Guardians Baseball Insider

May 18, 2011

The one-hitter is one of the most underappreciated accomplishments in baseball. While it foes intrinsically carry with it the “What if?” of nearly missing the invincibility of a no-hitter, allowing only one hit in nine innings of baseball is still an impressive feat. I like to thin that Indians fans appreciate it a little more than most given the Tribe’s 39-year no-hitter drought.

None years ago today, the Lake County Captains threw a one-hitter against the Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres) in Eastlake. This being Low-A Ball, this was of course a combined effort. Starter Steven Wright (As stated previously in the May 6 “This Day” column, which also featured a Wright start, selection of this game does not constitute an endorsement of Wright’s behavior – which has seen him suspended for both domestic violence and performance-enhancing drug use – by either myself or IBI.) teamed with relievers J.D. Reichenbach, Dale Dickerson, and Nick Sarianides for the single-hit effort.

Wright, who was coming off of six shutout innings (three hits) in his previous start six days earlier, threw six more scoreless frames and allowed the lone TinCap hit of the game, a leadoff single by 1B Tommy Medica, the only player in the Fort Wayne lineup to play more than 100 major league contests, to start the fifth frame. Reichenbach followed with a perfect seventh inning in his first outing in nine days to rebound from a rough effort (3 ER and 6 H in 2.2 IP) and start a four-game, ten-inning stretch in which he allowed only one earned run. He also earned his second hold of the season. Dickerson faced the minimum despite a leadoff walk thanks to am inning-ending double play. His performance came in the midst of an eleven-game (15.1 IP) stretch of not allowing an earned run. Sarianides closed it out with a solid ninth in which he allowed only one baserunner (via a base on balls). The final composite pitching line:

9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K

In terms of other notable players, the Captains had a pretty impressive 2-3-4 in their starting lineup: SS Ronny Rodriguez, 3B Giovanny Urshela, and 1B Jesus Aguilar. They combined for five of the captains’ eleven and hits, driving in two of the Eastlake nine’s four runs (2 of the team’s 3 RBI).

BOX SCORE

Photo: Lake County Captains