Ex-Giant Bumgarner throws a 7-inning no-hitter for Arizona
Madison Bumgarner definitely had no-hit stuff, even if the Major League Baseball record book said he didn’t.
Bumgarner threw a seven-inning no-hitter, an achievement that won’t officially count but completed a dominant day of Arizona Diamondbacks pitching for a 7-0 victory over the host Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader sweep Sunday.
Could he have kept the magic going for a nine-inning game?
“I don’t know. There’s too many variables,” said Bumgarner, a three-time World Series champion with the Giants. “If it worked for seven, it’s hard to imagine it not working for two more.”
After Zac Gallen tossed a one-hitter to win the opener 5-0, Bumgarner did even better.
He struck out seven and the only Braves batter who reached base against him came on shortstop Nick Ahmed’s throwing error in the second inning.
Bumgarner casually shook hands with catcher Carson Kelly after Marcell Ozuna lined out to end it. Then the rest of the Diamondbacks joined in and the celebration livened up around the mound.
“I like to keep it pretty low-key,” the lefty said. “They definitely didn’t. That’s fine and I appreciate that, too. It’s pretty special for all of us and like I said, I’m just blessed and fortunate to be able to do that and be a part of this.”
Bumgarner’s gem won’t go into the official list of no-hitters. MLB’s eight-man committee on statistical accuracy decided in 1991 that a no-hitter was a game of nine or more innings that ended with no hits.
Other pitchers had come close since Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB switched to seven-inning doubleheaders last year during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It feels good. I just want to say two things before I go celebrate with the guys,” Bumgarner said on a TV interview after the game. “I want to thank these shadows in Atlanta. They helped me out a good bit. That was awesome. And I want to thank Rob Manfred for making these seven-inning games.”
Atlanta’s only hit on the afternoon was by Freddie Freeman, who lined a clean single off Gallen with one out in the sixth of the opener.
Bumgarner and Gallen, however, are officially credited with shutouts. This made Arizona the first team to throw a pair of complete-game shutouts in a doubleheader since Boston’s Reggie Cleveland and Don Aase at Toronto on Sept. 5, 1977.
Bumgarner (2-2) struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. to begin the seventh, then retired Freeman on a popup. Ozuna lined an easy fly to right fielder Josh Rojas for the final out.
The 31-year-old Bumgarner retired the last 17 batters after Ozzie Albies reached on Ahmed’s error leading off the second.
Making his 300th career start, Bumgarner has won his last two starts with a 0.75 ERA. He posted an 11.19 ERA in his first three starts.
Bumgarner likes to swing the bat, and he got to the plate before throwing a pitch as the Diamondbacks scored five runs in the first off Drew Smyly (0-1). Pavin Smith and David Peralta homered during the burst.