WASHINGTON — Dylan Cease pitched the second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history, a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday that completed a three-game sweep.
After falling one out short of a no-hitter two years ago when he gave up a single to current teammate Luis Arráez, Cease retired Ildemaro Vargas and Jacob Young on a groundouts for the first two outs of the ninth, then got CJ Abrams to hit a flyout to right on a 1-0 slider.
Cease (10-8) struck out nine and walked three in the 28-year-old right-hander’s third complete game in 145 big league starts. He threw a career-high 114 pitches in a game that included a 1-hour, 16-minute rain delay in the first inning.
Joe Musgrove pitched the Padres’ first no-hitter against Texas on April 9, 2021. Houston’s Ronel Blanco threw the only other no-hitter this season, against Toronto on April 1.
Cease was within one out of a no-hitter for the Chicago White Sox against Minnesota on Sept. 3, 2022, when Arráez lined a single to right-center on a 1-1 slider over the middle of the strike zone.
The closest Washington came to a hit was when Juan Yepez lofted a fly to shallow center in the fifth inning. The ball popped out of second baseman Xander Bogaerts’ glove, but center fielder Jackson Merrill was there to snare the ball before it hit the ground.
Bogaerts also bobbled a ball after making a diving stop of Keibert Ruiz’s grounder with one out in the eighth but recovered in time to throw out the slow-footed catcher at first.
Cease threw 60 sliders against the Nationals along with 39 fastballs averaging 98.3 mph — 1.4 mph above his season average — and 10 knuckle-curves.
His previous complete games also were shutouts: a seven-inning three-hitter against Detroit on April 29, 2021, and a win over the Twins.
Cease allowed only three baserunners. Lane Thomas walked with one out in the first inning and was caught stealing, then reached on another walk in the fourth but was erased on Jesse Winker’s double-play grounder. Abrams walked leading off the seventh and was stranded at second base.
Washington was no-hit for the second straight season. Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen achieved the feat last Aug. 9.
San Diego has won five in a row and earned its third series sweep of the season and first on the road. The Padres swept Oakland and Washington at home last month.
Washington was swept for the sixth time this season and finished 0-6 against San Diego. It was the first time the Padres went undefeated against the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise since both teams joined the National League in 1969.
San Diego loaded the bases in the first with a single and two walks against Patrick Corbin (2-10) before the delay while Ha-Seong Kim was batting, When the game resumed, Kim worked a full count before poking a single to left-center that scored all three runners.
UP NEXT
Padres: Open a series Friday at Baltimore.
Nationals: LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-8, 4.20 ERA), whose two-inning outing Saturday against Cincinnati was his shortest start of the season, starts in a three-game series at St. Louis.
On Sunday afternoon, Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres made history by throwing a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals. Cease’s dominant performance on the mound left the Nationals hitters baffled and unable to record a single hit throughout the entire game.
Cease, who was acquired by the Padres in a trade earlier this season, has been a key addition to the team’s pitching rotation. The young right-hander has shown flashes of brilliance in his previous starts, but his no-hitter against the Nationals solidified his place as a rising star in the league.
Throughout the game, Cease displayed impeccable command of his pitches, mixing in a devastating fastball with sharp breaking balls to keep the Nationals hitters off balance. His ability to locate his pitches with precision and consistently hit his spots allowed him to keep the Nationals’ potent lineup at bay.
Cease’s no-hitter was not only a testament to his individual talent but also a reflection of the Padres’ strong overall performance as a team. The defense behind Cease made several key plays to preserve the no-hitter, including a diving catch in the outfield and a spectacular diving stop by the third baseman to rob a hit.
After the game, Cease credited his teammates for their support and emphasized the importance of staying focused and executing pitches throughout the game. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to make history and thanked the fans for their unwavering support.
The Padres’ victory over the Nationals was a memorable moment for both Cease and the team as a whole. Cease’s no-hitter will go down in history as one of the most impressive pitching performances in recent memory, solidifying his place as a rising star in the league. As the Padres continue their push for a playoff spot, Cease’s dominant performance will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration for the team moving forward.