In his first career start on Saturday, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Gilbert threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.
There have not been many highlights for the Arizona Diamondbacks throughout the 2021 season, as they sit in last pace in the National League standings. But on Saturday, the team will have something they will look back fondly on.
The Diamondbacks called upon relief pitcher Tyler Gilbert to start on the mound against the rival San Diego Padres, and it paid dividends. Gilbert threw a complete game no-hitter in his very first MLB start.
The no-no was clinched after Padres outfielder Tommy Pham lined out to Ketel Marte. In Arizona’s 7-0 victory, Gilbert struck out five batters and issued three walks on 102 pitches.
Diamondbacks: Tyler Gilbert makes history by throwing no-hitter in first career start
Gilbert is now the fourth pitcher to every throw a no-hitter in their first career MLB start, joining Ted Breitenstein, Bumpus Jones and Bobo Holloman as the only players to accomplish this feat.
This is now the eighth no-hitter thrown in the 2021 season, which is now tied with the 1884 campaign for the most ever thrown in a single-year, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Gilbert, a Rule 5 draft pick by Arizona this past December, received his first MLB call-up back on Aug. 3 in Arizona’s game against the San Francisco Giants. The left-hander struck out two batters on 19 pitches in one inning of work. In his three total appearances prior to his no-hitter game, Gilbert held a 0.00 ERA and struck out five hitters in 3.2 innings of work.
Saturday featured a couple of close calls in terms of no-hitters. The Phillies had a combined no-hitter broken up in the eighth inning by the Cincinnati Reds, and the Los Angeles Dodgers broke up New York Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker’s no-no on a solo homer by Will Smith in the seventh.
As it turns out, the third time was the charm for MLB on Saturday, as Gilbert made history in his first career MLB start.