On May 4, 2018, Walker Buehler spearheaded the Los Angeles Dodgers in throwing a combined no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in the opener of the Mexico Series at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey.
The night was also monumental in that it was the first Major League game played in Mexico since 1999, and it was the first no-hitter in MLB history thrown outside of the United States or Canada along with being the first in a stadium that is not home to a Major League team.
The no-hitter was the 23rd in Dodgers franchise history but the first in which multiple pitchers contributed. Furthermore, it was just the 12th combined no-hitter in MLB history. For the Padres, it was their second time being on the wrong end of a combined no-hitter. The Atlanta Braves having accomplished as much on Sept. 11, 1991.
Making just his third start of the season and pitching under an innings limit, Buehler threw 93 pitches to get through six. He walked three and struck out eight.
Buehler was provided early run support thanks to Chris Taylor starting the game with a walk and going first to third base on a single. Matt Kemp’s blooper into shallow right field was lost in the dark, rainy sky and fell for an RBI single. Solo home runs by Taylor and Hernandez gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
Tony Cingrani was first to appear out of the bullpen, walking two himself before getting through the seventh inning. Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore then combined for four strikeouts over two clean innings to wrap up the Dodgers’ historic night.
While one might assume all players in the dugout were aware of the circumstances as the game was unfolding, Cody Bellinger later revealed that was not the case. Because players refrained from the discussing the no-hitter as it was in progress, some Dodgers weren’t aware of what had been accomplished until they were told in the clubhouse.
