Lefty Jonathan Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter for the Giants in 2009, was designated for assignment by Kansas City on Tuesday. The Royals announced the move on their official Twitter account.
In a loss Monday to Seattle, Sanchez was battered for seven runs in 1 1-3 innings.
Acquired this past offseason for outfielder Melky Cabrera, the MVP of the All-Star game at Kauffman Stadium just last week, Sanchez has been nothing short of abysmal all year.
He hasn't gone past the sixth inning since May 28, 2011, and hasn't allowed fewer than four runs since early June. His already-bloated ERA rose to 7.76, and he's drawn the ire of Kansas City fans for his almost nonchalant attitude during and after his outings.
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He hasn't won since his Royals debut on April 8.
"When you work four days in a row to make a start and it doesn't work, it's kind of frustrating," Sanchez said after the game. "What can I say?"
His 7.76 ERA ranks second worst in team history for a pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched. In his abbreviated first season in the American League Sanchez is averaging 4.1 innings per start and 7.4 walks to 6.1 strikeouts.
Sanchez threw the 13th no-hitter in Giants history on July 10, 2009, when he struck out 11 to defeat the Padres 8-0. The historic night came with his father visiting from Puerto Rico, waiting for him in the dugout at AT&T Park after the final out.
San Francisco Giants
It was the Giants' first no-hitter since John Montefusco did it on Sept. 29, 1976, at Atlanta. The last one in San Francisco came when Ed Halicki beat the Mets in the second game of a doubleheader on Aug. 24, 1975.