Parker Messick has quickly become the Guardians ace

The Cleveland Guardians franchise has not had a no-hitter pitched in nearly 45 years. That’s currently the longest streak of any team in Major League Baseball, with their last one coming in as a perfect game from right-hander Len Barker on May 15, 1981.

Parker Messick came oh so close to ending that drought Thursday night. The lefty held the Orioles without a hit through eight innings, issuing just two free passes while striking out nine. The Guardians carried a 4-0 lead into the ninth and gave Messick a chance to finish things off.

Unfortunately, Messick surrendered hits to the first two batters and was lifted from the game. Both of those hits eventually led to runs before the Cleveland bullpen closed things out for a 4-2 victory.

Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt had nothing but glowing remarks for Messick following the effort. 

“That was very special, what we got to watch tonight,” Vogt said. “That's an unbelievably talented lineup that he took a no-hitter into the ninth against and just continued to attack, continued to give them different looks throughout the whole game.”

Even with the two runs charged to his ledger, Messick now sports a sensational 1.05 ERA to go with a 3-0 record through his first four starts of the season. He has struck out 25 batters across 25.2 innings compared to only seven walks and 13 hits allowed. Add those numbers to his impressive seven-start stretch run with the Guardians last season, and Messick truly looks like a budding ace.