Tigers fans were witnesses to history Saturday as they saw one of the rarest feats in all of baseball.
Detroit blanked visiting Toronto 2-0 in a rain-delayed meeting at Comerica Park, but beyond the score is what Tigers pitchers Matt Manning, Jason Foley and Alex Lange were able to accomplish.
The trio combined for a no-hitter, with Manning earning the win after pitching the first 6 2/3 innings. Foley relieved Manning and worked the next 1 1/3 innings. Lange then brought it home in the ninth for just the ninth no-hitter in franchise history.
A historic day in downtown Detroit! 👏
— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2023
(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/7oeg9MXcml
MORE: How many no-hitters have been thrown in MLB in 2023?
While any no-hitter is of note — this was the 320th in MLB history — there is more to what Manning, Foley and Lange were able to accomplish.
Here's everything you need to know about MLB's history of combined no-hitters, where this latest performance ranks, and how it compares to MLB perfect games in terms of frequency:
When was MLB's last combined no-hitter?
MLB's most recent combined no-hitter occurred on July 8, 2023, as the Tigers beat the Blue Jays 2-0 through the efforts of Matt Manning (6 2/3 innings), Jason Foley (1 1/3 innings) and Alex Lange (1 inning).
Prior to that, the lat combined no-hitter was thrown in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series on Nov. 2, 2022, by the Astros. Starter Christian Javier threw six innings and Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly each threw one to blank the Phillies in a 5-0 Houston victory.
It was the first combined no-hitter in playoff history, the third no-hitter overall in postseason history and the second-no hitter in World Series history.
How many combined no-hitters have been throw in MLB history?
There have now been 20 combined no-hitters in MLB history. Nearly half have occurred in the last five years and nine since the Dodgers beat the Padres 4-0 on May 4, 2018.
History of MLB's combined no-hitters
The history of MLB's combined no-hitters is an interesting one, starting with the first such feat. It occurred June 23, 1917, with the Red Sox's Babe Ruth and Ernie Shore combining.
Ruth, in his fourth season as an ace pitcher for Boston, got himself ejected for arguing balls and strikes after walking leadoff man Ray Morgan. Morgan was caught stealing after Shore’s very first pitch, and the righty retired the next 26 batters he faced for a most improbable no-hitter.
MLB wouldn't see another combined no-hitter for almost another 50 years, when the Orioles' Steve Barber and Stu Miller combined for the feat in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers. It is the only loss in the 20 combined no-hitters.
Only one other combined no-hitter has seen an opposing team score. That occurred in a 2-1 White Sox victory over the Athletics on July 28, 1976, when Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios combined to walk an MLB-record 11 Oakland batters in a no-hitter.
Only one combined no-hitter — a 3-0 Pirates victory over the Astros on July 12, 1997 — has gone to extra innings.
MORE: When was the last perfect game in MLB?
Below is a rundown of MLB's combined no-hitters, including dates, results and pitchers involved:
| Date | Result | Pitchers (IP) |
| July 8, 2023 | Tigers 2, Blue Jays 0 | Matt Manning (6 2/3) Jason Foley (1 1/3) Alex Lange (1) |
| Nov. 2, 2022 | Astros 5, Phillies 0 | Cristian Javier (6) Bryan Abreu (1) Rafael Montero (1) Ryan Pressly (1) |
| June 25, 2022 | Astros 2, Yankees 0 | Cristian Javier (7) Hector Neris (1) Ryan Pressly (1) |
| April 29, 2022 | Mets 3, Phillies 0 | Tylor Megill (5) Drew Smith (1 1/3) Joely Rodriguez (1) Seth Lugo (2/3) Edwin Diaz (1) |
| Sept 11, 2021 | Brewers 3, Indians 0 | Corbin Burnes (8) Josh Hader (1) |
| June 24, 2021 | Cubs 4, Dodgers 0 | Zach Davies (6) Ryan Tepera (1) Andrew Chafin (1) Craig Kimbrel (1) |
| Aug. 3, 2019 | Astros 9, Mariners 0 | Aaron Sanchez (6) Will Harris (1) Joe Biagini (1) Chris Devenski (1) |
| July 12, 2019 | Angels 13, Mariners 0 | Taylor Cole (2) Felix Pena (7) |
| May 4, 2018 | Dodgers 4, Padres 0 | Walker Buehler (6) Tony Cingrani (1) Yimi Garcia (1) Adam Liberatore (1) |
| Sept. 1, 2014 | Phillies 7, Braves 0 | Cole Hamels (6) Jake Diekman (1) Ken Giles (1) Jonathan Papelbon (1) |
| June 8, 2012 | Mariners 1, Dodgers 0 | Kevin Millwood (6) Charlie Furbush (2/3) Stephen Pryor (1/3) Lucas Luetge (1/3) Brandon League (2/3) Tom Wilhelmsen (1) |
| June 11, 2003 | Astros 8, Yankees 0 | Roy Oswalt (1) Peter Munro (2 2/3) Kirk Saarloos (1 1/3) Brad Lidge (2) Octavio Dotel (1) Billy Wagner (1) |
| July 12, 1997 | Pirates 3, Astros 0 (10 inn.) | Francisco Cordova (9) Ricardo Rincon (1) |
| Sept. 11, 1991 | Braves 1, Padres 0 | Kent Mercker (6) Mark Wohlers (2) Alejandro Pena (1) |
| July 13, 1991 | Orioles 2, Athletics 0 | Bob Milacki (6) Mike Flanagan (1) Mark Williamson (1) Gregg Olson (1) |
| April 11, 1990 | Angels 1, Mariners 0 | Mark Langston (7) Mike Witt (2) |
| July 28, 1976 | White Sox 2, Athletics 1 | Blue Moon Odom (5) Francisco Barrios (4) |
| Sept. 28, 1975 | Athletics 5, Angels 0 | Vida Blue (5) Glenn Abbott (1) Paul Lindblad (1) Rollie Fingers (2) |
| April 30, 1967 | Tigers 2, Orioles 1 (no-hitter by BAL) | Steve Barber (8 2/3) Stu Miller (1/3) |
| June 23, 1917 | Red Sox 4, Senators 0 | Babe Ruth (0) Ernie Shore (9) |
Combined no-hitter vs. perfect game
The Tigers' combined no-hitter is the 20th in MLB history, making it a rarer feat than even the perfect game. MLB's most recent perfect game — on June 29, 2023, by the Yankees' Domingo German — was the 24th in major league history.
