Indians Starters Toss 5-Plus Perfect Innings in 3 Consecutive Games

The Cleveland Indians accomplished an impressive feat against the Tampa Bay Rays this week, becoming the first team in the expansion era (since 1961) to have a pitcher throw five perfect innings in three consecutive starts, per Elias Sports Bureau via MLB Stat of the Day.

Rookie pitcher Cody Anderson started the run with 6.1 perfect innings Monday night in Tampa Bay, eventually losing both his no-hitter and perfect game on a seventh-inning solo home run by Rays outfielder Steven Souza. The Indians won 7-1, with Anderson giving up just two hits over eight innings despite striking out only two batters.

Indians pitcher Danny Salazar was similarly effective Tuesday night, losing his perfect game with no outs in the sixth inning and then losing the no-hit bid just two batters later. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over 7.2 innings in a 6-2 win, albeit with just two strikeouts.

Although the first two outings were impressive, Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco easily outdid his teammates Wednesday night, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning and a no-hitter into the ninth. He lost the no-hit bid with just one out remaining, when designated hitter Joey Butler smacked an RBI single to make it an 8-1 game.

With the no-hitter no longer in play, Indians manager Terry Francona called on a reliever to get the game's final out, leaving Carrasco one out shy of his second career complete game.

The right-hander finished with arguably the best stat line he's ever posted, striking out a career-high 13 batters over 8.2 innings and allowing just one hit, one hit batsman and two walks. Carrasco easily set a career high with his 124 pitches, which explains why he slowed down in the ninth inning, allowing three of the five batters he faced to reach base.

With their current pitching staff, it's probably just a matter of time, but for now, the Indians haven't had a pitcher throw a no-hitter since 1981, per Sportsnet Stats.