What a wild evening at Citizens Bank Park. 

 

First, rookie Weston Wilson crushed a homer in his first major league at-bat, and then newly acquired starter Michael Lorenzen went on to toss a no-hitter in his first start in Philadelphia as the Phillies cruised to a 7-0 win over the Nationals on Wednesday night. 

 

Lorenzen whiffed five and threw a career-high 124 Pitches. The effort marked the 14th no-hitter in franchise history and only the second time a hurler tossed a no-hitter in his home debut since 1900. 

 

“Unbelievable, bro,” skipper Rob Thomson said during a clubhouse toast. “Welcome to Philadelphia, buddy.” 

 

Lorenzen retired Lane Thomas on a grounder to open the ninth and struck out Joey Meneses looking. The crowd of 30,406 erupted when Lorenzen retired Dominic Smith on a fly-ball to center. 

 

Lorenzen battled some command issues early in the contest and walked four while battling several deep counts. By the fourth inning he had already thrown 53 pitches. 

 

"Honestly, I was upset at myself for the first couple of innings, they were long innings, walking guys. And I knew I was just ruining my chances to go deep in this game," Lorenzen said. "Thankfully [Thomson] pulled me aside and asked how I was feeling. I said 'I feel good, it's nice and cool outside' ... just trying to buy some more innings, and he gave them to me. So hats off to him." 

 

Thomson told Lorenzen following the seventh inning that he was allowing him to throw 20 more pitches. His career-high prior to Wednesday was 107, but he hadn't reached that mark since 2015. He only needed 11 pitches to wiggle out of the eighth, leaving the door open to make history. 

 

The fans at Citizens Bank Park made their appreciation known as Lorenzen walked out to the mound to open the ninth. 

 

“As I’m walking out -- I’m telling you -- the fans going crazy, it’s hard not to get a little emotional,” Lorenzen said. “This is what I’ve worked for; this is a dream come true. I’m walking out for the ninth inning. I have no hits. I’m in a city like Philly, and these guys are going crazy. I can’t hear the PitchCom. The PitchCom is all the way up to the highest level. It got a little emotional before that ninth inning started. It gave my body that boost that it needed." 

 

Smith made things difficult for Lorenzen, piecing together a six-pitch at-bat before lofting a ball to Johan Rojas in center. If he had worked a walk it's likely Thomson would have brought in reliever Yunior Marte to finish the contest. 

 

Thomson was relieved he didn't have to make that move. 

 

"I may have had to wear a bulletproof vest," he said with a smile. 

 

Lorezen tossed eight spectacular innings last week in his Phillies debut against the Marlins. He was acquired at the trade deadline to add depth to the back end of the starting rotation. 

 

To say he's made a good first impression would be an understatement. 

 

“It’s unbelievable to be honest,” Lorenzen said. “I’ve always dreamt about being able to throw a no-hitter and having the opportunity. Skip [Rob Thomson] gave me that opportunity to go 120+ pitches and man, it was incredible.”