning to the starting rotation with the Los Angeles Angels last season.
But pitching close to home didn’t translate into the success he hoped for, posting a 4.24 ERA and 4.31 FIP with 85 strikeouts in 18 starts over 97.2 innings. That saw him re-enter free agency last winter, landing with Detroit on a one-year deal worth $8.5 million.
Everything has come together in his ninth professional season, though, especially considering how well his first two starts with Philadelphia have gone.
“This game has punched me in the face so many times,” Lorenzen said. “This is my ninth season, and I have yet to have a year that I’m happy about. I’ve just got to rely on the work that I’ve put in and trusting and hoping that it’s going to pay off at some point. It’s been a good year.”
The former Fullerton Union High School standout also becomes the fourth alum to throw a no-hitter, joining Hall-of-Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, Steve Busby and Mike Warren – the only other pitchers to reach the majors from that school.
Lorenzen owns a 3.23 ERA, 3.85 FIP and 93 punchouts across 20 starts in 122.2 innings split between the Tigers and Phillies this season, worth a career-high 1.9 fWAR. He also features a .213 OPP AVG, the lowest of his nine professional seasons.
The 2023 All-Star can become a free agent again this winter, where he’ll be looking to maximize the top statistical performance of his career.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: U.S. Army. This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States.