ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Edwin Jackson was so wild early there was no reason to think he would even finish the game, let alone throw the fourth no-hitter of the season.

This being the Year of the Pitcher, though, anything was possible.

Jackson made it happen, all right, throwing a whopping 149 pitches — the most in the majors in five years — leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 1-0 victory Friday night over his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's one of those moments where you're just caught up in the moment. It's one of the craziest games I've had, especially the game starting off how it did. Not being able to find the strike zone with the fastball," Jackson said. "Good thing I could throw the slider for strikes in any count. It just resurrected my game."

Jackson (5-6) walked eight, all but one in the first three innings, but the Rays still were no-hit for the third time since last July, including Dallas Braden's perfect game at Oakland on May 9.

Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez no-hit Atlanta April 17 and Philadelphia's Roy Halladay tossed a perfect game at Florida May 29. Armando Galarraga lost his perfect game with two outs in the ninth on a blown call by umpire Jim Joyce.

Jason Bartlett grounded to shortstop Stephen Drew for the final out and Jackson's teammates mobbed him on the field after the improbable feat.

Jackson improved his career record to 43-45 in eight seasons. He was an All-Star last year for Detroit before being traded to Arizona in the offseason in a three-team trade with the Yankees that included Curtis Granderson.

"That's quite an accomplishment against a really good team," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said after the Tigers beat the Braves.

Jackson was hit with a pie in the face by a teammate as he was doing an on-field interview.

"It was definitely a great feeling, especially after those first few innings. ... After the fifth I looked up and said 'Wow' there's no hits."' Jackson said.

"It's one of those bittersweet moments. You throw a no hitter and it's against your old team," Jackson added. "At least it's with a crowd that you've had accomplishment with and you can do in front of someone who will appreciate it."

The crowd of 18,918 stood and applauded the first no-hitter at Tropicana Field in the relatively short history of the Rays, who like the Diamondbacks began play in 1998.

Randy Johnson has the only other no-hitter in Arizona history, a perfect game at Atlanta on May 18, 2004.

Adam LaRoche homered off Jeff Niemann (6-2) with one out in the second, all the support Jackson would need.

"He's a great athlete and a great kid. He's one of the very few who can do that," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said, noting Jackson's ability to continue to pitch well despite a high pitch count.

"He threw 150 pitches and it's rare to see that many walks and not score a run."