The Giants hadn't thrown their annual no-hitter before Thursday. They had a four-year streak going, and Matt Moore was looking to make it five. The fact this one would be against the Dodgers during a pennant race, and the first by a Giants pitcher against a Dodgers team in 101 years (Rube Marquard in 1915), made the possibility even more (Moore?) delicious.
Moore hadn't gone longer than six innings in his first four starts with the Giants after being acquired from the Rays at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. For No. 5, he was determined to go nine, no matter how many pitches he needed.