The ovation started early. Very early. Edinson Volquez wasn’t even on the mound yet.
Instead, he was at the plate as Miami’s last hitter of Sunday’s eighth inning. And even though he struck out, fans cheered as he trotted back to the dugout and prepared for the possibility of the sixth no-hitter in Marlins history.
When he emerged, fans savored every pitch. Marlins Park rotated between cheers, relief and silence. Volquez struck out the first two batters he faced on worked an 0-2 count on Chris Owings, and when Owings swung and missed at the game’s last pitch, the stadium erupted.