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| Luis Mendoza tossed his second career PCL no-hitter in Memphis last night (File photo: Lee Warren) |
The Chasers also clinched the divisional tie-breaker over the Redbirds and are now 9-4 against them this season with three games remaining.
But the story everyone is talking about is the no-hitter that was changed to a one-hitter after the game and then reversed back to a no-hitter later in the night.
But the story everyone is talking about is the no-hitter that was changed to a one-hitter after the game and then reversed back to a no-hitter later in the night.
Moments after celebrating his historic performance, Mendoza was notified that a ninth-inning error by left fielder David Lough had been changed to a hit, and his no-hitter was no more. One hour later it was back to a no-no, this time apparently for good. The reversal and subsequent “un-reversal” left Storm Chasers players, coaches, management and fans riding a rollercoaster of emotions, with nobody sure of how to react.
The indecision might not be over yet.
Even as the no-hitter became official again, there remained a window open that could result in a reversal of the un-reversal. As explained in the league rules, should a team or scorer request a league review of a play, there could be additional action taken to either recommend or mandate a change. In the unlikely scenario it reaches that point, more controversy could erupt.
The night didn’t start off well for Mendoza, who walked Jim Rapoport to open the home first. However, he quickly assumed control and retired the next 14 hitters before issuing a two-out walk to Bryan Anderson in the fifth. The All-Star right-hander retired the next seven hitters and took his no-hit bid into the eighth inning. Matt Carpenter and Anderson drew back-to-back walks to start the Memphis eighth but Mendoza struck out Pete Kozma and Adrin Chambers and then got Rapoport to ground out to end the inning.
Tyler Greene led off the ninth inning with a line drive that ticked off the glove of a leaping David Lough in left field and off the base of the wall. It was ruled an error. Nick Stavinoha fouled out to shortstop Mike Aviles for the first out before Mark Hamilton grounded out to second baseman Johnny Giavotella to move Greene to third. Mendoza then struck out Andrew Brown to end the contest after tossing 118 pitches. A fairly subdued celebration took place on the field.
Mendoza, who improved to 7-3 and lowered his league leading ERA to 2.30, has been very stingy over two starts and two relief outings against the Redbirds this season, yielding only a pair of runs on eight hits over 25.2 innings of work.
Luis Aquino was the last Omaha pitcher to toss a complete- game, nine-inning no-hitter on June 20, 1988 and Mendoza was the last to do so in the PCL on August 14, 2009 while pitching for Oklahoma City.
Mendoza is just one of 10 pitchers in the 109-year history of the league to throw two no-hitters and one of just five hurlers to throw two of the nine-inning variety. He joins Tacoma’s Dick Estelle (1964-65) as the only other PCL pitcher to throw two nine-inning no hitters in the past 95 years.
Lough’s base hit that drove in Jarrod Dyson in the third inning would provide Mendoza with all of the offensive support he would need. Clint Robinson’s two-run bases loaded single in the fifth pushed the lead to 3-0 and a run-producing ground out by Dyson in the eighth accounted for the visitors final run.
The series continues Tuesday night with Omaha right-hander Vin Mazzaro taking the mound against Memphis right-hander Maikel Cleto.
UPDATE from the Storm Chasers on July 19 @ 4:02 pm: The Memphis coaching staff, led by manager Chris Maloney – who, incidentally, was ejected during the 5th inning last night – is protesting the scoring decision and has filed a formal appeal to the Pacific Coast League office. A final decision could be made within the next 24-48 hours.
UPDATE from the PCL on July 20 @ 5:13 pm: The PCL has overturned Medoza's no-hitter. It will go down in the record books as a one-hitter. See the PCL's complete response here.
The indecision might not be over yet.
Even as the no-hitter became official again, there remained a window open that could result in a reversal of the un-reversal. As explained in the league rules, should a team or scorer request a league review of a play, there could be additional action taken to either recommend or mandate a change. In the unlikely scenario it reaches that point, more controversy could erupt.
The night didn’t start off well for Mendoza, who walked Jim Rapoport to open the home first. However, he quickly assumed control and retired the next 14 hitters before issuing a two-out walk to Bryan Anderson in the fifth. The All-Star right-hander retired the next seven hitters and took his no-hit bid into the eighth inning. Matt Carpenter and Anderson drew back-to-back walks to start the Memphis eighth but Mendoza struck out Pete Kozma and Adrin Chambers and then got Rapoport to ground out to end the inning.
Tyler Greene led off the ninth inning with a line drive that ticked off the glove of a leaping David Lough in left field and off the base of the wall. It was ruled an error. Nick Stavinoha fouled out to shortstop Mike Aviles for the first out before Mark Hamilton grounded out to second baseman Johnny Giavotella to move Greene to third. Mendoza then struck out Andrew Brown to end the contest after tossing 118 pitches. A fairly subdued celebration took place on the field.
Mendoza, who improved to 7-3 and lowered his league leading ERA to 2.30, has been very stingy over two starts and two relief outings against the Redbirds this season, yielding only a pair of runs on eight hits over 25.2 innings of work.
Luis Aquino was the last Omaha pitcher to toss a complete- game, nine-inning no-hitter on June 20, 1988 and Mendoza was the last to do so in the PCL on August 14, 2009 while pitching for Oklahoma City.
Mendoza is just one of 10 pitchers in the 109-year history of the league to throw two no-hitters and one of just five hurlers to throw two of the nine-inning variety. He joins Tacoma’s Dick Estelle (1964-65) as the only other PCL pitcher to throw two nine-inning no hitters in the past 95 years.
Lough’s base hit that drove in Jarrod Dyson in the third inning would provide Mendoza with all of the offensive support he would need. Clint Robinson’s two-run bases loaded single in the fifth pushed the lead to 3-0 and a run-producing ground out by Dyson in the eighth accounted for the visitors final run.
The series continues Tuesday night with Omaha right-hander Vin Mazzaro taking the mound against Memphis right-hander Maikel Cleto.
UPDATE from the Storm Chasers on July 19 @ 4:02 pm: The Memphis coaching staff, led by manager Chris Maloney – who, incidentally, was ejected during the 5th inning last night – is protesting the scoring decision and has filed a formal appeal to the Pacific Coast League office. A final decision could be made within the next 24-48 hours.
UPDATE from the PCL on July 20 @ 5:13 pm: The PCL has overturned Medoza's no-hitter. It will go down in the record books as a one-hitter. See the PCL's complete response here.
