D-backs’ Madison Bumgarner throws 7-inning ‘no-hitter’ in win over Atlanta

Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitching was contagious during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Braves in Atlanta.

After D-backs starter Zac Gallen threw a complete-game one-hitter in the first matchup, Madison Bumgarner followed that up with a seven-inning “no-hitter” in a 7-0 Arizona win.

“It’s obviously a cool feeling,” Bumgarner said via Zoom postgame. “It’s a little different with it just being a seven-inning game. I’m definitely appreciative of what happened today. I feel very fortunate. Really just glad to back up last game with another good one.”

Despite only allowing one baserunner on a Nick Ahmed throwing error, the no-no won’t go down in the history books as an official no-hitter because the game was scheduled to only go seven innings.

MadBum throws the first unofficial no-hitter in a 7-inning doubleheader in MLB history 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/KveZIw8Ouf

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) April 25, 2021

Bumgarner retired the last 17 batters that he faced and is the first pitcher in MLB history to throw seven hitless innings since the league started scheduling seven-inning games.

“Seven innings, nine innings — it’s a no-hitter,” manager Torey Lovullo said via Zoom postgame. “I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life, as I’m sure will everybody that was inside the dugout and all the fans that were watching. You talk about doing it at any level at any time, it’s all relative. You know what the task is. You know who you’re playing against. These are major league hitters, very good major league hitters that he shut down for seven complete innings and was basically perfect for seven complete innings.

“It’s a no-hitter for me. … For what’s going on in that room right now, for the special feeling Madison gave us today — it’s a no-hitter.”

The lefty also had seven strikeouts and no walks over 98 pitches thrown (73 strikes) as Arizona swept the doubleheader and won the three-game series.

The duo combined to only allow one hit across the two seven-inning games and the back-to-back complete-game shutouts are also the first in D-backs history.

“What an unbelievable day,” Lovullo said. “Zac Gallen goes out there and executes and throws a one-hitter.

“And then Bum follows up with basically a perfect game outside of a defensive miscue. It was an unbelievable effort by him and facing the minimum amount of hitters. … It was a special day for him — all the hard work, all the effort that he’s been putting into this day over the past several weeks, maybe longer, makes this even more special because we all know what he’s been walking through the first couple of starts this year.”

The Diamondbacks gave their starting pitcher a boost by jumping out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Outfielder Pavin Smith led off the game with a solo homer.

The first career leadoff homer for Pavin! @Scottslawn x #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/xcRFpeAk1n

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 25, 2021

After Wyatt Mathisen brought in a run on a fielder’s choice, David Peralta hit a two-run homer and a Josh Rojas RBI-double rounded out the 5-run opening frame.

THE FREIGHT TRAIN MAKES IT 4-0!!!@Dbacks | #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/ogq3g1n64e

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) April 25, 2021

Eduardo Escobar tacked on another run in the third via a solo home run to give the D-backs a 6-0 lead.

Arizona added another insurance run in the sixth thanks to a Rojas RBI-single.

The Diamondbacks (11-11) finished the 10-game road trip having won each series and going 7-3 overall.

“When I looked at [this road trip] at the beginning of the year, I thought it would be a little bit rugged — we were still chasing our identity at that point in time in the season,” Lovullo said. “But I think we’re defining who we are. We’re a smart, tough baseball team that has a bend-don’t-break mentality that goes out there and fights and executes, claws for every inch they possibly can. This was a good road trip for this ball club as we are finding out exactly who we are.”

Should seven-inning no-hitters officially count in the MLB record book?

“It’s a no-hitter,” D-backs catcher Carson Kelly said via Zoom postgame. “It’s still a no-hitter because today we came in knowing that it was a seven-inning game. That’s what we were told: it was a seven-inning game and we gave up no hits in seven innings. That’s how I’m going to look at it.

“Whether the league says unofficial or whatever it is, I believe it was a no-hitter. We were told we were playing seven and he took care of business.”

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks get an off day before returning home to play the San Diego Padres (12-11) on Tuesday, with a pitching matchup of Merrill Kelly vs. Chris Paddack.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Follow @jwa1994