Well Worth the Wait
Published on August 5, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release
James Needy came close to a no-hitter a couple times in high school.
R.J. Alvarez had never even seen one. Frank Garces, on the other hand, threw back-to-back seven-inning no-nos in a Double-A league in the Dominican Republic.
Recently, Needy, Alvarez and Garces experienced the thrill together as the Missions' trio delivered the San Antonio organization its first no-hitter since 1984 during a 6-0 win over Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field.
"It was a neat experience," Needy said. "Everyone wants to throw one by themselves, but it was really cool getting one as a team. We had good defense. When you get a game like that you need some good plays to get through it. That's baseball."
"It was awesome being part of this," Alvarez said. "Needy threw seven great innings and really got it started. Everyone wants to be part of something like this. I'm happy I got to be part of it."
Because of his previous experiences, Garces was familiar with what it felt like to accomplish the feat. His previous two were memorable as the lefty struck out 14 batters in both outings while facing opponents with aluminum bats. Although he had to share the spotlight this time, the excitement of being part of a third no-hitter was the same.
"The first two no-hitters were big for me," said Garces, who was signed by San Diego shortly after his feat. "This one was exciting, too. I am happy I got to be part of it."
The 1984 encounter happened at V.J. Keefe Stadium and the Missions were known as the Dodgers because of their affiliation with Los Angeles.
Vance Lovelace, Brian Piper and Steve Martin's combined feat in a 1-0 win over Beaumont, San Diego's Double-A team at the time, was not a work of art. Lovelace, the starting pitcher, walked five, committed an error with five strikeouts through five innings and didn't get the win. The victory went to Piper, who struck out three in two innings.
This one was much sharper. In fact, it came close to being a perfect game as Corpus Christi was limited to one baserunner.
The lone runner made this no-hitter unique.
Needy (8-3) retired the first 16 batters by throwing strikes and staying ahead of hitters. With one out in the sixth, shortstop Diego Goris fielded Rene Garcia's grounder. His throw pulled first baseman Cody Overbeck off the bag and umpire Ramon Hernandez ruled the Hooks batter safe.
Missions' manager Rich Dauer protested the call, thinking Overbeck kept his foot on the bag long enough to record the out. Official scorer Matt Young also ruled the play an infield single, believing Garcia beat the throw.
It seemed the Missions would have to settle for a one-hitter, but a phone call to the clubhouse several minutes after the game changed everything.
The call was from Young, who reversed the hit to a throwing error by Goris after discussing the play with Hernandez. The umpire said the runner would have been out if the play had been made.
"If Garces and Alvarez no-hit them through the last two innings we were going to ask (Hernandez) his version of the play," Dauer said. "I am glad the umpires and the scorekeeper did the right thing. It was good for the guys. It was good for JJ (Jimmy Jones, pitching coach). For me, it was nice to be part of another good thing here."
Needy wasn't expecting the play to change. After the right-hander's night was over, he went to the clubhouse to do his post-game work with strength coach Eric Wood. Going into the ninth inning, he received a ray of hope.
"I was still upset the batter was called safe," Needy said. "When I was working with Wood, he said the call was probably going to get changed.
"So now, I am watching the game on the TV in the clubhouse and thinking if R.J. gets these guys out we just threw a no-hitter. It was nice for (Garces, Alvarez) to go out and go six up and six down. They are two of the nastiest guys in the (Texas) League, stuff-wise."
The reliever duo maintained that nasty reputation. After Garces' perfect eighth, Alvarez added the finishing touch.
"We were winning by a good amount and we were just trying to get the last few hitters out," Alvarez said. "We didn't have any pressure. If there was a zero on the board, there would have been pressure.
"Needy knew that it could be changed so he might have been more nervous than us. We just went out there and got them out, one, two, three."
Catcher Austin Hedges was thinking the call could be reversed and made sure the relievers remained on top of their game.
"I was really hoping they would change the call," Hedges said. "I knew there was no chance that was a hit. We were still going out there and treating it like it was a no-hitter. We knew what we wanted to do and did it. The relievers were executing their pitches just like Needy."
Garces and Alvarez's perfection set the stage for one of the most important phones calls in Missions history. That call had more drama than getting the final six outs.
The "infield hit" prevented the Missions from having a dogpile at the end of the game. However, the late change didn't spoil the excitement.
"The room was quiet at first," Hedges said. "When we heard the call had been reversed, we all celebrated. I was probably excited as much as the (pitchers) were. It was too bad the one play happened.
"We would have had a perfect game. But we got the no-hitter. It was great because all of us were on the same page. It was fun being part of it."
After hugging and congratulating teammates, Needy spent a good portion of the post-game festivities telling family members the good news.
"My parents never miss a game and they were watching this one," Needy said. "I had friends and my high school pitching coach watching. I got a text from my dad after the questionable call. He texted me after the game and said 'tough luck.' Then, I had to call him and say they changed it to an error. They were excited to hear that."
Ironically, Missions' pitching coach Jimmy Jones was on hand for the no-hitter 30 years ago as a pitcher for Beaumont.
No doubt he enjoyed this one more.
"You had a feeling they might change the call, but I've never seen that," Jones said. "When the relievers came out, I was hoping they wouldn't give up a hit, because they might change the call.
"It would have been a lot more tense if there would have been a zero (in the hits category) than a one in the ninth inning. Needy was pitching well. If there had been zero hits, he still wouldn't have been there in the ninth.
"The relievers pitched well. Frankie had a rough game in Frisco, but came back and threw well. Alvarez was just strong. No-hitters don't happen every day. It was exciting to see."
For Needy, the accomplishment was more than a career highlight. It was also a confidence booster for the San Diego native, who had struggled in his previous two starts.
"It was nice to get back to pitching well," said Needy, who struck out seven. "In the last two outings I wasn't getting ahead of hitters very well. I wasn't commanding the fastball. I wanted to go in and get ahead of hitters. I wanted to force them to get defensive and fall behind in counts.
"I'm not a strikeout guy, but I think attacking them the way I did the first three innings allowed me some leeway later in the game for some strikeouts. Anytime you go out there and struggle, it's important to get back on track and restore your confidence. Hopefully, the confidence will help the rest of the season."
With the way Needy was throwing, the possibility of a no-hitter occurring began surfacing around the fifth inning. That made things interesting.
"Needy was on top of his game," Hedges said. "Everything we were trying to throw he was executing perfectly. It made my job pretty easy. He was ahead of the hitters. There were hardly any good swings on the ball.
"Probably around the fifth or sixth inning I started thinking we had a chance at this."
Needy was thinking the same thing, especially after mowing down the Hooks' batters through the first five innings. However, he knew if Corpus Christi got a hit, he had to remain strong. After all, the last thing needed was a letdown.
"They tell you not to think about a (no-hitter)," Needy said. "But I knew I was throwing one about the fourth inning. I wasn't thinking too much of it until some fan from Corpus Christi tried to pull the jinx and said 'hey, you're throwing a no-no, right.' It was lingering in my mind. If I didn't know before, I knew now.
"I said to myself at the end of the fifth I was going to go after this and try to do it. But I'm also going to keep pitching the way I have been pitching. If I gave up a hit, I couldn't let it turn into a walk and then another hit and maybe a run. I had to keep calm and stay in the moment."
In the long run, it all worked out.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
