San Diego Padres-starter Joe Musgrove on Friday placed the first no-hitter in the organization’s history in a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
Musgrove (2-0) blew up 10 batters (four on sliders, four on turns, one sinker and one switch).
“It’s great to wear this uniform,” said Musgrove, who had never thrown a no-hitter in his career. “It’s unbelievable that it’s the first in the franchise’s history,” he added.
Musgrove, 28, retired the first 11 batters of the Rangers in a row. Then he dismissed Joey Gallo and took out the next sixteen. He started the bottom of the ninth with 103 pitches, an alarming number of pitches. But nine throws later, Musgrove made history.
“There were three different scenarios that I thought I lost,” he said.
Musgrove, who grew up in El Cajon, California, about 15 miles from San Diego, is in his sixth Major League-season. He previously pitched for Houston (2016-17) and Pittsburgh (2018-20) and had never pitched a complete game in his previous 84 starts.
“I’m exhausted, man,” he insisted. “There was no way I could get out of that game,” he added. Musgrove threw 77 of his 112 pitches for strikes.
It was the first no-hitter in the majors this season and only the second complete game.
Puerto Rican catcher Victor Caratini has caught the last two no-hitters in MLB. The last recipient to do that was Ryan Hanigan in 2012-13, both before Homer Bailey
All the feeling. pic.twitter.com/cu9mY6Fmba
– MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2021
Carlos Ruiz. Placeholder image Y Jason Varitek they share the record for catchers with the most no-hitters (4).
The Padres have made history against the Rangers for the past two seasons. Last season, when the Padres became the first team to hit a grand slam in four consecutive games, they all came against Texas (two in Arlington and two in San Diego, August 17-20).
According to ESPN data, Musgrove threw 62 break-pitches, the most in a no-hitter since Edwin Jackson in 2010 (68). Jackson threw 149 pitches in that game.