Dodgers are no-hit by Houston’s Mike Fiers in 3-0 loss

Guess Chase Utley wasn’t some magical answer to the Dodgers’ struggling offense. You remember their struggling offense? Managed just two hits in their last game against the Athletics’ Jesse Chavez (eight innings) and one against Felix Doubront (six innings)?

That was nothing.

Mere warm-up compared with their effort Friday night, when Houston’s unheralded Mike Fiers no-hit the Dodgers in the Astros’ 3-0 victory at Minute Maid Park.

Fiers entered the game 5-9 with a 3.87 ERA, not that any personal history means much when pitching against the Dodgers these days.

Fiers, a 30-year-old right-hander who came to the Astros with outfielder Carlos Gomez last month at the trade deadline, kept the Dodgers off-balance all night. He gave up three walks and struck out 10, throwing a career-high 134 pitches. And retired the final 21 consecutive Dodgers in order.

It was the first no-hitter thrown at Minute Maid Park. The last time Houston had a no-hitter it took six pitchers in 2003 against the Yankees. It was the 11th no-hitter in Astros history.

Brett Anderson (7-8) started for the Dodgers and again pitched pretty well, but it’s tough to win when the opposing pitcher is not surrendering a single hit.

The Astros scored the only runs they would need with two outs in the second inning. Chris Carter singled and Jake Marisnick homered for a 2-0 lead. Evan Gattis added a solo homer in the sixth and it was a 3-0 game.

All intrigue turned to Fiers and the unexpected no-hit bid. He walked three batters, one each in the first three innings, but the Dodgers did not add much suspense. Fiers struck out two in the seventh and three in the eighth.

Jimmy Rollins flied deeply to open the ninth but Marisnick chased it down at the wall. Utley flied out to right and Justin Turner struck out to complete the no-hitter.

The Dodgers are now 0-3 on their current eight-game road trip.