Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Newcomb achieved a rare feat by recording a win without facing a single batter in a recent game against the Minnesota Twins. The left-hander entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and a man on first, eventually picking off the runner to end the inning without officially facing a batter.
Typically, a batter is considered “faced” if the at-bat results in an out, but since Newcomb’s pickoff led to the out, he technically did not face a batter. In the bottom half of the inning, Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer to give the A’s a 6-5 lead.
With the lead secured, Oakland brought in their closer Mason Miller, who recorded the save, ultimately giving Newcomb the win despite only throwing two pitches. This unusual occurrence marked the first time in the A’s 124-year history that a pitcher earned a win without facing a batter, making it a notable statistical anomaly.
Newcomb’s performance was a sharp turn from his previous outings this season, where he struggled, giving up five earned runs in just 3.1 innings. However, the veteran pitcher is no stranger to success, boasting a 3.00 ERA for the A’s last year and entering his eighth season in the big leagues after stints with the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs.
The win improved the A’s record to 29-49, but they fell to the Twins 10-2 in the following game. Despite the loss, Newcomb’s unique win without facing a batter will be remembered as a rare and remarkable moment in baseball history.