Marlins’ Edinson Volquez pitches first no-hitter of season in 3-0 victory over Diamondbacks

Miami Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez pitched the first no-hitter of the season in the majors and the first of his career during a 3-0 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks today in Miami.

Volquez (2-7), a 33-year-old from the Dominican Republic in his 13th major league season, struck out 10 batters, walked two and faced the minimum 27 batters over nine innings on 98 pitches, 65 for strikes.

The last no-hitter in the majors was thrown by Jake Arrieta on April 21, 2016, in the Chicago Cubs’ 16-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

It was the sixth no-hitter in Marlins franchise history. Henderson Alvarez threw the team’s last no-hitter on Sept. 29, 2013, in a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

This was the first time Arizona was no-hit since the Marlins’ Anibal Sanchez threw one on Sept. 6, 2006, in a 2-0 defeat of the Diamondbacks.

Volquez was nearly knocked out of the game after only three pitches, when he collided with Diamondbacks leadoff hitter Rey Fuentes and rolled his ankle while covering first base.

“I thought I broke my ankle,” Volquez kidded after the game.

Tied for the major league lead in losses going into Saturday, he was nearly perfect. The two batters he walked were erased on double plays.

He struck out the side in the ninth inning to complete his masterful performance.

The first no-hitter in Marlins history was thrown by Al Leiter during an 11-0 rout of the Colorado Rockies on May 11, 1996. Kevin Brown threw the Marlins’ second no-hitter during a 9-0 defeat of the San Francisco Giants on June 10, 1997.

The other no-hitter by a Marlins pitcher came on May 12, 2001, by A.J. Burnett during a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.