Kenta Maeda started a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 18, 2020, and went into the ninth inning with a no-hitter.
When he gave up a lead-off single to Eric Sogard in the ninth inning, he had already thrown 115 pitches, the most pitches of any pitcher in a game that season and the most pitches he had ever thrown.
Despite this, he persisted on playing for as long as he could to try to make history. With 8 strikeouts in a row between the third and fifth innings, he did set a team record.
However, the game went into extra innings because closer Taylor Rogers was unable to make the final three outs without allowing Sogard and two other baserunners to score, leaving him without a decision.
In the end, after 12 innings, the Twins prevailed 4-3. With a record of 6-1 and a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts during a season that was reduced to 60 games due to the Coronavirus epidemic, Maeda was unquestionably the Twins’ ace that year.
He led the American League in WHIP (0.750) and struck out 80 batters in 66 2/3 innings while allowing just 40 hits and 10 walks.
He came in second place in the voting for the Cy Young Award, trailing Cleveland Indians pitcher Shane Bieber, who received a unanimous vote.
He pitched well in his lone postseason outing, holding the Houston Astros hitless over five innings of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on September 29.
He left the game with a 1-0 lead, but the Astros came back to defeat the Twins bullpen and take the two-game series.
How Fast Does Kenta Maeda Throw?
Kenta relied on their Slider, Splitter, and Fourseam Fastball extensively, with a few throws of a Sinker mixed in (90mph). His curveballs were few and far between (76mph).