11 facts, figures from Gilbert's unlikely no-no
This browser does not support the video element.
After a rush of no-hitters at the beginning of the 2021 season, there hadn¡¯t been one since the Cubs threw a combined effort on June 24 in Los Angeles -- until Saturday night, when D-backs rookie Tyler Gilbert took the mound against the Padres.
Gilbert threw the eighth no-hitter of the 2021 season, tying the 1884 campaign for the most in a season in history (pending the inclusion of Negro Leagues stats). It¡¯s worth noting that 1884 was before the mound was even moved to its current distance, something that happened in 1893.
Here are 11 facts and figures about Gilbert¡¯s historic night.
? This was Gilbert¡¯s first career start and fourth career game overall. He¡¯s just the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first career start, joining Bobo Holloman (May 6, 1953), Bumpus Jones (Oct. 15, 1892) and Theodore Breitenstein (Oct. 4, 1891).
? The lack of experience wasn¡¯t confined to the mound. It was catcher Daulton Varsho¡¯s 28th career start behind the plate. Their 27 combined starts at pitcher/catcher respectively are the third-fewest entering any no-hitter in the Modern Era (since 1900), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Only Kent Mercker/Javy Lopez (20 in 1994) and Don Wilson/Dave Adlesh (25 in 1967) had fewer.
? This was also Gilbert¡¯s first complete game at any professional level. His previous career high in innings pitched came as a member of the Phillies organization with the Lakewood BlueClaws, when he tossed eight innings on July 9, 2016.
? It¡¯s the third no-hitter in D-backs franchise history, joining Edwin Jackson on June 25, 2010, and Randy Johnson, who threw a perfect game on May 18, 2004. It¡¯s worth noting that Madison Bumgarner pitched a seven-inning complete game without allowing a hit earlier this year, but that is not an official no-hitter as it wasn¡¯t at least nine innings.
? Gilbert¡¯s no-hitter is the first thrown by a D-backs pitcher at Chase Field -- Jackson¡¯s 2010 no-no came at Tropicana Field against the Rays, and Johnson¡¯s perfecto came against the Braves at Turner Field.
? It¡¯s the first time the Padres have been no-hit since May 4, 2018, when four Dodgers pitchers combined to do so.
? It¡¯s no secret that this hasn¡¯t been the most successful of seasons for the D-backs. They entered the game 43 games under .500, which is the worst mark ever by an NL team entering a no-no, according to STATS. The only AL team to be more games under .500 entering one was the A¡¯s in 1916, who were 25-91 before Bullet Joe Bush¡¯s no-hitter on Aug. 26 against the Indians.
? There was a 29-win difference between the Padres and D-backs entering the game. That¡¯s the fifth-largest such difference between the team that was no-hit and the team to throw the no-hitter in the modern era (since 1900), according to Elias.
This browser does not support the video element.
? The Padres made hard contact against Gilbert, notching 10 hard-hit batted balls (95+ mph exit velocity), with the hardest being a 112.2 mph lineout from Manny Machado. Those 10 hard-hit batted balls are the second-most by any team that has been no-hit in a game tracked by Statcast (since 2015). The Brewers had 11 hard-hit batted balls against Alec Mills on Sept. 13, 2020, in his no-hitter.
? Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history on April 9, and now the team has been no-hit this season, too. They¡¯re the first team since the 2015 Cubs to be no-hit and throw a no-hitter in the same season, and the sixth since 2010, along with the 2014 Phillies, 2013 Giants, 2012 Mariners and 2010 Rays.
? Speaking of Musgrove, he was the Padres¡¯ starter in this game, meaning he¡¯s now been on both ends of a no-hitter this year. He¡¯s the 12th pitcher to both throw a no-hitter and have one thrown against him in a season, according to Elias, and the first since Jake Arrieta in 2015.