I had occasion a few minutes ago to check back on Homer Bailey’s two no-hitters. I assumed his fastball velocity tonight would be lower than those two nights. On a sweltering Cincinnati night in the summer 2013, Bailey’s fastball averaged 94.6 mph. He struck out 9 batters and walked one. The previous September, on a crisp, cool night in Pittsburgh, Bailey struck out 10 and walked one, but his fastball averaged just 91 mph. He threw fastballs on 77% and 72% of his pitches those nights.
Tonight, Bailey threw his fastball 54% of the time in the first five innings, then 21 of 30 pitches in the 6th.