Dodgers' Josh Beckett Throws 21st No-Hitter in Franchise History

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Josh Beckett threw his first career no-hitter in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The no-hitter was the 21st in Dodgers franchise history, and the first since Hideo Nomo's no-no at Colorado on Sept. 17, 1996, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The 34-year-old Beckett was masterful, walking only three while striking out six batters, including Phillies second baseman Chase Utley on Beckett's final and career-high 128th pitch of the game. The veteran right-hander retired 23 consecutive batters at one point, between a second-inning walk of outfielder Marlon Byrd and a two-out, ninth-inning walk of shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Beckett followed the walk to Rollins by fanning Utley on two consecutive looking strikes, after running the count to 3-1.

After the final strike, Beckett held his right arm up in triumph as he started walking toward home plate. Beckett's no-hitter was the first of the 2014 season and the second to ever occur at Citizens Bank Park. The first was Roy Halladay's postseason no-hitter on Oct. 6, 2010 against the Cincinnati Reds. 

Prior to Sunday, Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was closest to throwing a no-hitter this season, as he lost a bid against the Boston Red Sox with just one out remaining in his May 9 outing.

The Dodgers' 21 no-hitters are the most by any MLB franchise and include four from the great Sandy Koufax, who owns the only perfect game in team history, per MLB.com.

The win improved Beckett's record to 3-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to an impressive 2.43. The right-hander—long known for his inconsistency from year-to-year—has been far better than expected in the wake of a disappointing 2013 campaign that ended with a major surgical procedure to repair thoracic outlet syndrome.