Some people believe you should never mention a no-hitter to avoid jinxing it.
And if you’re going to do so, then you should at least for the first pitch.
In perhaps the worst no-hitter prediction in MLB history, Greg Amsinger said four times — four times! — that there was a no-hitter alert before the first pitch of Tuesday’s Marlins-Dodgers game in Los Angeles.
And Jazz Chisholm proceeded to promptly homer off Yoshinobu Yamamoto on literally the first pitch of the game to end the no-hitter.
Late-arriving Dodgers fans may not have even parked yet before Amsinger’s quadruple-down failed in glorious fashion in the Dodgers’ eventual 8-2 win.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but we are already [on] a no-hitter alert,” Amsinger said Tuesday night before first pitch. “Yoshinobu Yamamoto, before he throws a single pitch tonight against the Marlins, we have a no-hitter alert. Enjoy what could be a no-hitter from Yamamoto…”
That’s when teammate Chris Young interrupted with what proved to be a brilliant observation.
“You know Jazz is swinging first pitch,” Young said.
Amsinger continued: “Right here on MLB Network. … We have a no-hitter alert, enjoy this game.”
Well, wouldn’t you know it, but Yamamoto’s no-hitter alert couldn’t even make it to a second pitch as he threw a 95 mph meatball over the plate to start the game.
Chisolm sat dead-red and promptly hit the ball 404 feet to right-center to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Yamamoto fell 27 outs short of his first MLB no-hitter.
And Amsinger went viral for his horrendous call.
Even MLB Network got in on the fun.
“A “no-hitter alert” from Greg that lasted… one pitch 😂,” the network’s X account posted.
Now, based on how many times he said it, one could perhaps argue Amsinger was just having some fun and leaning into how the Marlins resemble a minor league roster.
Miami ranks 22nd in runs scored entering Wednesday, and just traded top hitter Luis Arraez to the Padres, while Yamamoto had posted six scoreless innings in back-to-back starts.
The game ultimately played out as expected, with the Dodgers grabbing an 8-1 lead after three innings in part thanks to a Max Muncy grand slam in the first inning.
Yamamoto improved to 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA by throwing eight innings of two-run ball.
But that ain’t a no-hitter.
