Hisashi Iwakuma throws no-hitter for Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have dealt with a tough and disappointing season. However, Hisashi Iwakuma brightened up the campaign on Wednesday with the fifth no-hitter in Mariners history. Iwakuma was brilliant against the Baltimore Orioles, earning a 3-0 win in his first-career no-no.

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Iwakuma struck out seven Orioles hitters and walked three, needing 116 pitches to complete the masterpiece. The ninth inning was relatively easy for Iwakuma, who recorded the first out on a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch of a pop-up by third baseman Kyle Seager in foul ground. Seager also recorded the second out when Manny Machado made contact with two strikes, sending an easy ground ball his way. The final out was made by Gerardo Parra, who hit a lazy fly ball into center field.

Iwakuma was expected to be terrific this season in the second slot of the rotation behind Felix Hernandez. Instead, the Japanese import dealt with injuries and has only started 11 games in 2015, pitching to a 4-2 record with a 3.86 ERA. Iwakuma has been especially tough in August, posting a 2.30 ERA while Seattle has won all three of his starts.

The Mariners were the favorite of many people to win the American League for the first time in franchise history, and at the least make the postseason to end a drought stretching back to 2002, but that does not appear to be a reality. Seattle is sitting fourth in the American League West at 54-61, a full 7.5 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros.