Joe Mogrove ended one of baseball’s most famous droughts on Friday night as he threw the first no-hitter in the history of the Padma franchise.
The right-hander beat the Rangers 3–0 at the Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Musgrove faced just one batsman at the minimum (he hit Joe Gallo on the pitch in the fourth inning) and bowled on a fast breaking ball to reach 10 strikes.
More: Team most recent no hitters
In a postgame interview with Bally Sports San Diego, he said, “The slider was the pitch that I felt I could put wherever I want today.”
It appeared for the second time late in the game that the drought could continue. Rangers catcher Jose Trevino swiftly entered right field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, but the Padres’ right fielder Will Myers raced in and stopped the drive to end the frame.
Musgrove completed the historic no-no – and first of the 2021 MLB season – three later with his 112th pitch of the night. He fielded Isiah Keener-Falefa to shortstop Hye-Song Kim. It was the first full game of Musgrove’s career.
San Diego began playing as a National League expansion club in 1969. The franchise’s 8,206th game saw a no-hitter. The Padres became the only major league team without a hitter when the Mets ended their drought in 2012, courtesy of Johan Santana.
The 28-year-old Musgrove, a native of nearby El Cajon, California, was making his second start for the Padres after being acquired by the club in an offseason trade with the Pirates.
He said in a postgame interview with Balli Sports that it was his first no-hitter.
“It’s terrible to be able to be in a Padres uniform, and to be the first for this franchise, I felt it is incredible,” he said.
Padres manager Jayce Tingler was relieved of warming up behind Musgrove if there was any need in the final three innings, but Musgrove decided to ride with him, easing his pitch count.
“He was very skilled,” Tingler told reporters.
On September 13, 2020, the Alec Mills gem for the Cubs vs. Brewers in Milwaukee was the last no-hitter in the Majors. Mills’ catch that day was Victor Caratini, who was also behind the plate for Musgrove’s number. No. Caratini came to the Padres with U Darvish last December in one of the many big off-trade trades done by San Diego team president AJ Preller.
Musgowe was quick to reply, “Vic was working” when he was asked what was working for him in the game. Musgrove noted Carischini’s ability to work with Darish’s wide array of pitches.
“I don’t think about the last three innings I threw a single fastball. I think we were just blanking some cutters with sliders and curbballs to get to the one-out pitch, but Vick Just did an incredible job. Knowing that it seemed like he knew when they were swinging the first pitch and he knew when they were taking over, “Musarov said.
“Victor’s just so reliable back there,” Tingler said. “You start to get to the point you don’t really want to talk to Joe, so we’re having some communication with Victor and (Caratini was saying) ‘He’s good, he’s good, stuff still. Good, keep growing. ‘ So she was our third party late in the game. “
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