On this date in sports history, we recall what happened four years ago on July 25, 2015. The setting is Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, as they host the struggling Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were in the midst of an awful season and talented starting pitcher Cole Hamels was drawing attention by several championship-hungry teams as the trade deadline approached. The Phillies came into this game with an abysmal record of 35-63 while the Cubs were standing at a promising 51-45. A great pitching matchup was set as Hamels was taking on Jake Arrieta, the future 2015 Cy Young Award winner. Hamels would end up taking this matchup by throwing a no-hitter in what many speculated to be his final game in a Phillies uniform.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings, but in the 3rd inning first-baseman, Ryan Howard hits a three-run-homerun off of Jake Arrieta with two outs. A lead was all Hamels would need to take home the victory, but the Phillies offense was not done scoring as shortstop Freddy Galvis hit a two-run double, making the score 5-0 in favor of the Phillies. On the defensive side, Hamels was in control of the game since the first pitch he threw; striking out 13 batters and walking just two, which would be the only baserunners the Cubs had this day.
As the game moved on, the fans in attendance realized what was happening and the excitement grew with each out Hamels recorded. Even the Cubs fans in the stadium were on their feet, cheering him on so they could witness a piece of history. Hamels started off the bottom of the ninth inning by forcing Cubs second-baseman Addison Russell to ground out for the first out. CF Dexter Fowler was up next and ended up being Hamels 13th and final strikeout of the game, making the second out. Finally, third baseman Kris Bryant comes to the plate and smashes the 129th pitch thrown by Hamels to center field where Odubel Herrera completely misjudges the ball. Herrera stumbles and dives but somehow makes a circus catch to finalize the no-hitter. The dramatic finish to the game made it that much more spectacular since this is not an accomplishment many pitchers can say they have achieved.
The timing of this is what made Hamels’ no-hitter so special. The Phillies run with the core of Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, and Ryan Howard seemed to be over after one World Series title in 2008 and another appearance in 2009. The Phillies were in a clear rebuild and the uncertainty of a possible trade that loomed over their stars was over-whelming since trade rumors were surrounding the team. These rumors ended up being correct as the former World Series MVP was traded to the Texas Rangers just six days after throwing the remarkable no-hitter. This was the final hurrah for the Phillies core; one last shining moment.
This also snapped the Chicago Cubs streak of going 7,931 games without getting no-hit, which was the longest streak in baseball. Cole Hamels was also the third pitcher since 1900 to be traded in the same season in which they threw a no-hitter, joining Edwin Jackson and Cliff Chambers.
