Joe Musgrove, the kid who grew up a Padres fan, gives San Diego its first no-hitter

San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove could barely muster the willpower Friday night, so desperately needing to use the bathroom.

He drank 11 or 12 water bottles, and, man, never did a dugout urinal look so inviting.

Still, just like most ballplayers, the dude is superstitious.

And since he was pitching a no-hitter, he couldn’t dare enter the nearby bathroom stall.

“‘I had to [pee] so bad in the third of fourth inning,’’ Musgrove said, “but I just had to wait.’’

Well, by the time Musgrove finally relieved himself, he had already made history.

Musgrove, born and raised in the San Diego area, became the first pitcher in Padres history to throw a no-hitter in their 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

It was the first no-hitter in the 8,206 games played by the Padres, going back to April 8, 1969 when the expansion franchise played its inaugural game.

This was before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, or 350,000 fans descended upon Woodstock, or the release of "Abbey Road," the Beatles' last studio album.

Now, 52 years later, the Padres had their first no-hitter, thrown by a kid who grew up a Padres’ fan, and was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Diego just three months ago.

“It feels incredible,’’ Musgrove said. “This kid from Grossmont High School was the first one to throw a no-hitter in my own city.’’

This is a family that had season tickets behind the right field wall. Musgrove remembers catching his first souvenir from a Padres player when outfielder Mark Kotsay tossed a ball to him. This is where he watched Jake Peavy, knowing it was cool to show emotion and be yourself, and taking Peavy’s old No. 44 upon his arrival.

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