Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty has no-hitter through 6 innings

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty has completed six no-hit innings against the San Francisco Giants.

Flaherty has thrown 70 pitches and struck out six. The 23-year-old retired his first 12 batters before walking Alex Dickerson leading off the fifth. He struck out two of the next three and got Kevin Pillar to foul out.

Flaherty got some help in the first inning when center fielder Harrison Bader made a running catch at the warning track to take away a possible hit from leadoff man Brandon Belt.

The Cardinals have nine no-hitters in their history. The last was by Bud Smith against San Diego Padres on Sept. 3, 2001.

Giants starter Jeff Samardzija matched Flaherty with a no-hitter into the fifth before allowing Yairo Muñoz’s two-out single.

The game was scoreless through six innings.