SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Facing no-hitter, Alvarez breaks it up

August 14, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With two outs and two strikes on him in the bottom of the ninth inning, Nick Alvarez doubled to right center off West Tenn starter Jon Leicester, breaking up a no-hitter in the Suns' 2-0 loss Thursday in front of 6,138 fans at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Leicester faced one batter over the minimum and allowed two baserunners: Alvarez and Reggie Abercrombie, who led off the seventh inning by reaching on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Theriot. Leicester (6-6) completed the shutout, however, which was the first of his career. He retired the first 18 Suns he faced.

Suns starter Heath Totten (10-10) earned the loss, despite nearly matching Leicester pitch-for-pitch. Totten allowed only two singles to Leicester through the first six innings, but Jackson Melian hit a line drive, two-run home run to right field giving the Diamond Jaxx a 2-0 lead. Totten hadn't lost since June 22. He didn't walk a batter, however, which extended his streak to 39-1/3 innings without issuing a base on balls. That set an all-time Southern League record, breaking Totten's previous mark set April 16-May 20 of this season.

With the loss, the Suns fall to 57-65 overall and 26-27 in the second half. The Diamond Jaxx (59-64, 25-28) have won back-to-back road games for the first time since they swept Mobile in a doubleheader August 2.

Right-hander Brian Pilkington (0-0, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to face Diamond Jaxx righty Sergio Mitre (6-7, 3.45) at 1:05 p.m. Friday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

SUNS SPOTS: Alvarez had been 1-for-22 as a pinch-hitter before breaking up Leicester's no-hitter. ...Leicester had not pitched a nine-inning complete game in his career prior to Thursday. ...The Suns avoided being the first SL team in 25 years to be no hit twice in the same season. The Montgomery Rebels were no-hit twice in 1978. Orlando's Chad Gaudin tossed the league's second perfect game, a seven-inning gem at the Baseball Grounds on July 15. ... The game lasted two hours and five minutes. ...Through six innings, the only two baserunners to reach were both Leicester who singled twice. He entered the game a 1-for-16 hitter this season.

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