Seth Udinski, FISM News
A Major League Baseball record was broken in a special way on Saturday, thanks to a dominating pitching performance by the youngster Tyler Gilbert of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The rookie left-hander threw a no-hitter in the first start of his career, breaking a record for the most no-hitters thrown in a single season in the Major Leagues. The previous number was eight, set all the way back in 1884. Gilbert’s gem was the ninth no-hitter thrown of the 2021 MLB season.
The fact that it was the rookie’s first start on the bump made the milestone even more special. Gilbert is an older rookie at 27 years old and was called up from the minors at the beginning of August. He was outstanding all day, tossing five strikeouts with only three walks as the Diamondbacks defeated their division rival San Diego Padres 7-0 before a delighted crowd at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gilbert’s father was in the stands for his son’s first start, getting the chance to see the historic moment live. Cameras caught his dad’s emotional reaction to watching the Diamondbacks record the final out:
Tyler Gilbert's dad had an amazing reaction to his son's no-hitter. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/11MGrvvLIF
— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2021
Only three other pitchers in MLB history have thrown a no-hitter in their first start. Gilbert is the first to do so in almost 70 years. The last time a pitcher accomplished this feat was when Bobo Hollman did so in May of 1953 for the St. Louis Browns (who would later become the Baltimore Orioles). Hollman no-hit the Philadelphia Athletics.
Gilbert’s no-hitter has been one of the few highlights in an otherwise dismal season for the D-Backs. They would lose Sunday’s contest against the Padres 8-2 to drop to 38-81 on the season.