San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease tossed a no-hitter en route to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals in the Nation's Capital.
It was both the second no-hitter of the 2024 season and second no-hitter in Padres' franchise history.
The first no-hitter of the 2024 season was thrown by Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco on April 1st against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cease's teammate Joe Musgrove tossed the first no-hitter in Padres' history on April 9, 2021, against the Texas Rangers.
As for Cease, he struck out 9 batters while walking three over 114 pitches. He improves to 10-8 with a 3.50 ERA and leads with NL with 168 strikeouts. The only offense the Padres needed was a bases loaded single by Ha-Seong Kim in the first inning.
Cease, 28, was acquired by the Padres from the Chicago White Sox during spring training for four players including pitchers Drew Thorpe and Steven Wilson. Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 6th round of the 2014 MLB draft, he was sent to the crosstown Chicago White Sox in July 2017 along with Eloy Jimenez for pitcher Jose Quintana. Cease would reach the majors in 2019.
His best season came in 2022 when he finished runner up in AL Cy Young balloting to Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. That year, Cease went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA although he did lead the AL in walks with 78. He also came within an out of throwing a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins when it was broken up by Luis Arraez. Well, now Arraez is his Cease's teammate, and he handed him the ball to celebrate. As the late Joe Garagiola used to say, "Baseball is a funny game."
Baseball has been fun for the Padres lately as the no-hitter extends their winning streak to five games and currently have the third NL Wild Card spot behind the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. However, the Padres travel to Baltimore to face the AL East leading Orioles for a weekend series before returning home to be greeted by the AL West division leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
But at least for tonight, the Padres celebration will not cease.
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