"I missed a lot of time in the first half, two and a half months that I couldn't
help my team at all," Iwakuma said through interpreter Antony Suzuki.
"That's all I have in mind, come back and give it all I've got. Every start I have,
make up for the lost time that I've had the first half and do everything to
contribute for the team."
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Iwakuma's no-hitter: Did You Know?
By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 6:51 PM ET
? The no-hitter was Iwakuma's first career complete game.
? The last three no-hitters thrown by American League pitchers have been
authored by the Mariners -- Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game in a 1-0
victory over the Rays on Aug. 15, 2012, and six pitchers combined to toss a
no-hitter against the Dodgers in a 1-0 win on June 8, 2012.
? Hideo Nomo (with two) is the only other Japanese pitcher in MLB history to
throw a no-hitter. Nomo also no-hit the Orioles, doing so on April 4, 2001.
? The 34-year-old Iwakuma is the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter since
40-year-old Randy Johnson threw a perfect game for the D-backs against the
Braves at Turner Field on May 18, 2004.
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Kuma makes history in flashing vintage form
Oft overshadowed by King Felix, Mariners veteran proves he can't be taken lightly
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | @castrovince | 7:44 PM ET
Remember a time -- brief, but existent, all the same -- when it wasn't totally
crazy to suggest that the best pitcher on the Seattle Mariners was somebody other
than Felix Hernandez?
That time was 2013, specifically. Hisashi Iwakuma -- the man who in Wednesday's
3-0 win over the O's became just the second Japanese pitcher to throw a no-hitter
in the Majors -- was a revelation that year, just his second season stateside.
Indeed, it's been a roller-coaster year for Iwakuma. He was ineffective, then
he was injured, then he was trade bait, then he wasn't. The Mariners got criticized
in some corners for holding onto Iwakuma through the July 31 non-waiver Trade
Deadline in a disappointing season, in advance of his free agency, but ownership
valued the 34-year-old right-hander and evidently still views him as a part of
the picture in 2016.
When it was over, you could see Hernandez congratulating his teammate while wearing
one of those goofy "Kuma Bear" caps. Yes, there was a time when even King Felix
played second fiddle to an overwhelming Iwakuma. Those days are gone, but, for one day
at least, King Felix wore the novelty hat and Iwakuma wore the crown.