A.J. Burnett was four outs away from a no-hitter. Instead, he earned a standing ovation from the Wrigley Field crowd.

Burnett pitched a one-hit, complete-game shutout Tuesday night as the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-0.

With laser-like command and a cruel curveball, Burnett breezed through the Cubs lineup for the first few innings. It didn't take him long to think about notching a no-hitter.

"About the third or fourth inning," Burnett said. "I'm not going to lie."

He also thought back to 2001, when he threw his only no-hitter as a member of the Florida Marlins. Then, in a 3-0 victory against the San Diego Padres, Burnett walked nine.