Padres News: Blake Snell Wanted Potential Final Start for San Diego to Be Special

Snell tossed seven hitless innings

On a Tuesday night in September, history was on the brink of being made in San Diego when Blake Snell toed the rubber. 

Through seven innings of work, Snell was on the verge of completing the 323rd no-hitter in MLB history. 

While he was unable to go the distance, Snell did give Padres fans a lasting memory as this was potentially his final time pitching at Petco Park as a member of the Padres. 

This offseason, Snell is hitting the open market as he will be a free agent. The Padres left-hander is expected to be one of the most sought after pitchers in this year's market. 

Before getting to free agency, however, Snell wanted his last start in Petco to be special.

“Make it memorable,” Snell said of pitching for perhaps the last time in front Petco Park faithful. “I understand what it means to put on this jersey. If this was going to be my last start (at Petco Park), I wanted it to be something special. I wasn’t envisioning that, but it was pretty awesome.”

(Via San Diego Union Tribune)

At the end of the night, Snell went seven hitless innings with 10 strikeouts. Tuesday's start dropped his ERA to 2.33 and could've been enough for Snell to secure the NL Cy Young award. 

Unfortunately, Snell had to be taken out after the seventh due to his pitch count being too high. 

The Padres bullpen was unable to continue the no-hitter as the Rockies got their first hit in the ninth inning. 

Either way, it was an incredible start from Snell, one that will surely open tons of eyes when he hits free agency in a couple months.