Perhaps one only needed to look at the umpiring crew for Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday night to know that Anibal Sanchez might have had a chance for a big game.
Sports Info Solutions tweeted a scouting report on home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski prior to Game 1. They noted Muchlinski has a smaller strike zone than most, a wider inside corner, and narrower outside corner. The big note was that Muchlinski was behind the plate for Sanchez’s 17 strikeout game in 2013!
Pitchers can often be at their best or worst depending on the umpire. If an ump gives them favorable strike calls, they can work ahead in counts and get more strikeouts. If they’re getting squeezed, that can put hitters on via walks and force the pitcher to give better pitches to hitters, so don’t discount what a difference they can make.
Sanchez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and lost it after going 7.2 innings of no-hit ball against the St. Louis Cardinals. He got some help with a great defensive play from Ryan Zimmerman to start the eighth but lost it on a Jose Martinez pinch hit. Sanchez gave some recognition to both Martinez and Muchlinski as he walked off the mound in the 8th — as he should have.
That was one heck of an outing from Sanchez, and a great way for the Nationals to take a 1-0 series lead. Sanchez also has a history with these types of outings; he threw a no-hitter in 2006 and flirted with a no-hitter during the playoffs in 2013.
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