Former Bayside Bear throws no-hitter for Giants

Bayside High graduate Chris Heston pitched a no-hitter in his 13th major league start, coming within three hit batters of a perfect game and leading the San Francisco Giants over the New York Mets 5-0 Tuesday night.

His performance caught the eye of the current Bayside High School baseball team, which was enjoying a team outing at another major league baseball game in St. Petersburg on Tuesday night involving the Rays and Angels.

Bayside High School baseball coach Brandon Sherrill said the team was excited for Heston and all believed it could serve as motivation for Bears current and past.

"They put on the same exact jersey that he put on," added Sherrill.

His athletic director while at Bayside High School, Greg McGrew, who now serves in the same position at Heritage High School, was overjoyed when he found out about Heston's no-hitter.

"That is great," said McGrew. "That kid has worked hard and long and he deserves it."

"You take a young man like that as hard as he's worked," McGrew added. "You knew he was going to make it."

Beyond his obvious talents on the diamond, McGrew also says Heston had a great personality.

"He's a great kid. He was always trying to help people out," said McGrew. "Just a friendly young man."

The 27-year-old rookie right-hander allowed just three base runners, hitting Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda with pitches in the fourth inning during a span of three pitches and plunking Anthony Recker leading off the ninth.

Heston (6-4) struck out 11, walked none and allowed just two balls into the outfield, flyouts by Wilmer Flores in the second inning and Michael Cuddyer in the seventh.

Brandon Crawford made a strong throw from deep at shortstop to get Eric Campbell for the final out of the eighth.

After throwing called third strikes in the ninth by pinch-hitter Danny Muno, Curtis Granderson and Tejada, Heston walked calmly off the mound toward home plate and was hugged by catcher Buster Posey.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time a no-hitter has ended with three consecutive strikeouts since September 9, 1965, when Sandy Koufax pulled off the feat in a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.

Contact Bonanno at 321-242-3662, cbonanno@floridatoday.com or follow Chris on Twitter @FTChrisBonanno.