Ever a season away from his potential, or a game away, even a pitch away, Homer Bailey on Friday night in Pittsburgh became something like the pitcher the Cincinnati Reds always believed would come with that talented right arm.

On a cool night at PNC Park, near the end of a season in which he became a consistent contributor to and 13-game winner for the NL Central-leading Reds, Bailey threw the modern day record-tying seventh no-hitter of 2012.

After the Pirates' Alex Presley popped out on Bailey's 115th pitch, securing a 1-0 win and the Reds' first no-hitter since Tom Browning's in 1988, Bailey thrust his arms straight over his head and welcomed his onrushing teammates. The Reds' Homer Bailey celebrates after notching the final out in his no-hitter against the Pirates. (AP)

"It's really surreal," Bailey told reporters afterward. "I can't believe it's happening."

In spite of a generation of futility, the Pirates had not been no-hit since 1971 against Bob Gibson. The last Reds right-hander to throw a no-hitter was Tom Seaver, 34 years ago.

[Related: From prospect to priest, ex-A's farm star Grant Desme searches for peace]

Bailey rode his fastball, particularly in Friday night's late innings. His strikeout of pinch-hitter Brock Holt to open the ninth (on a 93-mph fastball) was his 10th, tying his career best. Bailey walked one batter Andrew McCutchen in the seventh inning and had another batter reach on Scott Rolen's fielding error in the third inning. The rest saw Bailey hammer the strike zone with fastballs and bury his slider.

Noting the cooler temperatures and the guidance of catcher Ryan Hanigan, Bailey said, "We didn't have our best stuff, but somehow we were able to go out and make some good pitches."

The seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft, Bailey reached the major leagues three years later, as a 21-year-old. He did not pitch a full season, however, until this one. His career ERA was nearly five when, in April, he began to approach the promise of his early years. Friday's was his 32nd start, during which he surpassed 200 innings for the first time.

As a result, pitching behind Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and Bronson Arroyo, Bailey is among the reasons the Reds for all intents and purposes finished the NL Central race weeks ago and remain in a fight with the Washington Nationals for the league's best record.

Read the original post:
Patience with late-blooming Homer Bailey pays off in form of Reds' first no-hitter since 1988