One of the most stunning factoids in Major League Baseball has been the San Diego Padres never throwing a no-hitter in franchise history. After all, this organization has been around since 1969, and every other MLB organization has thrown at least one. Heck, the Miami Marlins have thrown six no-hitters, and they’ve only been around since 1993.
Well, the Padres FINALLY have a no-hitter!
Joe Musgrove — who’s from San Diego and is a former season-ticket holder — threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field. It was just the 28-year-old’s second start for the Padres, after being acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates over the offseason.
Here’s the final out, as called by Padres play-by-play man Don Orsillo on Bally Sports San Diego:
Awesome call of the Joe Musgrove no-hitter by San Diego Padres play-by-play man Don Orsillo. ⚾️ https://t.co/4AgJIeyygJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 10, 2021
And how it looked on the Ballpark Cam:
The final out, as seen on #BallparkCam! @Padres | @ItsbuccnJoe59 pic.twitter.com/uUn7KVOGBk
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 10, 2021
Musgrove was very close to a perfect game, with the only baserunner allowed coming on a hit-by-pitch.
The final line: 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K, 112 pitches.
Victor Caratini — acquired by the Padres from the Chicago Cubs as part of the Yu Darvish deal — has caught the last two no-hitters in MLB. He was behind the plate for Musgrove’s no-hitter, as well as the Alec Mills no-hitter for the Cubs last September.
Victor Caratini has caught the last 2 no-hitters
Tonight – Joe Musgrove
9-13-2020 – Alec Mills— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) April 10, 2021
While the Padres had never thrown a no-hitter, they actually didn’t have the longest streak without one in MLB history: that honor would go to the Philadelphia Phillies from 1906-64. The Phillies had a streak of 8,944 games without a no-hitter, while the Padres’ streak is snapped at 8,205 games.
Joe Musgrove just threw the first no-hitter in @Padres history.
San Diego had gone 8205 games without a no-no, the second-longest streak in MLB history (1906-64 Phillies, 8944).
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 10, 2021
Musgrove was the 24th Padres pitcher to take a no-hitter into the eighth inning, and the sixth Padres pitcher to take one into the ninth inning.
This is the 24th time a Padres pitcher has taken a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
Joe Musgrove's career high is eight innings.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) April 10, 2021
We will now witness the sixth time a Padres pitcher has begun the ninth inning with a no-hitter on the line. https://t.co/ZGljuvPzzN
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) April 10, 2021
The Padres have taken a no-hitter into the 9th five previous times in franchise history:
Clay Kirby + Jack Baldschun, 7/2/70
Steve Arlin, 7/18/72
Andy Ashby, 9/5/97
Chris Young, 9/22/06
Aaron Harang + 4 relievers, 7/9/11#Padres #JoeMusgrove #nohitter— David Salituro (@DavidSalituro) April 10, 2021
And he’s the first one to finish the job. Congratulations to Joe Musgrove on making history.
