Frankie Montas pitched an excellent game for the Reds against the Rockies on Tuesday night. He didn’t allow any hits from the Rockies until the seventh inning when Elias Diaz hit a double. Despite this, Montas retired the next three batters, securing his first win since April 3.
Montas admitted that he was aware of the possibility of pitching a no-hitter during the game. He felt confident in his performance, especially since his arm felt healthy again.
According to OptaSTATS, Montas achieved a remarkable feat at Coors Field, a ballpark known for its hitter-friendly conditions.
He became the first visiting pitcher to throw at least seven innings, record nine or more strikeouts, and give up only one hit.
Montas credited his fastball, which consistently reached 97 mph, for his success. He struck out nine batters, with six of those strikeouts coming from his fastball. He threw 96 pitches, 63 of which were strikes.
Rockies player Ryan McMahon acknowledged the difficulty of facing Montas, noting his ability to mix up his pitches effectively. Despite Montas’ strong performance, the Rockies managed to break the shutout in the ninth inning when Brendan Rodgers hit a double, scoring a run against Buck Farmer.
