LOS ANGELES (AP) — With runners reaching on an error, a walk and a hit batter, Tyler Anderson wasn’t aware he was working on a no-hitter.
Once the 32-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander reached 99 pitches after the seventh inning Wednesday night, even pitching coach Mark Prior told Anderson he didn’t think he’d finish it off.
Anderson lost his no-hit bid in the ninth, giving up a one-out triple to Shohei Ohtani in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
“The number went by the wayside after the eighth inning,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Just watching his stuff, there wasn’t much of a falloff. There was still command in there, there was still teeth to the breaking pitches. I was just really wanting that for him.”
Anderson (8-0) threw a career-high 123 pitches, 78 for strikes. He struck out eight and walked two in lowering his ERA to 2.82. He was pulled after Ohtani sent a line drive into right field that easily eluded a diving Mookie Betts.
“You can’t ask for anything better than that,” Anderson said of Betts’ effort. “I kind of laughed that he dove for it. It’s a very nice gesture.”
Anderson walked off to a standing ovation from the crowd of 50,812 and tipped his cap. He struck out three-time MVP Mike Trout to open the ninth before Ohtani laced his first triple of the season. Anderson fanned the reigning AL MVP in his first two plate appearances.
“It felt like a really big spot in a playoff situation,” Anderson said about the ninth inning. “The crowd was really, really into it. You can feel the energy.”
Anderson appreciated Roberts’ faith. His previous career high was 109 pitches in 2018 with Colorado.
“You may never have a chance to do that again,” said Anderson, who has endured injuries throughout his…
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