ATLANTA (AP) — AJ Smith-Shawver took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Monday night.
Santiago Espinal led off the eighth with a clean single to center field for Cincinnati’s lone hit. He was later erased on an inning-ending double play.
Smith-Shawver (2-2) was trying for the first no-hitter in the majors this season. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked four in eight splendid innings, throwing 60 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
It was his 11th major league start and fifth this year.
Kent Mercker pitched Atlanta’s most recent no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on April 8, 1994.
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