PHILADELPHIA -- Josh Beckett started talking about throwing a no-hitter in the fourth inning, ignoring traditional superstitions and making his catcher nervous in the process. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . The big, folksy Texan had stuff that was too dominant to worry about a jinx. Beckett pitched the first no-hitter of his stellar career and the first in the majors this season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 on Sunday. A year ago, Beckett was nearly derailed by a nerve condition that left him unable to feel his fingertips. On this day, he was downright nasty. "I was joking about it because I was waiting for them to get a hit," Beckett said. "You dont think at this point of your career that youre going to do that. I just dont feel that my stuff is good enough to do that. Im probably as hard on myself as anybody." Beckett stuck out six, walked three and didnt come close to allowing a hit against a lineup that included two former NL MVPs and four former All-Stars. Beckett has credentials, too: A three-time All-Star, he also was a World Series MVP. The 34-year-old right-hander threw 128 pitches. He fanned five-time All-Star Chase Utley on a called strike three to end the game. "Its very special. It takes really good defence behind you, a little luck sprinkled in and making pitches when you need to make pitches," Beckett said. "Thats a good-hitting team you dont take lightly." Beckett mixed a sharp fastball with a slow, deceptive curve that kept hitters off-balance while retiring 23 straight batters at one stretch. He pitched the Dodgers first no-hitter since Hideo Nomo beat Colorado at Coors Field in 1996, and the 21st in franchise history. Sandy Koufax threw four. "I knew he had something special going early," catcher Drew Butera said. "I was a nervous wreck from the fourth inning on when he said he had never taken one this far. Hes a guy who is going to keep it loose and he didnt want anybody to be thinking about it." Beckett pitched the first no-hitter in the majors since Miamis Henderson Alvarez did it against Detroit on the final day of the 2013 season. Beckett also became the first visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Philadelphia since Montreals Bill Stoneman stopped the Phillies on April 17, 1969, at Connie Mack Stadium. All of the defensive plays behind Beckett were routine. Domonic Brown had the hardest out, a liner that left fielder Carl Crawford ran down near the warning track in the fifth. Beckett sat at the end of the bench, next to a security guard, as the Dodgers batted in the ninth inning, before taking the mound in his bid for history. "It was awesome. You think about it pretty much from the fourth on. Im not one of those guys that carried a lot of no-hitters deep into games," he said. Becketts longest previous bid was 6 2-3 innings before allowing a single to Detroits Curtis Granderson on June 3, 2009. Beckett retired pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. on a popup to shortstop to start the ninth. Speedy Ben Revere followed with a grounder that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez fielded, and he flipped to Beckett covering the bag for the second out. "It was the most excited Ive ever been playing defence," Gonzalez said. Jimmy Rollins was up next, and Beckett walked him on a full-count pitch. That brought up Utley, and when the count when to 3-2, Butera went to the mound to talk to Beckett. Beckett then threw a 94 mph fastball that Utley looked at, and plate umpire Brian Knight called strike three to end it. "I knew he wasnt expecting me to throw a fastball down the middle," Beckett said. A pitch before striking out, Utley took a few steps toward first base when he thought a 3-1 delivery was ball four. Instead, it was strike two. Utley left the clubhouse before reporters arrived. "He had real good stuff right down to the final batter," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Our best hitter not swinging at the last two strikes is an indicator right there." Beckett walked off the mound, pumped his fist and was mobbed by teammates. He got a standing ovation from the crowd of 36,141 at Citizens Bank Park on his way to the dugout. "That was a lot of fun," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Hes been throwing well all year and his breaking ball and change keep getting better." Last July, Beckett had a rib removed in thoracic outlet syndrome surgery to fix a condition that was affecting his right arm. He went 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight games in 2013. Beckett (3-1) started this season on the disabled list with a thumb injury, raising more doubts about how effective he would be for a team with post-season expectations. "I just wanted to help the team," he said. "You always want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem." Beckett was the MVP of the 2003 World Series for the Marlins, capping off their championship run by pitching a five-hit shutout in the clinching Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. Roy Halladay had the only other no-hitter at cozy Citizens Bank Park, doing it for the Phillies in a 4-0 playoff win over Cincinnati on Oct. 6, 2010. In 1988, Pascual Perez of the Expos held the host Phillies hitless for five innings at Veterans Stadium before the game was stopped because of rain. A Major League Baseball committee later ruled that no-hitters of less than nine innings didnt officially count. Beckett walked Utley in the first and Marlon Byrd in the second before retiring 23 straight batters. Beckett threw a one-hitter for the Red Sox at Tampa Bay on June 15, 2011. He allowed an infield single to current Phillies utilityman Reid Brignac in the third inning of a 3-0 win. The Phillies were shut out for the fourth time in their last seven home games and seventh time this season. Phillies righty A.J. Burnett (3-4) allowed four earned runs and 11 hits in seven innings in a matchup against his former Marlins teammate. Burnett is 1-3 with a 6.26 in his last four starts. Gonzalezs RBI double to right-centre with two outs in the first gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Justin Turner led off the second with a solo homer to straightaway centre that just cleared the wall to make it 2-0. Turner singled and scored on Erisbel