Felton native Gilbert reflects on no-hitter in his first start
Babe Ruth called his historic shot, and Felton native Tyler Gilbert kind of called his history-making outing, too.
In the days leading up to his first major league start, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rookie pitcher was asked if there was anyone in particular in the San Diego Padres’ star-studded lineup that he’d like to shut down.
“No,” Gilbert replied. “I’d like to shut down everyone, not anyone particular.”
That’s just what Gilbert did on Saturday night, becoming the first pitcher in 68 years to pitch a no-hitter in his first start, blanking the Padres 7-0.
“Crazy,” said Gilbert, a San Lorenzo Valley High alum who also shined at Santa Barbara City College and USC. “It’s not going to hit me for probably another day. I don’t know what just happened.”
The last player to pitch a no-hitter in his first start was Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns on May 6, 1953. With that exception, nobody else had done it in the modern era, which began in 1901.
Gilbert’s no-no was the record-tying eighth no-hitter thrown in MLB this season, matching a mark set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was allowed.
Gilbert, a 27-year-old lefthander, was hardly perfect. He walked three batters, But he finished strong, opening the ninth with two of his five strikeouts.
When Tommy Pham lined out to center fielder Ketel Marte, the Arizona players threw their gloves in the air and rushed the mound, mobbing the surprising hero who spent six seasons in the minors and was selected in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft last winter.
Gilbert threw 102 pitches, including 64 strikes. He rarely delivered his fastball above 90 mph, but he effectively peppered the Padres with breaking pitches and leaned on his defense, which bailed him out on several hard-hit balls.
Pavin Smith caught a liner from Adam Frazier and then stepped on first to double off Pham in the fourth. There was a line drive snagged by Gilbert off Eric Hosmer to end the fifth. Third baseman Drew Ellis made a diving catch in the seventh. David Peralta made a leaping grab at the wall on Austin Nola’s long fly ball in the eighth.
Gilbert needed just three pitches to get through the eighth, setting up a dramatic ninth. Marte caught the sinking line drive for the final out while running in from center field.
“I tried to tune out as much as I could,” Gilbert said. “But that last inning, I heard everything.”
Among those in attendance were Gilbert’s family members. They were also on hand for his debut in relief on Aug. 3.
It was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season for the Diamondbacks, whose 38-80 record is the worst in the majors. It’s the third nohitter in franchise history — Randy Johnson (2004) and Edwin Jackson (2010) — and the first at home.
Gilbert had never pitched so much as a complete game in pro ball. He opened this season with Triple-A Reno after the 2020 minor-league season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent part of the quarantine working as an electrician with his father, Greg.
“It’s what the game of baseball is all about,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “As long as you have a uniform, as long as you give the right effort, anything is possible.”
Following his promotion to the majors on Aug. 3, Gilbert made three relief appearances — two against San Francisco in Phoenix and one in San Diego last Saturday.
Gilbert said those relief appearances helped reduce his nerves in his first start.
In 12 2/3 innings this season, he has allowed just two hits and one unearned run.