Giants Come Close to Perfect Game and No-Hitter in Spring Training Win

San Francisco pitchers strike out 11 in 7-1 victory over Milwaukee Brewers

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:34am

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The San Francisco Giants were one out away from a perfect game and one strike away from a no-hitter before the Milwaukee Brewers broke it up in the ninth inning of a spring training game on Sunday. Lefty Robbie Ray combined with four relievers to strike out 11 batters in the 7-1 win.

Why it matters

While spring training no-hitters are rare, the Giants' near-perfect outing highlights the team's strong pitching depth as they prepare for the upcoming season. However, the team also received concerning news about pitcher Hayden Birdsong's forearm injury, which could impact their roster plans.

The details

Giants reliever Gregory Santos walked Cooper Pratt with two outs in the ninth inning, ending the perfect game bid. The next batter, Blake Burke, then delivered a run-scoring double to break up the no-hit attempt. Santos struck out José Anderson to end the game.

  • The game took place on Sunday, March 16, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The players

Robbie Ray

A left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who threw five innings and struck out eight batters in the game.

Gregory Santos

A Giants reliever who came close to completing the perfect game and no-hitter before giving up a walk and a double in the ninth inning.

Cooper Pratt

A Milwaukee Brewers batter who broke up the perfect game bid with a walk in the ninth inning.

Blake Burke

A Milwaukee Brewers batter who delivered the run-scoring double to break up the Giants' no-hit bid in the ninth inning.

Hayden Birdsong

A Giants pitcher who suffered a Grade 2 strained right forearm and a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, putting his status in question.

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What they’re saying

“It's certainly not best-case scenario, but hopefully we get best-case scenario of the unfortunate circumstances.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager (NBC Sports Bay Area)

What’s next

The Giants will continue to monitor Hayden Birdsong's injury and determine the next steps for his recovery and potential return to the team.

The takeaway

The Giants' near-perfect outing showcases their pitching depth, but the Birdsong injury is a concerning development that could impact their roster plans as they prepare for the upcoming season.