Mariners Learn Lesson the Hard Way : No-Hitter: They saw Langston pitch before, but never from this angle.

Harold Reynolds was the first Seattle Mariner to bat against Mark Langston.

On May 21, he stood behind Langston at second base in a game against New York, a teammate in Langston’s final game as a Mariner.

He was no teammate Wednesday night.

“He threw that first pitch, it was probably the hardest ball I’ve ever seen in my life from a left-hander,” Reynolds said. “The next one was even harder. You don’t see that when you’re playing behind a guy.”

Langston began his career as an Angel by throwing four consecutive balls to Reynolds, sending him to first. It did not seem a debut to merit $16 million.

Then he didn’t allow a hit over seven innings, combining with Mike Witt on a no-hitter.

“He threw the ball good, good stuff, that was evident,” Reynolds said. “It felt like once they started giving him the high strike he was hard to hit. He pitched a great game. I knew once he settled down he’d be all right.”

It was different from playing behind Langston.

“You play behind a guy, you don’t face him,” Reynolds said. “The only advantage I felt I had was on the bases. I knew his moves. He was on. He pitched a great game. He’s one of the best. He’s the best left-hander I’ve ever faced.”

They were friends and teammates, but there was no joy in the Mariner clubhouse after the 1-0 loss to the Angels.

Is it possible, Reynolds was asked, to be happy for Langston?

“No,” he said. “He pitched a great game. That’s good for him. I wish we’d worn him out, actually . . . I don’t think he’s worried about how we feel about it. We’ll get him again.”

Seattle Manager Jim Lefebvre was wearing a stern face.

“Mark threw good,” he said. “He had a good hard slider. . . . When he needed to get the out, he got it. . . . On the whole, the only thing I feel upset about, not upset, disappointed, is we had great pitching ourselves. Good pitching on both sides. Unfortunately, it would have taken a no-hitter to beat them.”

Only the Angels had one.

“He was on,” Reynolds said. “What can I say? We knew he would be.”

They knew he would be on, but that didn’t make it easier.

“He threw a no-hitter, man,” Lefebvre said. “I don’t give a . . . if he’s throwing power or not. Even a no-hitter isn’t hard to swallow. Losing 1-0 is hard to swallow.”

There was nothing they could do.

ANGEL NO-HITTERS No-hitters thrown by Angel pitchers:

Date Pitcher(s) Opponent Score May 5, 1962 Bo Belinsky Orioles 2-0 July 3, 1970 Clyde Wright Athletics 4-0 May 15, 1973 Nolan Ryan Royals 3-0 July 15, 1973 Nolan Ryan Tigers 6-0 Sept. 28, 1974 Nolan Ryan Twins 4-0 June 1, 1975 Nolan Ryan Orioles 1-0 Sept. 30, 1984 Mike Witt Rangers 1-0 April 11, 1990 Mark Langston/Mike Witt Mariners 1-0

Date Site May 5, 1962 Dodger Stadium July 3, 1970 Anaheim Stadium May 15, 1973 Royals Stadium July 15, 1973 Tiger Stadium Sept. 28, 1974 Anaheim Stadium June 1, 1975 Anaheim Stadium Sept. 30, 1984 Arlington Stadium April 11, 1990 Anaheim Stadium