Josh Beckett Throws 1st Dodgers No-Hitter Since 1996
PHILADELPHIA (CBSLA.com) — Josh Beckett, who missed all but a handful of games in 2013, and who was a question-mark for a spot in the rotation this season, has thrown the 24th no-hitter in Dodgers history.
Beckett struck out six and walked three batters to become the first Dodger to throw a no-hitter since Hideo Nomo no-hit the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in 1996, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 on Sunday.
Beckett, 34, received plenty of run support from the linup, with Adrian Gonzalez doubling to right center to score Dee Gordon, to give the Dodgers the initial 1-0 lead.
Justin Turner followed with a solo homer to center field in the 2nd inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Rookie Erisbel Arruebarrena then knocked a single to right field, scoring Turner in the 6th inning.
Gonzalez wasn't done from the plate, singling to right in the 7th, to score Crawford. Gonzalez went 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs, raising his average to .277.
There has only been one no-hitter at Citizens Bank Park before, and that was thrown by Roy Halladay in the post-season.
The no-hitter is recorded as the first no-hitter of the 2014 season, and is also the first of Beckett's career.
The three-time all-star and 2003 World Series MVP completed the no-hitter in 128 pitches.
"It was unbelievable, especially coming back from the injury that he's come back from, it's unprecedented," fellow starter Dan Haren said.
Beckett had come into the ball game allowing two or fewer runs through five of his eight starts this season, raking 16th in ERA (2.89) among National League pitchers with 40.0 or more innings pitched.
Dee Gordon told reporters after the game that Beckett was joking around with the infielders throughout the later innings, taking a notable edge off the team.
"I was joking about it because I was waiting for them to get a hit," Beckett told reporters after the game. "You don't think at this point of your career that you're going to do that. I just don't feel that my stuff is good enough to do that. I'm probably as hard on myself as anybody."
In 2013, Beckett missed the majority of the season with a nerve condition that left him without feeling in the tips of his fingers — a condition that was considered possibly career-ending.
"That was a lot of fun," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told reporters. "He's been throwing well all year, and his breaking ball and change keep getting better."
JOSH BECKETT'S NO-HITTER PHOTO GALLERY, 5/25/14
