Mat-Su Pitching Staff Throws No-Hitter
July 30, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
PALMER, Alaska - A day after being held to one hit by the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, the Mat-Su Miners pitching staff responded with a historic performance.
Jacob Hughey, Jordan Frederick, Tyler Wyatt and Jordan Floyd combined to toss a no-hitter in an 8-4 win over the Glacier Pilots at Hermon Brothers Field on Friday.
"It was a clunker, but the imperfections of this game make it beautiful," Miners head coach Ben Taylor said. "I've coached a lot of games for this team, but I don't know if I've ever been more proud of a ball club than tonight."
Hughey provided the bulk of the innings in his seventh summer start. The Long Beach State left-hander threw five hitless innings, allowing four runs on eight walks while recording four strikeouts.
"I didn't really think about the no-hitter much, because they scored four runs," Hughey said. "When they score like that, you don't really think about the hits. But it's an incredible feeling to be a part of this."
The performance by Hughey increases his summer strikeout total to 47, three behind league-leader Billy Oxford of the Peninsula Oilers.
The Miners (23-16) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when designated hitter Michael Donadio doubled to plate second baseman Levi Jordan. In the following at-bat, first baseman Jake Scudder added a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 2-0.
The Glacier Pilots (22-20) cut the deficit to one in the top of the second when rightfielder Joe Gillette scored on a wild pitch from Hughey.
Mat-Su centerfielder Scooter Bynum extended the lead to two runs with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Jordan followed with another single later in the inning to score catcher Andy Cosgrove, giving the Miners a 4-1 lead.
Anchorage would tie the game in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout and two bases-loaded walks.
Mat-Su reliever Jordan Frederick entered in the top of the sixth and provided two scoreless innings of work. The Scottsdale Community College right-hander held the Glacier Pilots to two baserunners while tallying two strikeouts.
Bynum would provide the go-ahead runs for the Miners in the bottom half of the sixth with a two-run triple. Jordan added his second RBI of the game on an infield groundout to score Bynum, giving Mat-Su a 7-4 lead.
Armenta added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to give the Miners a four-run advantage.
Tyler Wyatt took the mound for the Miners in the top of the eighth and retired the side in a perfect inning of relief.
"I could see that there were no hits when I came in, and I kept telling myself not to think about it," Wyatt said. "It was just business on the mound. We were behind Frederick, because he kept us in this game and gave us an opportunity to win. And our offense really helped us out by getting runs."
Mat-Su closer Jordan Floyd entered in the ninth and forced Glacier Pilots pinch hitter Nick Oar to groundout in the first at-bat of the inning. Catcher Luke Ritter then drove a fastball into the centerfielder gap, but outfielder Cam Montgomery made a diving catch to save the no-hit bid.
"I was pretty stoked to make that play," Montgomery said. "I looked over at the dugout and saw my teammates going crazy. It was an incredible moment."
With two outs, Floyd struck out pinch hitter R.J. Cordeiro on three straight strikes to end the game and record the historic performance.
"I didn't think about it too much," Floyd said. "I knew it was there, but with a four-run lead I tried to get some strikeouts. They were swinging out of the zone which helped."
The win gives the Miners a 2.5-game lead over the Oilers and Glacier Pilots in the Alaska Baseball League standings. The Oilers dropped a doubleheader to the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks earlier in the evening to fall into a tie for second place.
The Miners return to Hermon Brothers Field on Saturday at 3 p.m. for a doubleheader with the Oilers.
"Every game means same to us," Taylor said. "We throw it out there and let the chips fall where they may."
Alaska Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2016
- Timely Hitting Propels Mat-Su to Pivotal Victory - Mat-Su Miners
- Oilers Slip by Miners in First Game of Doubleheader - Mat-Su Miners
- Mat-Su Pitching Staff Throws No-Hitter - Mat-Su Miners
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