ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Edwin Jackson overcame a wild start to throw the fourth no-hitter of the season, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.
Jackson threw a whopping 149 pitches — a major-league high — and walked eight, all but one in the first three innings, in the second no-hitter in Diamondbacks history.
“I didn’t pay attention to the pitch count at the end; I didn’t want it on my mind,” Jackson said.
This is the third time the Rays have been no-hit since last July, including Dallas Braden’s perfect game at Oakland on May 9. Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez no-hit Atlanta on April 17, and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay tossed a perfect game at Florida on May 29.
Jason Bartlett grounded to shortstop Stephen Drew for the final out, and Jackson’s teammates mobbed him on the field after the improbable feat.
“It was definitely a great feeling, especially after those first few innings,” Jackson said.
Adam LaRoche homered off Jeff Niemann (6-2) with one out in the second, all the support Jackson would need.
Jackson (5-6) walked the bases loaded in the third but was bailed out by a stellar play by third baseman Mark Reynolds, who spun around to throw out Ben Zobrist at home plate. Hank Blalock then grounded out to end the inning.
