PHILADELPHIA, April 27 (UPI) -- Kevin Millwood became the first National League pitcher in nearly 18 months and just the second in the 33-year history of Veterans Stadium to toss a no-hitter Sunday, dominating the San Francisco Giants in a 1-0 masterpiece.
The 28-year-old righthander authored the season's first no-hitter and the first for the Phillies since Tommy Greene pitched one at Montreal on May 23, 1991.
The only Philadelphia pitcher to pitch a no-hitter at Veterans Stadium had been Terry Mulholland, who also did it against the Giants on Aug. 15, 1990.
"It's a little hard to put into words," Millwood said. "I think every starting pitcher's goal in their career is to do it once."
Millwood admitted he thought about the no-hitter midway through the game.
"I noticed it around the fifth, but I tried not to think too much about it," he said. "I knew if I got through the seventh, got out (Barry) Bonds, I had a real shot. Once I got by him, then I got nervous."
Millwood's gem came exactly one year after Boston's Derek Lowe pitched what had been baseball's most recent no-hitter at Fenway Park against Tampa Bay.
Acquired in the offseason from Atlanta, where he was overshadowed by Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, Millwood (4-1) has stepped in as the ace of Philadelphia's staff. He threw 72 of 108 pitches for strikes, faced just two batters over the minimum and struck out 10.
"That was unbelievable," Phillies Manager Larry Bowa said. "Not only was it unbelievable, it was against maybe the best team in the National League right now."
"Once he got into the sixth and seventh, he really threw a lot of fastballs," Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal said. "He didn't throw many sliders. He used his curveball more often."
After walking Ray Durham with outs in the top of the ninth, Millwood retired Marquis Grissom on a flyout to right-center field on a 1-0 pitch. He received a hug from first baseman Jim Thome before being mobbed on the mound by the rest of his teammates.
"When I threw the ball, I never saw (Grissom) hit it," Millwood said. "The ball went up and I just turned around to look. Ricky (Ledee) was camped under it and then I saw Thome running towards me. That made me a little nervous."
"I wanted to jump on him, but I had to wait until the ball was caught in center," Thome said. "You get excited. You don't get nervous. You want to do whatever it takes."
San Francisco rookie starter Jesse Foppert (0-2) took the tough loss, allowing just three hits, including a solo homer to Ledee in the bottom of the first, in six innings. He walked four and struck out five.
"I still feel like I could've pitched better," Foppert said. "I made some mistakes, but I got into a good rhythm."
"We've been kind of tentative with the bats lately and today was no different," Giants Manager Felipe Alou said. "He matched their guy pitch-by-pitch. I believe this guy is special. I have no doubts that he's a major league pitcher. He didn't make any mistakes."
Millwood got Bonds on a popout and long fly ball before striking him out looking to end the seventh inning.
"I didn't know if he was going to get it," said. "I was concerned about the game. It was 1-0. Once Bonds made the out, I figured, hopefully, he won't get up there again. It worked out very well.
"Once I got two strikes on (Bonds), I couldn't hear myself think. That made me nervous. After I got by him, I tried to just settle myself down."
Durham opened the game with a walk but was caught stealing. Ledee gave the Phillies the lead for good with his third homer of the season in the bottom of the frame.
Rich Aurilia drew a two-out walk in the fourth, but Millwood retired Bonds on a long flyout.
Millwood's gem was preserved by a nice running catch from Ledee in center field to open the seventh.
