Padres’ Dylan Cease throws second no-hitter in team history vs. Nationals

WASHINGTON — Dylan Cease threw the second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history on Thursday afternoon, allowing the Washington Nationals three walks and nothing else in a 3-0 shutout at Nationals Park.

Cease joined teammate Joe Musgrove as the only Padres to achieve the feat. Musgrove no-hit the Texas Rangers on April 9, 2021, in just his second start with San Diego.

“Man,” Cease said postgame. “Unbelievable. It’s crazy.”

In his 22nd start with the team, Cease endured a 76-minute rain delay that began in the top of the first, after Nationals starter Patrick Corbin threw his 23rd pitch. Soon after play resumed, Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim hit a bases-clearing single off Corbin.

Cease took the early lead and ran away with it. Coming off consecutive scoreless outings, the right-hander faced the minimum through five innings. He received a couple of notable assists from his defense, including in the bottom of the first when catcher Luis Campusano fired a strike to second base to prevent a stolen base.

In the bottom of the fifth, Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts bobbled an over-the-shoulder fly ball in shallow center and saw the ball pop out of his glove. Center fielder Jackson Merrill, who had been backing up the play, alertly corralled the hot potato to secure the out.

Cease finished with nine strikeouts, a career-high three pitches of at least 100.0 mph and 114 total pitches, a new personal record by one pitch.

His previous longest no-hit bid came with the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 3, 2022, when current teammate Luis Arraez singled with two outs in the ninth.

This story will be updated.