Guardians' Parker Messick comes within 3 outs of ending MLB's longest no-hitter drought

CLEVELAND — Parker Messick jogged out of the home dugout for the top of the ninth inning, twisted his body sideways to leap over the foul line and approached the mound to a standing ovation. One pitch later, the Baltimore Orioles sucked the air out of the ballpark.The Guardians, renowned for their perennial pitching prowess, own the league’s longest no-hitter drought, at 16,408 days. Messick came within three outs of vanquishing that hex before he served up a leadoff single to Leody Taveras in the ninth inning. Before that, he befuddled Baltimore’s hitters for eight innings.Despite a late push, the Guardians held on for a 4-2 win. Messick’s ERA is now 1.05.Advertisement