Arizona Diamondbacks: Tyler Gilbert joins Ted, Bumpus, and Bobo in no-hitter club

Tyler Gilbert was not supposed to be here. The Arizona Diamondbacks rookie was making his first major league start, having been converted back to a starting role in the minors this season. As he had fired all of 3.2 innings before Saturday’s outing, and had not thrown more than 32 pitches in any of his appearances with the Diamondbacks, there was no reason to expect that he would pitch deep into the game.

Instead, in a season full of amazing pitching performances, Gilbert carved his name into the record books. He fired a no-hitter, becoming the fourth pitcher in MLB history to do so in his first major league start. With that outing, he joins Theodore Breitenstein (1891), Bumpus Jones (1892), and Bobo Holloman (1953) in that group.

Tyler Gilbert gives Arizona Diamondbacks unexpected boost

The Diamondbacks had nothing to lose by giving him the ball. Gilbert had fared well in Triple-A this season, posting a 3.44 ERA and a 1.242 WHiP over his 52.2 innings. He had also begun his major league career by allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks, striking out five.

Arizona Diamondbacks

One could argue that he was dealing with nerves to begin the game, as he walked leadoff hitter Tommy Pham. However, he was able to get a double play ball from the next batter. Arizona plated five runs in the bottom of the inning, allowing Gilbert to relax and just throw strikes.

He did just that. While Pham drew walks in his next two plate appearances, Gilbert was able to get Adam Frazier to line into a double play in the fourth, and stranded Pham in the seventh. He ended the game by striking out the first two batters of the ninth, bringing Pham up again. This time, he lined out to center, preserving the no-hitter.

Overall, Gilbert struck out five batters with just those three walks as he faced one batter above the minimum. No one on the Padres advanced beyond first base, and he was able to generate relatively weak contact all game. Frazier may have had the two best hit balls of the night, but they found Arizona infielders for outs.

For Gilbert, this is a night to remember. No matter where his career goes after tonight, he will always have this moment. His name has been carved into baseball history, right along side Ted, Bumpus, and Bobo as the only pitchers in the expansive history of the major leagues to fire a no-hitter in their first start.

Tyler Gilbert was getting a chance to show the Arizona Diamondbacks what he could do. His first major league start turned out to be a historic occasion.