Arruebarrenas two-out single in the sixth, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Sandberg allowed Burnett to lead off the bottom of the sixth instead of pinch-hitting for him with a 3-0 deficit. Burnett grounded out and then allowed three runs in the seventh. Beckett followed Burnett as one of the prized young arms in Florida a decade ago. It was the fifth time theyve faced each other and first matchup since Aug. 7, 2009, when Beckett was in Boston and Burnett pitched for the Yankees. New York won that game 2-0 in the 15th inning. NOTES: Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez remained out of the lineup because of a sore calf. ... The Phillies placed 3B Cody Asche on the DL with a left hamstring strain. ... Dodgers CF Matt Kemp, the 2011 NL MVP runner-up, wasnt in the starting lineup for the third straight game. Manager Don Mattingly said Kemp will start playing some LF. The Dodgers finished a nine-game road trip with a 5-4 record. Theyre 18-11 on the road, 9-13 at home. ... The Dodgers return home to start a three-game series vs. Cincinnati on Monday. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-3) goes for LA against RHP Johnny Cueto (4-3). ... For the Phillies, RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-5) faces Colorados Jhoulys Chacin (0-3) in the opener of a three-game set Monday. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Wholesale Jerseys Online . The victory strengthened Liverpools position in the top four after Tottenham lost 1-0 at Norwich in the days late kickoff, cutting the north London club six points adrift of fourth place and the final Champions League slot for next season. https://www.wholesalejerseys2020.com/ . It was the quickest three-goal sequence in Olympic history, with the latter two coming just eight seconds apart. Kessel, Lamoureux and Kendall Coyne all scored twice for the Americans, and Molly Schaus made 10 saves in her Sochi debut.TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the return of Stephen Jackson, the play of Goran Dragic and the surprising Suns, the impact of Brook Lopez and Deron Williams with the Nets, Danny Grangers impending return in Indiana and the key to the Spurs success. 1. STEPHEN JACKSON (Clippers): He departed the Spurs last year under cloudy circumstances yet, in the right situation in certain seasons, he has proven to be both a valuable and very productive/winning player. In my book, worth the risk. With JJ Redick out of the lineup right now, you need offensive firepower and shooting and if hes right, he can bring both. Hes played on good teams and made those teams better. Most importantly, you need a leader/coach that he respects and will hold him accountable. Doc Rivers is that guy. If Jackson wants back in the NBA, hes got the chance now yet hell be expected to do it right and this environment is a good returning spot for him. 2. GORAN DRAGIC (Suns): Did you check out his performance vs. the Lakers Tuesday night? 31 pts and five assists. He ate them up; they couldnt guard him. Hes a crafty guy who is very adept at changing speeds and turning the corner and getting into the lane on you and does a wonderful job keeping his dribble alive to make plays. High energy guy who is always fun to watch. The Suns are 12-9. If the season ended today, theyd be in the playoffs - in the West! No, not the East, the West! Amazing!! 3. BROOK LOPEZ and DERON WILLIAMS (Nets): Amazing what good players can do for you (combined for 49 points on 20-29 shooting vs. Boston). Jason Kidd looks a whole lot more capable when he has these two guys in his lineup. Also nice to have Paul Pierce back on the court. Bottom line, in the weak Atlantic Division/Eastern Conference, as bad as things have been for the Nets with injuries/drama/expectations, if they can get and stay healthy, theyll be a playoff team. And if the chemistry were to ever come around, they could be a pretty dangerous team to play against in an early-round series. 4. DANNY GRANGER (Pacers): Has only played in five games over the past two seasons for a team that has become one of the eliite 3-5 teams in the NBA. China Jerseys. . Hoping to return this weekend. Hes always been a lead actor in Indy. Paul George is that guy now. Can his ego stay in check and is he willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to help his team in whatever role his coaches devise for him? He can be a huge plus for them if hes willing to do what it takes. Obviously, sitting on the bench and watching his team be one of the best in the league has to humble you a bit yet make you hungry to get out there and do what it takes to be that finishing piece to help your team win a title. His presence on the floor will define how the Pacers chemistry evolves from here. If hes right mentally, they can become really dangerous on every level as a title contender. His scoring ability will make their depth even more of a strength. 5. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: An amazing series of facts about this team were pointed out to me by a few folks Tuesday night. Yes, we all know they have a Hall of Famer/franchise #1 pick in Tim Duncan. Some of the other pieces on the floor in Toronto Tuesday night vs. the Raptors include six second round picks, an undrafted player, a 30th Pick and two 28th picks. Remember what I said a few weeks back about the draft pedigree of the Indiana Pacers, sure you need a really good player but beyond that you MUST have GREAT leadership in the coaching area and the scouting/player evaluation and projection component. Its no secret that the Spurs define that and its a shame more franchises dont stay disciplined and use that model. Many swing for the fences with name guys that dont win for you. In a world of tank nation talk (I respect that you must have elite talent to win), it still comes down to the substance of what you put around an elite player that defines success. Too often, we look for the glitzy big name and reach for the bright lights and the style. In the end, it comes down to so many pieces meshing in an operation and it all comes back to the leadership of your owner, president, GM and coach. You get a good horse with a lousy jockey and hell underperform. Yes, youve got to have the horses, yet you better have the right folks leading the way. It all goes together. ' ' '