A Wild No-Hitter for Burnett

SAN DIEGO — A.J. Burnett pitched an unlikely no-hitter Saturday night, overcoming a record nine walks to lead the Florida Marlins to a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.

The 24-year-old, in his first complete game in the majors, walked the most batters in a nine-inning, complete-game, no-hitter since 1900 and tied a franchise record for walks in a game.

Only Jim Maloney of the Cincinnati Reds had more walks in a complete-game no-hitter, 10 in a 10-inning game against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 19, 1965.

Burnett also hit a batter and had a wild pitch, throwing only 65 of 128 pitches for strikes.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander, 8-10 in his major league career, was making only his second start of the season and 22nd of his three-year major league career.

Burnett (1-1), who struck out seven, spent the first month of the season on an injury-rehabilitation assignment because of a stress fracture in his right foot.

“It’s an amazing feeling. Just to be able to throw one is awesome,” he said. “I never thought the second start back I’d throw a no-hitter.”

It was only his second complete game in 99 starts as a professional.

Alex Arias hit a fly to right starting the ninth and pinch-hitter Santiago Perez struck out.

Phil Nevin, another pinch-hitter, then popped to shortstop.

Catcher Charles Johnson ran out and hugged Burnett near home plate, and the rest of the Marlins mobbed the pitcher.

The closest the Padres came to a hit was on Arias’ grounder to the shortstop in the seventh. Gonzalez made a sliding, backhanded stop, and his throw was up the first-base line. Arias tried to hop over Derrek Lee’s tag, but Lee tagged Arias on the left foot.

An inning earlier, Bubba Trammell hit a grounder to the hole at second but Luis Castillo got to it and threw him out.

“I had a feeling a special thing was going to happen the way the defense [played] tonight,” Burnett said.

Burnett had a double at the plate in the second, giving him one more hit than he gave up. He started noticing his no-hit bid in the seventh.

“I knew after the seventh that I had a chance, but I didn’t want to throw too many pitches,” he said. “I felt good all night, and the closer it got the more confident I was.”

Al Leiter pitched the Marlins’ first no-hitter May 11, 1996, against the Colorado Rockies, and Kevin Brown--the Padres’ ace in 1998--no-hit the San Francisco Giants on June 10, 1997.

Burnett, coincidentally, came to the Marlins in the deal that sent Leiter to the New York Mets on Feb. 6, 1998.

Burnett’s gem was the second of the season. Hideo Nomo of the Boston Red Sox no-hit the Baltimore Orioles on April 4.

The Padres have been no-hit five times, twice at home. The previous was Sept. 11, 1991, a combined no-no by Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena of the Atlanta Braves.

Wascar Serrano lost in his major league debut, giving up three runs and six hits in seven innings.

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The No-Hit Parade

NO-HITTERS IN 2001

April 4--Hideo Nomo, Boston, at Baltimore, 3-0

May 12--A.J. Burnett, Florida, at San Diego, 3-0

MOST WALKS IN A NO-HITTER

10--Jim Maloney, Aug. 19, 1965, Cincinnati vs. Chicago (10)

9--A.J. Burnett, May 12, 2001, Florida at San Diego

8--Johnny Vander Meer, June 15, 1938, Cincinnati at Brooklyn

8--Cliff Chambers, May 6, 1951, Pittsburgh vs. Boston Braves

8--Dock Ellis, June 12, 1970, Pittsburgh at San Diego

8--Nolan Ryan, Sept. 28, 1974, Angels vs. Milwaukee

*

MARLIN NO-HITTERS

May 11, 1996--Al Leiter vs. Colorado, 11-0

June 10, 1997--Kevin Brown at San Francisco, 9-0

May 12, 2001--A.J. Burnett at San Diego, 3-0

*

NO-HITTERS VS. PADRES

June 12, 1970--Dock Ellis, Pittsburgh, 2-0

Sept. 2, 1972--Milt Pappas, Chicago, 8-0

Aug. 5, 1973--Phil Niekro, Atlanta, 9-0

Sept. 11, 1991--Kent Mercker (6 innings), Mark Wohlers (2) and Alejandro Pena (1), Atlanta, 1-0

May 12, 2001--A.J. Burnett, Florida, 3-0