On Aug. 17, 1992, Kevin Gross threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in a 2-0 win for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adding a layer of intrigue to Gross’ historic performance at Dodger Stadium was it came on the night of his wife Tamara’s 27th birthday.
Gross flirted with a no-hitter in his start prior to accomplishing the feat by holding the Cincinnati Reds quiet into the fifth inning. He allowed two singles and three-run home run to dash any thoughts of that potentially being the memorable outing.
Gross’ no-hitter was the first of the 1992 MLB season and it helped the Dodgers avoid their first four-game sweep at home by the Giants in 69 years. His no-hitter was the 18th in Dodgers history and the franchise’s sixth against the Giants.
He was denied a perfect game by issuing two walks in the second inning and hitting Mark Leonard with a pitch in the ninth. Robby Thompson nearly had the Giants’ only hit of the night as his line drive forced Jose Offerman to break to his right for a catch at shortstop.
Gross at one point retired 19 batters in a row. The Dodgers scored runs in the second and fourth innings, on rookie Eric Karros’ home run and an RBI single from Henry Rodriguez.
That Gross pitched himself into Dodgers franchise history was not something most would have ever predicated. He took the mound against the Giants with a 5-12 record and 3.59 ERA in 25 games (21 starts) that season.
It was his second year with the Dodgers after signing a three-year, $6.4 million contract in December 1990. Gross was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the No. 11 pick in the secondary phase of the 1981 MLB Draft.
Prior to the no-hitter, Gross arguably was mot know for receiving a 10-game suspension after being caught using sandpaper while pitching for the Phillies.
In 15 seasons, Gross went 142-158 with a 4.11 ERA and 1,727 strikeouts in 2,487.2 innings pitched and spent time with the Phillies, Montreal Expos, Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels.
