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Philadelphia • Josh Beckett started talking about throwing a no-hitter in the fourth inning, ignoring traditional superstitions and making his catcher nervous in the process.
The big, folksy Texan had stuff that was too dominant to worry about a jinx.
Beckett pitched the first no-hitter of his stellar career and the first in the majors this season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 on Sunday.
A year ago, Beckett was nearly derailed by a nerve condition that left him unable to feel his fingertips. On this day, he was downright nasty.
"I was joking about it because I was waiting for them to get a hit," Beckett said. "You don't think at this point of your career that you're going to do that. I just don't feel that my stuff is good enough to do that. I'm probably as hard on myself as anybody."
Beckett struck out six, walked three and didn't come close to allowing a hit against a lineup that included two former NL MVPs and four former All-Stars. Beckett has credentials, too: A three-time All-Star, he also was a World Series MVP.
The 34-year-old right-hander threw 128 pitches. He fanned five-time All-Star Chase Utley on a called strike three to end the game.
"It's very special. It takes really good defense behind you, a little luck sprinkled in and making pitches when you need to make pitches," Beckett said. "That's a good-hitting team you don't take lightly."
Beckett mixed a sharp fastball with a slow, deceptive curve that kept hitters off-balance while retiring 23 straight batters at one stretch. He pitched the Dodgers' first no-hitter since Hideo Nomo beat Colorado at Coors Field in 1996, and the 21st in franchise history. Sandy Koufax threw four.
"I knew he had something special going early," catcher Drew Butera said. "I was a nervous wreck from the fourth inning on when he said he had never taken one this far. He's a guy who is going to keep it loose and he didn't want anybody to be thinking about it."
Beckett pitched the first no-hitter in the majors since Miami's Henderson Alvarez did it against Detroit on the final day of the 2013 season.
Dodgers no-hitters
Los Angeles
May 25, 2014, Josh Beckett at Philadelphia, 6-0
Sept. 17, 1996, Hideo Nomo at Colorado, 9-0
July 14, 1995, Ramon Martinez vs. Florida, 7-0
August 17, 1992, Kevin Gross vs. San Francisco, 2-0
June 29, 1990, Fernando Valenzuela vs. St. Louis, 6-0
June 27, 1980, Jerry Reuss at San Francisco, 8-0
July 20, 1970, Bill Singer vs. Philadelphia, 5-0
Sept. 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax vs. Chicago, 1-0-y
June 4, 1964, Sandy Koufax at Philadelphia, 3-0
May 11, 1963, Sandy Koufax vs. San Francisco, 8-0
June 30, 1962, Sandy Koufax vs. New York, 5-0
Brooklyn
Sept. 25, 1956, Sal Maglie vs. Philadelphia, 5-0
May 12, 1956, Carl Erskine vs. New York, 3-0
June 19, 1952, Carl Erskine vs. Chicago, 5-0
Sept. 9, 1948, Rex Barney at New York, 2-0
April 23, 1946, Edward Head vs. Boston, 5-0
April 30, 1940, Tex Carleton at Cincinnati, 3-0
Sept. 13, 1925 (1st game), Dazzy Vance vs. Philadelphia, 10-1
Sept. 5, 1908 (2nd game), Nap Rucker vs. Boston, 6-0
July 20, 1906, Malcolm Eason at St. Louis, 2-0
June 22, 1891, Thomas Lovett vs. New York, 4-0
y-perfect game Dodgers 6, Phillies 0
Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
D.Gordon 2b 4 2 1 0 1 0 .293
C.Crawford lf 5 1 0 0 0 0 .259
Puig rf 5 1 2 0 0 1 .349
Ad.Gonzalez 1b 4 0 3 2 0 0 .277
Ethier cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271
Ju.Turner 3b 4 2 2 1 0 1 .239
Butera c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .220
Arruebarrena ss 4 0 2 1 0 0 .300
Beckett p 3 0 0 0 0 1 .111
Totals 37 6 11 4 1 4
Philadelphia AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Revere cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .281
Rollins ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 .269
Utley 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .328
Howard 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .224
Byrd rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .289
D.Brown lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .202
Nieves c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .289
C.Hernandez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .148
A.Burnett p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .250
Manship p 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
a-Gwynn Jr. ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .194
Totals 27 0 0 0 3 6
Los Angeles 110 001 300 6 11 0
Philadelphia 000 000 000 0 0 1
a-popped out for Manship in the 9th.
EHoward (3).
LOBLos Angeles 6, Philadelphia 3. 2BPuig (12), Ad.Gonzalez (12). HRJu.Turner (2), off A.Burnett. RBIsAd.Gonzalez 2 (36), Ju.Turner (8), Arruebarrena (1). SBD.Gordon 2 (30), Puig (5). SBeckett.
Runners left in scoring positionLos Angeles 4 (Ethier, C.Crawford, Ad.Gonzalez, Beckett) Philadelphia 1 (Utley). RISPLos Angeles 4 for 13 Philadelphia 0 for 1.
Runners moved upC.Crawford, Butera. GIDPEthier.
DPPhiladelphia 1 (Rollins, Utley, Howard).
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Beckett W, 3-1 9 0 0 0 3 6 2.43
Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO ERA
A.Burnett L, 3-4 7 11 6 4 1 3 3.51
Manship 2 0 0 0 0 1 6.43
UmpiresHome, Brian Knight First, Fieldin Culbreth Second, Manny Gonzalez Third, Seth Buckminster.
T2:37. A36,141 (43,651).