J.T. Ginn Carries No-Hitter Into Ninth Before Angels Rally for 2-1 Win

Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn loses no-hitter in 9th inning, then loses 2-1 to the Angels – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)

Anaheim, Calif. – Athletics starter J.T. Ginn held a no-hitter and a one-run lead through eight innings on Monday night. The right-hander needed just six more pitches to complete what would have been the first individual no-hitter in the majors since September 2024. Instead, two quick swings by the Los Angeles Angels turned the outing into a 2-1 defeat that ended the visitors’ hopes and snapped the Angels’ six-game skid.

The Ninth-Inning Turnaround

Adam Frazier opened the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single on an 0-2 pitch, the Angels’ third baserunner of the night. Zach Neto followed by driving a 2-0 sinker deep to center field for his eighth home run of the season. The two-run blast gave Los Angeles the lead and left Ginn with the loss despite his earlier dominance. The Athletics had taken a 1-0 advantage in the top of the ninth when pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler delivered an RBI single. Oakland loaded the bases moments later, but Angels reliever Chase Silseth induced a double play from Nick Kurtz to end the threat. That missed opportunity left Ginn without extra breathing room heading into the final frame.

Ginn’s Career-Best Effort

Ginn struck out 10 batters and allowed only one walk while throwing a career-high 105 pitches. He retired the side in order in the seventh on three strikeouts, reaching double digits in strikeouts for the first time in his big-league career. The 26-year-old right-hander also hit Neto with a pitch in the sixth, but otherwise kept the Angels off balance through eight scoreless innings. The performance marked Ginn’s 30th career start and came just days before his 27th birthday. He became only the sixth pitcher since 1974 to take a loss after allowing no hits or runs through the first eight innings. Rich Hill was the last to suffer that fate, doing so for the Dodgers in 2017.

Managerial Decisions and Team Reactions

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay left Ginn in the game at 100 pitches rather than turning to left-hander Hogan Harris, who was warming up to face Mike Trout. Kotsay later noted that hindsight always offers perfect vision and that the outcome could easily have gone the other way. He praised Ginn’s command and said the outing ranked among the best of the pitcher’s young career. Catcher Shea Langeliers described the finish as gut-wrenching after watching Ginn keep hitters off balance all night. Langeliers added that baseball has a way of humbling players and that the loss would be difficult to set aside quickly. Ginn himself acknowledged the tough result but stressed the importance of moving forward in a game defined by such swings.

Broader Context for the Angels and Athletics

The Angels avoided their first no-hitter since Sept. 11, 1999, preserving the longest active streak without being blanked in the majors. The last visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter against them in Anaheim was Hall of Famer Burt Blyleven in 1977. For the Athletics, the most recent no-hitter remains Mike Fiers’ gem from May 2019. Ginn’s near-miss also recalled the last time an A’s starter lost a no-hitter in the ninth, a feat last accomplished by Vida Blue against Detroit in 1976. The result left both clubs reflecting on how quickly momentum can shift in a single inning.

“J.T. dominated all night. For him to walk off the mound with a loss there, it hurts, obviously. He pitched probably the best game he’s pitched in his big league career.”

The narrow defeat underscored how fine the line remains between historic achievement and routine loss in a sport that offers no guarantees once the ninth inning begins.