Moments after Cole Hamels no-hit the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, Joe Maddon was ready to move on.
"It's a loss. That's what it is," the manager said. "We didn't get any hits today. Nobody ever likes to be no-hit, but it is just a loss."
Dexter Fowler walked twice and Anthony Rizzo reached on a fielder's choice, but they were the only baserunners for the Cubs in a 5-0 loss to Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies. It was the first no-hitter against Chicago since Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game at Dodger Stadium in 1965.
"Cole was special today," said Jake Arrieta, who pitched six innings for the Cubs.
Hamels struck out 13 in baseball's third no-hitter of the season. It was a timely one, too. The 2008 World Series MVP has been mentioned prominently in trade talks as the July 31 deadline approaches.
"It's something where you just go out there and enjoy the moment," Hamels said. "What I want is to be successful at it. I enjoyed the moment and this happened."
Hamels (6-7) was in control right from the start, and then got some help from rookie centre fielder Odubel Herrera in the final two innings. It was the fourth no-hitter for catcher Carlos Ruiz, including the playoffs, according to STATS — tops in NL history and tied with Jason Varitek for the major league record.
"I was thinking about one inning at a time," Ruiz said. "That's what I was thinking - something special could happen today."
It was the 13th no-hitter for the Phillies, who have the majors' worst record and could rebuild their farm system with a big haul from a Hamels deal.
Since 1900, only two pitchers have thrown a no-hitter and then got traded in the same season: Cliff Chambers from Pittsburgh to St. Louis in 1951, and Edwin Jackson from Arizona to the White Sox in 2010.
Hamels "definitely increased his value, I would imagine," Maddon said. "You're going to get that higher-tier prospect because of that performance today."
Arrieta (11-6) allowed three runs on Ryan Howard's 17th homer in the third and six hits in his first loss since June 16 against Cleveland. The right-hander, who knows what it's like to lose a no-hitter late in the game, was 5-0 with a sparkling 0.96 ERA in his previous six starts.
"Just one pitch to Howard right there," Maddon said. "He wasn't as sharp as he normally is, Jake wasn't. But nevertheless kept it at three."
Chicago had a great chance for a hit in each of the final two innings, but Herrera was there each time for Philadelphia.
With one out in the eighth, he ran a long way into the gap in left-centre to grab David Ross' fly and then spilled onto the warning track. Cubs rookie Kris Bryant launched a long fly with two outs in the ninth, but Herrera raced back and managed to lean forward for the catch after slipping on the track in front of the ivy-covered brick wall.
"It feels awesome. I feel proud to be part of it," Herrera said through a translator.
Hamels had a big smile on his face as he hugged Howard and Ruiz after the final out. The rest of the Phillies then mobbed the pitcher near the mound while the crowd of 41,863 delivered a long standing ovation.
"He looked like he was on a mission," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Before Saturday's outing, it looked as if all the trade rumours were taking a toll on the usually dependable Hamels. He allowed 14 runs and 20 hits over 6 1/3 innings in his previous two starts. He was 0-4 with a 5.56 ERA during a nine-game winless streak, which matched a career high.
But Hamels said he likes pitching in Chicago, and it showed on the three-year anniversary of his $144 million, six-year contract with the Phillies.
"There's a great history in this ballpark and it's a fun place to come and play," he said. "I know it's one of our top places to play. I grew up watching on WGN and the Cubs play. To be able to play in a day game just knowing I'm able to go out there and enjoy it and be myself -and obviously this is what happened - it's a special feeling."
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AP freelance writer Sarah Trotto contributed to this report.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.