San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore was one out away from a no-hitter. He was so close but couldn’t get the job done. In response to this, Major League Baseball’s official Twitter account made this comment.

One out away from a no-hitter is pretty close. But can you get any closer? How do you quantify it? Does being one strike away from a no-hitter qualify as being closer? Or what about this guy?

I had a discussion with my friend about this and we were both on a different spectrum. I didn’t quite agree with the wording of this tweet. I believe that there have been people that have been closer. I brought up the example of Pedro Martinez when he was with the Expos. He was perfect through nine innings but because his team didn’t score, they had to go to extra innings. In the 10th, Martinez gave up a hit. But on paper, he went nine hitless innings. On paper, he matched the requirement to reach a no-hitter. His team didn’t deliver on offense.

My friend argued that even though he achieved that, he was never one out away from a no-hitter. Martinez had to go into the 10th to attempt the complete game. Moore was one out away with the no-hitter in sight. Martinez on the other hand did not have the no-hitter in sight. Despite going nine innings, the completion of the game was uncertain. Moore actually was one out away, a tangible stick of measurement.

We didn’t come to a resolution. Who is right? Can you “get any closer” to a no-hitter? Or does being one out away quantify as being close? Share your thoughts.