Guardians reliever Hunter Messick retired the first 15 batters he faced in a bid for a no-hitter against the Orioles on April 16, 2026, before yielding a leadoff double in the sixth inning.
Messick carried a no-hit bid into the middle innings
Messick, a right-handed reliever making his second start of the season, struck out four and walked none through 5.1 innings whereas preserving the no-hit attempt. He retired the side in order in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth innings, facing the minimum 15 batters. His fastball averaged 94 mph with consistent command, according to Statcast data tracked during the broadcast.
The Orioles broke the bid with a leadoff double in the sixth
Adley Rutschman led off the sixth with a hard-hit double to left-center field, ending Messick’s no-hit bid at 5.1 innings. The hit came on a 2-1 fastball after Rutschman fouled off two pitches. Messick then induced a groundout and a strikeout to limit the damage, leaving the game with one run allowed on two hits and no walks.
Guardians bullpen held firm after Messick’s exit
After Messick’s departure, the Guardians turned the game over to their bullpen, which combined for 3.2 scoreless innings. Emmanuel Clase struck out the side in the ninth to secure a 3-0 victory. The shutout improved Cleveland’s record to 12-8 and extended their starting pitchers’ streak of quality starts to four games.
What does this performance mean for Messick’s role?
Messick’s outing suggests he could be stretched into a longer relief or spot-start role if injuries or ineffectiveness affect the Guardians’ rotation. He has now made two starts and 12 relief appearances this season, posting a 2.19 ERA.
How rare is a no-hit bid broken in the sixth inning?
According to MLB records, approximately 18% of all no-hit bids that reach the fifth inning are broken in the sixth, making Messick’s bid a relatively common point of failure despite the strong early perform.
