One of the great things about sports is that the unexpected can happen right in front of your eyes.
How many times have you attended a game, thinking, "I hope something amazing happens today!" It's that hope which can set us up for disappointment...but the potential of witnessing a memorable moment trumps the fear of "wasting" your time and money on an otherwise insignificant game.
Throughout my lifetime, I wanted to attend a Major League Baseball no-hitter. It's an event that is so unassuming at the outset...just another baseball game. But as the zeroes pile up on the scoreboard, tension begins to mount. Each remaining out represents a step toward history. People acknowledge the potential feat...but thanks to superstition, do not talk about it. The 9th inning can bring goosebumps to both fans and players alike...as everyone wonders whether this particular pitcher, on this particular day, has what it takes to get the job done...
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It was an ordinary Friday night -- June 25th, 2010 -- the final day of my summer vacation excursion to Florida's Gulf Coast.
An unassuming summer Friday night at Tropicana Field
The Arizona Diamondbacks were taking on the Tampa Bay Rays at St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field, and there was little reason to suspect anything spectacular happening during this contest. The Diamondbacks were struggling mightily, with a 28-45 record on the season...while the Rays were showing early signs of being playoff contenders, sporting a 43-29 mark.
The pitching matchup was equally lopsided on-paper -- Edwin Jackson, a former Ray with a 4-6 record and substandard 5.05 ERA, was pitching for Arizona. Tampa Bay countered with Jeff Niemann, a former 1st round draft pick who seemed to be fulfilling his potential, entered the game with a 6-1 record and 2.84 ERA. The theme of this night, however, was to expect the unexpected.
The starting lineups
Arizona would get on the scoreboard first, receiving an offensive jolt from 1st baseman Adam LaRoche in the 2nd inning -- a line drive solo home run that barely cleared the fence in right field. With the Diamondbacks leading 1-0 early, the game was in the hands of the erratic Jackson.
Initially, it didn't even look as if the veteran right-hander would be around long enough to qualify for the win! Jackson walked 7 Rays' batters and uncorked a wild pitch during the first 3 innings...yet somehow, Tampa Bay was unable to scratch across a run. Even more importantly, the Rays were held hitless during that stretch...and Jackson was finally able to get into a groove.
Arizona pitcher Edwin Jackson couldn't fnd the plate early on
After throwing nearly 70 pitches during those 3 wild innings, Jackson became much more efficient...surrendering only a hit batsman during the middle innings, while striking out three. At the end of the 6th inning, it was still 1-0, Arizona...and a "0" still populated Tampa Bay's hits column.
From here, an interesting dilemma started to present itself. Through 6 innings, Edwin Jackson had not allowed a hit. However, he was over the 100-pitch mark. How long would Arizona manager A.J. Hinch stick with his starter? Would he give Jackson an opportunity to complete the 2nd no-hitter in Diamondbacks' history? The bullpen was already warming up during the 6th inning...just in case.
No hits through 6 innings...but would Jackson stick around?
As fans inside Tropicana Field sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch, Jackson emerged from the Arizona dugout, slowly making his walk to the pitcher's mound. From my seat on the 3rd base side of the upper deck, I felt a rush of adrenaline as I saw Jackson take his warmup pitches. Although I was rooting for the Rays on this particular night, loyalties can switch pretty quickly when history is involved...and I was nine outs away from witnessing my first no-hitter.
Jackson is still dealin' in the 7th
Jackson would retire the Rays in order in the 7th. With each recorded out, I would quietly pump my fist, while the rest of the Trop crowd groaned in disbelief. Jackson pitched for their team for three years. He was a part of the Rays' miracle American League pennant-winning team in 2008...yet he was also one of their most inconsistent pitchers. For every flash of brilliance, a whiff of disappointment would follow.
The Diamondbacks were held scoreless in the top of the 8th inning, keeping the score 1-0...and Jackson returned to the mound for the bottom half of the frame. Although he had 117 pitches under his belt already, and relief pitchers were still warming up down the left field line, it became clear that this game was Jackson's...until the no-hit bid was either a success or failure.
Tension mounts at the Trop
Once again, Jackson was racking up the outs in the 8th. Even after 1st baseman Carlos Pena reached on an error by D-backs' shortstop Stephen Drew...Pena's pinch-runner, Carl Crawford, was caught stealing! Only the 9th inning stood between Edwin Jackson and a historic night.
The pitch count is mounting...but it's not stopping Jackson
The top of the 9th inning only lasted seven minutes...yet to me, it felt like it was taking forever. My anticipation for Tampa Bay's at-bat was feverishly high. Prior to this evening, the closest I had ever come to seeing a no-hitter in-person was in 2003 -- ironically, in this very ballpark -- as Dewon Brazelton no-hit the Florida Marlins for 7 2/3 innings before allowing a double. Now that Jackson has already surpassed that mark...will he complete the feat?
Getting closer...
As Edwin Jackson made that familiar slow walk to the mound for the bottom of the 9th inning, most in the crowd of 18,918 began cheering...though it was not in appreciation of the Arizona hurler. Instead, it was to rally their Rays to overcome the game's 1-0 deficit...and continue their rise in the American League standings.
Batting first for Tampa Bay was center fielder B.J. Upton, who struck out looking. Designated hitter Hank Blalock then flew out to left field. Jackson was only one out away! Then, in an unintentional reminder of the wildness Jackson displayed in the early part of the game, the right-handed pitcher walked pinch hitter Willy Aybar. Shortstop Jason Bartlett was now the last obstacle between Jackson and his 1st career no-hitter.
Jackson takes a moment to compose himself in the 9th inning
Showing his rediscovered control, Jackson's first pitch to Bartlett was a called strike. During every pitch, I would take a picture and hold my breath. I could only imagine the nerves being felt by the Arizona players in the field. The second pitch to Bartlett was fouled away. It was now down to one strike. Everyone inside Tropicana Field stood, anticipating the next pitch. Jackson took the sign, came set, and delivered. Bartlett swings, and hits a chopper just to the right of the pitcher's mound. Shortstop Stephen Drew came charging in for the ball. Bartlett, with good speed, raced to first. Drew grabs the ball on the run and throws...and gets Bartlett by a step. It's now official...a no-hitter!
The final pitch...a chopper to short...
The Diamondbacks' players mobbed Jackson in celebration at the pitcher's mound. While many of the fans at the Trop fell silent, disappointed in their team's performance...some Rays' fans applauded Jackson's 149-pitch effort. As Jackson conducted an on-field interview with reporters, a teammate smeared his face with a shaving cream pie. The stinging in his eyes was undoubtedly worth it.
Celebration
In the 300-level of Tropicana Field, I stood and watched the celebration unfold, grinning from ear-to-ear. After roughly 150 MLB games attended, I finally got to witness my 1st no-hitter...under some of the most random of circumstances.
My 1st no-hitter...unlikely, to say the least
A post-game concert gave fans a chance to walk on the stadium's FieldTurf, so I happily took up the offer. I wandered from foul pole to foul pole, letting my mind absorb the evening's events as the music played. What started as an ordinary Friday...had turned into a night that I will never forget.
On the field after a strange -- and historic -- game
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