For Tim Lincecum(notes), it has become an expectation. Matt Cain(notes) certainly has the stuff. Barry Zito(notes) could afford to buy one. Even Randy Johnson(notes), at his advanced age, has done it before and flirted with one this season.
Smart money would have been on just about anyone other than left-hander Jonathan Sanchez(notes) to throw the Giants' first no-hitter since John "The Count" Montefusco did it in 1976.
But Sanchez, who was dropped from the club's starting rotation three weeks ago and has been considered the weak link on a team whose strength is starting pitching, got the prize Friday night in San Francisco.
Sanchez struck out 11 and nearly had a perfect game in the Giants' 8-0 victory against the Padres. Sanchez also allowed no walks; the only Padre to reach base did so on Juan Uribe's(notes) error in the eighth.
The only reason Sanchez got the call to pitch at all was because the Big Unit recently was put on the disabled list.
"I want to be a starter," Sanchez says. "They gave me a second chance, you see what happened tonight..
Smart money would have been on just about anyone other than left-hander Jonathan Sanchez(notes) to throw the Giants' first no-hitter since John "The Count" Montefusco did it in 1976.
But Sanchez, who was dropped from the club's starting rotation three weeks ago and has been considered the weak link on a team whose strength is starting pitching, got the prize Friday night in San Francisco.
Sanchez struck out 11 and nearly had a perfect game in the Giants' 8-0 victory against the Padres. Sanchez also allowed no walks; the only Padre to reach base did so on Juan Uribe's(notes) error in the eighth.
The only reason Sanchez got the call to pitch at all was because the Big Unit recently was put on the disabled list.
"I want to be a starter," Sanchez says. "They gave me a second chance, you see what happened tonight..
Look what happened is right. The majors first no-no since the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano's,(notes) against the Astros, in September.
And Sanchez's dad, Sigfrido Sanchez, along a brother of Sanchez's — presumably in from Puerto Rico Venezuela — were in the stands at AT&T Park to see it happen.
"This is the first time he has seen me pitch This is a gift for him," Sanchez said. "I feel awesome
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