Typically, a no hitter is a dominant performance by a pitcher who is on his game. For former Miami Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who threw a no hitter on this day in 2001, it was a matter of being effectively wild.
No hitters are typically a masterful pitching performance. There may be a few scattered walks, but it is rare for a pitcher to be truly wild and still fire a no hitter. Likewise, a no hitter with more baserunners than strikeouts is also incredibly rare.
Yet, that is exactly what A.J. Burnett did on this day for the Miami Marlins. Burnett, who was in his second season, had already developed a reputation for his live arm and questionable control, having walked 69 batters in his first 124 innings. Both the control issues and strikeout potential were on display against the Padres.
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Making his second start of the season, Burnett threw 129 pitches in the no hitter while only having three 1-2-3 innings in the game. With the nine walks and hit batter, every member of the Padres starting lineup, excluding starting pitcher Wascar Serrano, reached base safely. The Padres also stole three bases in the game. So how, exactly, did Burnett manage to keep the Padres off the board in the 3-0 victory?
While Burnett was able to strike out seven Padres, he was fortunate to limit the damage. The Marlins turned one double play behind him, but Burnett was able to preserve the shutout due to the Padres going 0-9 with runners in scoring position. In the second, with runners on first and third, Burnett got the double play he needed; and in the third, with runners on second and third with one out, Burnett struck out Ryan Klesko and got Dave Magadan to fly out to end the threat.
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It is said that any no hitter requires a bit of luck, and that was definitely the case with Burnett’s no hitter against the Padres.