Helmis Rodriguez Flirts with No-Hitter; Sends Tourists to Victory
August 20, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ROME, GA-- For the second time this season, the Asheville Tourists took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against an opponent. On the first occasion, May 1, three pitchers saw the field before the first hit was allowed but on Thursday night there was only one; Helmis Rodriguez. The left-hander had it all working and came two outs shy of no-hitting the Rome Braves.
Asheville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a double steal. Omar Carrizales and Shane Hoelscher swiped third and second respectively. The throw to third base bounced off Erison Mendez's glove allowing Carrizales to race home and score.
The game remained 1-0 for quite some time. Rodriguez continued to churn out hitless, scoreless frames. In the bottom of the fifth, Rodriguez walked the first two hitters of the inning and threw a wild pitch. Helmis responded by retiring the next three Braves batters.
In the bottom of the ninth, with the score still 1-0, Rodriguez hit the lead-off man Stephen Gaylor. Omar Obregon popped out to first but Luke Dykstra then broke up the no-hitter. Dykstra golfed a 1-2 pitch up the left field line. Asheville's left-fielder Ryan Stephens raced after the ball and came within a foot of making a diving catch.
The double scored Gaylor and tied the game 1-1. Rodriguez departed to a standing ovation from the pro Braves crowd. Yoely Bello entered and induced the final two outs of the inning.
In the top of the tenth, Stephens put the Tourists back in front with an RBI triple to right. Carrizales made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly. Josh Michalec retired the Braves in order in the tenth for his 27th save of the season. Rome finished with one hit.
Prior to the Braves' lone run, Asheville pitching staff was enjoying a season-long scoreless inning streak of 26.2 innings.
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