In addition to extending their winning streak to three games on Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers capped off a memorable night in Monterrey, Mexico, with a combined no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.
Walker Buehler, in just his third career Major League start, delivered six no-hit innings before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled him to comply with his innings limit for the season and because of a high pitch count.
While Buehler understandably would’ve preferred to go the distance, Roberts revealed that removing him was a much easier decision when compared to recent no-hit bids by Rich Hill and Ross Stripling.
Tony Cingrani and Yimi Garcia followed suit in the seventh and eighth innings with a pair of no-hit frames, setting the stage for Adam Liberatore to complete the combined no-hitter by successfully recording the final three outs.
Liberatore received the nod over closer Kenley Jansen, who was given the night off by Roberts after making appearances in the first three games to begin the month of May.
Liberatore’s mentality entering the ninth inning was reminiscent to a postseason game, as he didn’t want to be responsible for allowing the Padres’ first hit, via SportsNet LA:
“I didn’t want to be the guy that blew it, more than anything. I knew what was going on. I think before Buehler came out of the game, I knew what was going on. Tony got through it, Yimi got through it. I just wanted to go out there and give it my all every pitch. If I did blow it, I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I just laid that one in there.’ I was just trying to give it my best.”
Buehler, Cingrani, Garcia and Liberatore collectively combined for the Dodgers’ 23rd no-hitter in franchise history, and first since Clayton Kershaw accomplished the feat in 2014. It was the organization’s first combined no-hitter.
In what will be just their second game in Monterrey since 1991, the Dodgers can clinch the Mexico Series with a win against the Padres on Saturday.
