The most important battle in the game of baseball centers on the pitcher and the batter. The pitcher tries to throw the ball so the batter cannot hit it. If the batter does hit the ball, defenders have to catch it. If the defense does not get the ball before the batter reaches first base, the result is called a “hit.” The 2021 baseball season started two months ago. So far, it has been harder than almost any year before to get a hit. The average number of hits per team in each game is less than eight. The last time there were so few hits was in 1908. Sometimes, one team does not get any hits. And that is called a “no-hitter.” No-hitters are rare in baseball. There are usually only a few every season. But this year there have been six. The record for one year is seven. And three fourths of the season remains. There was a no-hitter on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. On May 18, a pitcher from the Detroit Tigers threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. On May 19, a pitcher from the New York Yankees threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers. Many fans are asking, “Why are there so many no-hitters this year?" Baseball experts are not totally sure. Some say it just could be luck. Others say a number of things are making it hard for hitters. For example, they say pitchers are better than ever. Matt Chapman is a batter for the Oakland Athletics. He said “the pitchers are only getting better.”
Title: Why Are There so Many No-Hitters in Baseball This Year?
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Why Are There so Many No-Hitters in Baseball This Year?' data-article-id='5658'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='7021'>The most important battle in the game of baseball centers on the pitcher and the batter.</span> <span data-start-time='7021' data-end-time='12458'>The pitcher tries to throw the ball so the batter cannot hit it. </span> <span data-start-time='12458' data-end-time='17958'>If the batter does hit the ball, defenders have to catch it. </span> <span data-start-time='17958' data-end-time='26167'>If the defense does not get the ball before the batter reaches first base, the result is called a “hit.”</span> <span data-start-time='26167' data-end-time='33125'>The 2021 baseball season started two months ago. </span> <span data-start-time='33125' data-end-time='41333'>So far, it has been harder than almost any year before to get a hit. </span> <span data-start-time='41333' data-end-time='47625'>The average number of hits per team in each game is less than eight. </span> <span data-start-time='47625' data-end-time='54250'>The last time there were so few hits was in 1908.</span> <span data-start-time='54250' data-end-time='60542'>Sometimes, one team does not get any hits. </span> <span data-start-time='60542' data-end-time='63854'>And that is called a “no-hitter.”</span> <span data-start-time='63854' data-end-time='67625'>No-hitters are rare in baseball. </span> <span data-start-time='67625' data-end-time='71667'>There are usually only a few every season. </span> <span data-start-time='71667' data-end-time='75542'>But this year there have been six. </span> <span data-start-time='75542' data-end-time='80083'>The record for one year is seven. </span> <span data-start-time='80083' data-end-time='84750'>And three fourths of the season remains.</span> <span data-start-time='84750' data-end-time='89646'>There was a no-hitter on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. </span> <span data-start-time='89646' data-end-time='99750'>On May 18, a pitcher from the Detroit Tigers threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. </span> <span data-start-time='99750' data-end-time='108167'>On May 19, a pitcher from the New York Yankees threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.</span> <span data-start-time='108167' data-end-time='115479'>Many fans are asking, “Why are there so many no-hitters this year?"</span> <span data-start-time='115479' data-end-time='120479'> Baseball experts are not totally sure.</span> <span data-start-time='120479' data-end-time='124917'>Some say it just could be luck. </span> <span data-start-time='124917' data-end-time='129792'>Others say a number of things are making it hard for hitters. </span> <span data-start-time='129792' data-end-time='135354'>For example, they say pitchers are better than ever.</span> <span data-start-time='135354' data-end-time='140750'>Matt Chapman is a batter for the Oakland Athletics. </span> <span data-start-time='140750' data-end-time='144854'>He said “the pitchers are only getting better.” </span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/C.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17476 data-hint-location='60542' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/what_is_it_called_when_one_baseball_team_does_not_get_any_hits.wav'>What is it called when one baseball team does not get any hits?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='A no-hitter'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/a_nohitter.wav'><span>A no-hitter</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/a_perfect_game.wav'><span>A perfect game</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/a_grand_slam.wav'><span>A grand slam</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/a_homerun.wav'><span>A homerun</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17477 data-hint-location='75542' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/what_is_the_record_for_nohitters_in_one_season_of_baseball.wav'>What is the record for no-hitters in one season of baseball?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='7'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/7.wav'><span>7</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/5.wav'><span>5</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/12.wav'><span>12</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/6.wav'><span>6</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17478 data-hint-location='99750' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/on_may_19_a_pitcher_from_the_new_york__blank__threw_a_nohitter_against_the_texas_rangers.wav'>On May 19, a pitcher from the New York <span class='blank'>Yankees</span> threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Yankees'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/angels.wav'><span>Angels</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/knicks.wav'><span>Knicks</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/yankees.wav'><span>Yankees</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5090/jets.wav'><span>Jets</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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