Pitchers in the Kansas City Royals farm system have made the bold choice to not allow opponents to get hits anymore. On Monday, Triple-A affiliate Omaha Storm Chasers' Luis Mendoza hurled a no-hitter against the Memphis Redbirds. The no-hitter was a first in the club's 23-year history. Then, last night, two pitchers for Double-A Northwest Arkansas combined for a no-hitter.
But there was controversy surrounding Mendoza's no-hitter. It was the 27-year-old's second no-hitter in the minor leagues, but it hinged on a decision by the official scorer at Memphis' Autozone Park.
Mendoza took a no-hitter into the ninth before the Redbirds' TylerGreene, with a 13-game hitting streak in jeopardy, hit a drive to deep
left field. Omaha's David Lough initially turned the wrong way in
pursuit of the slicing liner and tried to reach over his head to make a
twisting catch while backpedaling -- and had the ball deflect off his
glove.
Official scorer JJ Guinozzo ruled it an error, and three outs later Mendoza celebrated his second no-hitter in three seasons.
About
a half-hour later, Guinozzo changed the call to a hit. Then, after a
conversation with Omaha hitting coach and interim manager Tommy Gregg,
Guinozzo reversed his decision again, changing it back to an error and
reinstating the no-hitter about an hour after the game had ended.
The Redbirds filed an appeal Tuesday with the Pacific Coast League,
saying the error should be reversed back to a hit, but the league hasn't
made a ruling yet.
And because searching YouTube for "Luis Mendoza" brings up clips featuring a character with that name in The Mighty Ducks, let's watch this perfect parody of the NHL's "History will be made" commercials.
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