Arizona Diamondbacks: Madison Bumgarner and the no hitter that was not

It was bound to happen. Someone was going to throw a no hitter in the league mandated seven inning doubleheaders that would not count, because Rob Manfred simply does not like baseball. That happened on Sunday when Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner shut down the Braves on Sunday afternoon.

Bumgarner turned back the clock, looking like the ace he was during his time with the Giants. The Braves managed just one baserunner, coming when Nick Ahmed made a throwing error on a grounder from Ozzie Albies, the first batter of the second inning. Bumgarner still faced the minimum 21 batters as Travis d’Arnaud grounded into a double play.

Arizona Diamondbacks Madison Bumgarner deserves his place in history

This is the first no hitter under the new rules governing doubleheaders. It is also technically the third no hitter of the season, as Bumgarner joins Carlos Rodon and Joe Musgrove as pitchers who have completely shut down the opposition this year.

However, unlike Rodon and Musgrove, Bumgarner will not receive recognition for his feat. According to rule changes made back in 1991 by then commissioner Fay Vincent, a no hitter is defined as a game that lasts a minimum of nine innings and does not result in any hits. That removed over 50 no hitters from the record books.

Bumgarner was victimized not only by that definition, but by Manfred’s attempts to ruin the game as much as possible. While there was no guarantee that he would have been able to notch six more outs without allowing a hit, Bumgarner can only pitch for as long as the game is mandated for.

For the Diamondbacks, this was the type of outing they needed to see from their presumed ace. Bumgarner had posted a combined 2-6 record with a 7.16 ERA and a 1.541 WHiP in his 60.1 innings for Arizona heading into Sunday. One game is obviously not a cure-all for whatever ails Bumgarner, but seven innings without a hit or a walk and seven strikeouts is a step in the right direction.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw the first no hitter in a seven inning doubleheader. Too bad it will not count in the record books.