Michael Lorenzen pulled off one of baseball’s most remarkable feats by throwing a no-hitter in his first home start with the Phillies, a 7-0 triumph over the Washington Nationals. The stadium exploded into cheers as he induced the final popup from Dominic Smith on his 124th pitch, ending his first-ever complete game and marking his name in Phillies history.

This dazzling performance was the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history and only the fifth in MLB history by a pitcher in his home debut with a new team. The crowd’s roar as he began the ninth inning, Lorenzen later recounted, was a highlight of his career, sending chills down his spine and giving him the energy boost he needed. Lorenzen’s family, including his wife and mother and his 9-month-old daughter June, added a touching personal note to the spectacle.

Acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline, Lorenzen’s mastery on the mound was a welcome sight for a team battling for the top wild-card spot. He struck out five, walked four, and became the first Phillies pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Cole Hamels in 2015. Though he was pushing his pitch count to the limit, his performance kept improving, making quick work of the Nationals.

Manager Rob Thomson had told Lorenzen he had about 20 pitches left after the seventh inning, yet Lorenzen managed to finish the game. The Phillies’ clubhouse was jubilant, with teammates like Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins shouting “great trade” and team president Dave Dombrowski shaking hands. Thomson even gave a clubhouse toast, exclaiming, “Unbelievable, bro. Welcome to Philadelphia, buddy.”

The no-hitter wasn’t the only story of the night, however. Rookie Weston Wilson also made a dramatic entrance to big-league baseball, hitting a home run on the third pitch he saw in his first MLB at-bat. This stunning homer, following a 706-game stint in the minors, was the first by a Phillies player in his debut at-bat since 1998.

Wilson, whose resilience saw him through a blood clot, a year away from professional baseball, and more than 2,800 minor league plate appearances, was the story of the game for five innings – until Lorenzen’s no-hitter stole the spotlight. Still, Wilson’s impressive debut, complete with one homer, two walks, one steal, and three runs scored, drew praise from his teammates and team president Dombrowski.

Despite the remarkable individual achievements, the collective spirit of the Phillies stood out. Lorenzen’s confidence, combined with Wilson’s determination and the overall enthusiasm of the team, created a night to remember at Citizens Bank Park.

With humor and humility, Weston Wilson himself summed it up best, pointing at Lorenzen and laughing, “Hey, it’s all him, it’s all him. He deserves it.” And yet, in a night filled with extraordinary achievements, there was plenty of glory to go around. Whether you were a rookie making your big-league debut or a seasoned player crafting a historic game, the cheers of the 30,406 fans were for the team’s triumph – a triumph that might well echo into a successful run for the postseason.