Phillies Pitcher Michael Lorenzen Hurls No Hitter

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Before a roaring south Philadelphia crowd ignited by last year's World Series appearance and gearing up for another deep playoff run, Phillies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen hurled the team's first no hitter in eight years, shutting down the Washington Nationals in a two hour showcase of dominance.

Lorenzen's masterpiece came in just his second start as a Phillie after being acquired hours before the MLB trade deadline from the flagging Detroit Tigers.

It took Lorenzen a career high 124 pitches, and he had to wade through a few patient Nationals hitters that worked four walks off of him, but when all was said and done, one of the most greatest pitching performances in recent Phillies history was completed with an unblemished zero beneath the "H" on the box score.

It was the first Phillies no hitter since Cole Hamels' last start as a Phillie in July 2015 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It's just the 13th time a Phillies pitcher has ever thrown a no hitter, and the 14th all told (including one combined no hitter featuring multiple pitchers in 2014).

The decision by manager Rob Thomson to let Lorenzen continue was surely not made lightly. A long reliever for years, Lorenzen had already eclipsed his career high for pitches thrown in a single season entering Wednesday night. His 1,694 pitches in 2023 comes as part of the most successful campaign of his career, but it's also putting him on track to throw far more than he ever has in his career.

The Phillies won 7-0 to improve to 63-51 and take sole possession of the first Wild Card spot. If they playoffs started today, they'd host the opening round of bedlam home at the Bank.

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