Melvin miserable during Parker's near no-no

On Monday the A's were finally putting it all together. They were having unquestionably the best game of their season. They put up a 12-spot on the Rangers, and budding ace Jarrod Parker was throwing a no-hitter against the best lineup in the game. This is the stuff managers dream of right?
"That was the most miserable last couple of innings that you could ever imagine," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That's a game where I should be over here sitting down, not worried about anything."

RECAP: A's 12, Rangers 1So what was Melvin so worried about? At that moment on the field, nothing had been better for the A's. "After the sixth inning at 91 pitches I knew I couldn't let him go nine innings," Melvin said. "I'm not rooting for a hit...but it certainly didn't break my heart."That hit he is referring to, is the Michael Young eighth-inning single that broke up Parker's no-hitter. On that hit, Parker threw his 109th pitch. Parker is 23, and had Tommy John surgery two years ago. Needless to say, the A's keep a close eye on his pitch count. But seriously, pitch count aside, if Parker had a no-hitter, he would have come out for the ninth inning right? "No way, no way," Melvin said. "I just can't, he is too important to us."RELATED: A's Parker poised under no-hitter pressure
Melvin said he was prepared to hear the boos; and there would have been plenty. Fortunately for Melvin he didn't have to be the bad guy. He was perfectly happy to let Young assume that role. It easy to see why he believes Parker is worth protecting though. He has a 2.40 ERA, which is the lowest among A.L. rookies with a minimum of 40 innings pitched. He has given up two runs or less in all but one of his starts. Maybe there will be a no-hitter in his future. If Melvin lets him have it.