In your minor league quirk post of the day, the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League threw no-hitters in back to back games. Lynchburg, the high-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, allowed zero hits to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a Royals affiliate, on both Thursday and Friday.
Thursday’s game was started by Lucas Sims, Atlanta’s first round pick (21st overall) in the 2012 Draft. Sims actually allowed one unearned run in his seven innings of work thanks to a walk, a passed ball, and an error in the fifth inning, but didn’t give up a hit while walking four and striking out eight. After Sims left the game, Alex Wilson pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit to the Blue Rocks.
Friday’s game was started by Cody Scarpetta, a former Brewers draft pick who signed with the Braves earlier this month after playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. Scarpetta also went seven innings, walking one and striking out seven. Like Thursday’s game, a reliever threw two innings to close out the no-hitter, but this time it was Benino Pruneda, a 2007 Braves draft pick who missed all of 2012 and 2013 due to injury, doing the job.
Can Lynchburg make it three in a row? If they do, it won’t be against Wilmington – the Hillcats are heading home to host the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Rangers affiliate. Jarrett Miller, a 21st round pick by the Braves in 2011, will be the one looking to continue the hitless streak.
