Padres' Dylan Cease tosses no-hitter two years after now-teammate ended historic bid

The former AL Cy Young runner-up allowed three walks and picked up nine strikeouts while throwing 114 pitches. Cease was at 94 pitches through seven innings, and San Diego manager Mike Shildt admitted following the win that he originally planned to take the ace out of the contest at that time.

Thursday's masterpiece continued what has been an unreal run for the 28-year-old over his last three starts.

Cease's no-hitter didn't come without its close calls, and the game almost didn't even happen.

The contest went into a rain delay at 12:14 p.m. ET in the top of the first, before the former sixth-round pick had thrown a pitch. The action resumed after a 76-minute pause, and the Friars quickly scored all three of their runs.

Then in the bottom of the fifth, Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez hit a blooper into centerfield that looked destined for trouble. Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts got turned around while chasing the ball, deflected it into the air and rookie All-Star centerfielder Jackson Merrill was there to make the catch.

The Padres went 53 years without a no-hitter before Joe Musgrove made history against the Texas Rangers on April 9, 2021. Now, just three years later, Musgrove, Arraez and Co. were there on the diamond after Thursday's game to congratulate Cease on his gem.