The opener of the Mexico Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres was special in a couple of ways. First, it was the Dodgers’ first game in Monterrey, Mexico, since 1991. Second, and perhaps more importantly, four Dodger pitchers wound up completing the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.
Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler got the start on the mound for what was just his third career Major League outing. While Buehler had two encouraging starts under his belt, Friday he had everything going.
Buehler struck out four of the first six batters faced, issuing just one walk in his first two innings. He lost his control momentarily in the third, walking back-to-back hitters, but was able to escape the jam by getting Eric Hosmer to line into a double play to end the inning.
It was all dominance from there, as Buehler retired every hitter he faced from the fourth through sixth innings.
He was at 93 pitches after six innings though, and with his professional career-high of pitches being 94, it was an easy decision for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to remove him from the game at that point.
Left-hander Tony Cingrani was the first reliever tasked with keeping the no-hitter going, and despite walking two batters, he was able to pitch a hitless seventh inning.
Yimi Garcia was next in line in the eighth, and in just his second Major League appearance in the last two years, he looked as dominant as ever. Garcia struck out two in a perfect inning, touching 97 mph on the radar gun.
Adam Liberatore finished out the combined no-hitter, striking out two in a perfect ninth. The last out came on a strikeout of Franchy Cordero.
The biggest offensive highlight of the night for the Dodgers was in the top of the second inning when Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez slugged back-to-back home runs off Padres starter Joey Lucchesi.
Additionally, Buehler and Tim Locastro picked up their first career big league hits in the game. That was more than enough offense the Dodgers pitching staff needed on the evening.
¡Jonrones ligados! #LosDodgers pic.twitter.com/7dKmQ5fnLw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2018
