Tyler Gilbert’s first MLB start was one for the ages. Appearing in only his fourth career game, the Diamondbacks lefty no-hit the Padres over nine brilliant innings Saturday before a crowd of 16,716 in Arizona, becoming just the fourth pitcher to log a no-hitter in his first major-league start. The last to do it was St. Louis Browns hurler Alva “Bobo” Holloman against the Philadelphia Athletics on May 6, 1953.
A sixth-round pick of the Phillies in 2015, Gilbert scattered three walks and five strikeouts over 102 breathtaking pitches en route to his first major-league victory, recording the third no-hitter in club history and the Diamondbacks’ first since Edwin Jackson’s gem against the Rays in 2010. This was the first no-hitter thrown by a Diamondbacks pitcher at home and the fourth at Chase Field. Meanwhile, the Padres hadn’t been no-hit since 2018, when four Dodgers—Walker Buehler, Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore—teamed up for a combined no-no.
Gilbert’s no-hitter was the eighth of 2021, which sets a new major-league record. The previous record for a single-season was seven, accomplished in 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015. Gilbert’s teammate, Madison Bumgarner, held the Braves without a hit in the second leg of a doubleheader earlier this year, though MLB didn’t credit him with an official no-hitter because he was only on the hill for seven innings. The Rays did the same in a doubleheader against Cleveland last month.
A Rule-5 pick who didn’t graduate to the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster until August, Gilbert made history on Tommy Pham’s line shot to center, which Ketel Marte gloved for the 27th and final out. Ironically enough, Gilbert’s Padres counterpart, Joe Musgrove (5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER in the losing effort), no-hit the Rangers back in April, which stands as the only no-hitter in San Diego's 53-year history.
It’s been a disastrous year for the Diamondbacks, who, at one point, endured a 24-game road losing streak. But they’ve had a great weekend so far, needing a win Sunday to cap a four-game sweep of their division rival. If the schedule holds, Gilbert will make his next start Friday at Colorado.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram