Hometown kid makes history for Padres
San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove could barely muster the willpower Friday night, so desperately needing to use the bathroom.
He drank 11 or 12 water bottles, and, man, never did a dugout urinal look so inviting.
Still, just like most ballplayers, the dude is superstitious.
And since he was pitching a no-hitter, he couldn't dare enter the nearby bathroom stall.
“‘I had to [pee] so bad in the third of fourth inning,'' Musgrove said, “but I just had to wait.''
Well, by the time Musgrove finally relieved himself, he had already made history.
Musgrove, born and raised in the San Diego area, became the first pitcher in Padres history to throw a no-hitter in their 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.
It was the first no-hitter in the 8,206 games played by the Padres, going back to April 8, 1969 when the expansion franchise played its inaugural game.
This was before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, or 350,000 fans descended upon Woodstock, or the release of "Abbey Road," the Beatles' last studio album.
Now, 52 years later, the Padres had their first no-hitter, thrown by a kid who grew up a Padres' fan, and was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Diego just three months ago.
“It feels incredible,'' Musgrove said. “This kid from Grossmont High School was the first one to throw a no-hitter in my own city.''
This is a family that had season tickets behind the right field wall. Musgrove remembers catching his first souvenir from a Padres player when outfielder Mark Kotsay tossed a ball to him. This is where he watched Jake Peavy, knowing it was cool to show emotion and be yourself, and taking Peavy's old No. 44 upon his arrival.
Now, on a gorgeous night in the heart of Texas, Musgrove carved a place that
will be remembered forever in Padres history.
Musgrove was only a hit batter away from throwing a perfect game, but plunked slugger Joey Gallo in the knee in the fourth inning.
Musgrove joked afterwards that it helped his pitch count, believing that Gallo likely would have obtained a hit off him, anyways, while still trying to figure out just want happened.
The way he figured it, he was probably going to go six innings, just like his first start of the season. Sure, he was throwing a no-hitter, but he was prepared to be pulled out in the seventh, or even the eighth. He just didn't realize his pitch count was so low.
“I was at peace,'' Musgrove said, “that I would go six or seven shutout innings.''
By the time the ninth inning rolled around, and he was at 100 pitches, he would have tackled Padres manager Jace Tingler if he tried to take him out.
“I wasn't coming out of that game,'' he said. “I was so locked in. I had no intention of coming out of the game.''
And, to be honest, Tingler had no intention of pulling him.
“He was just so freaking efficient,'' Tingler said. “It can't be any sweeter or any more special for him growing up in San Diego and for this being his team. “It's the perfect story written.'' Musgrove, who hadn't checked out his phone, or even telephoned his parents, still was in a daze afterwards. He marveled watching Lance Lynn of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday become the first pitcher of the season to throw a shutout.
Musgrove, who hates looking at the scoreboard, has a ritual of lining up nine pieces of bubblegum on a towel before every start. Well, as the innings kept evaporating, and the chewed gum he placed on the towel kept building up, he knew he was in for something special.
Musgrove, relying on his slider and breaking pitches, barely broke a sweat. He retired the final 16 batters he faced without the need for any type of defensive gem.
“Even when you know it's coming,'' Rangers manager Chris Woodward said, “this guy's got pretty elite breaking balls. A lot of our guys knew it was coming sometimes and couldn't even get a swing off.
“We ran into a buzz saw.'' Musgrove, 28, who says he never threw a no-hitter even in Little League, thanked everyone in a Padres uniform. He wasn't trying to be funny, but said it helped that the Padres' hitters were inept most of the night. He called catcher Victor Caratini a mad scientist, learning that he caught a no-hitter previously in his career.
Well, it was only back on Sept. 13, 2020, when Caratini caught Chicago Cubs pitcher Alec Mills' no-hitter.
So, the last two no-hitters pitched in baseball history, Caratini was behind the plate.
“I'm physically and mentally exhausted,'' Musgrove said.
“In a week or two, this will be old news. People only like what you do currently.''
Sorry, no matter what Musgrove does for the rest of his career, this will be remembered forever.
The hometown kid went where no Padres pitcher has ever gone before.
There have been 144 no-hitters thrown in baseball by 29 teams since the Padres were born.
Padres pitchers have had five no-hitters evaporate in the ninth inning.
Some of the greatest, including the likes of Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Greg Maddux, along with Randy Jones, Kevin Brown, Eric Show, David Wells and Peavy couldn't do it.
Finally, on the magical evening of April 9, 2021, the drought ended.
The Padres got their own no-hitter, with Caratini leaping into Musgrove's arms while the entire team congregated on the mound, jumping around and hugging Musgrove.
“I think a no-hitter, regardless of where you're playing,'' Musgrove said, “is really special. But it almost seems like this was meant to be.''