Homer Bailey: Reds Pitcher Throws No-Hitter vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey has thrown a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The final score was 1-0.

The only thing stopping Bailey from a perfect game was a lonely walk and an error in the field. Beyond that, Bailey struck out 10 Pirates in total en route to the impressive feat. It took the Reds' starter 115 pitches in all.

Bailey navigated the ninth inning carefully, retiring the last three batters in order.

First up was Brock Holt, who went down on strikes. After that, Michael McKenry was the second to be eliminated in the inning after flying out to left field. 

With one out to go, Bailey needed to get leadoff hitter Alex Presley. Bailey would go on to get Presley to fly out to second base, enabling Brandon Phillips to record the final out, thus ensuring baseball immortality for the right-hander.

Bailey's no-hitter is the 15th in the team's history and the first since Tom Browning did it way back in 1988 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Coming into this game, Bailey was having a solid season for the playoff-bound Reds. The 26-year-old was 12-10 with a 3.92 ERA before his historic performance.

In the grand scheme of things, Bailey's start helps the Reds beyond just putting them in the record books.

Cincinnati's win is its 95th of the season, and that keeps the pressure on the Washington Nationals, who own the National League's best record. A loss for the Nats against the St. Louis Cardinals would put the Reds in a tie in the running for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

It's one thing to make history like Bailey did, but it's even better when a pitcher making history helps his team's chances to succeed in the postseason.