By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – Three Peoria Chiefs pitchers, including rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals hurler Jaime Garcia, combined to no-hit the Clinton LumberKings 2-0 on Thursday night as the visitors got just one base-runner.
The Chiefs got five near-perfect innings from Garcia and four perfect innings from relievers Steve Sabatino and Cody Schumacher to move to 18-10 in the second half and 51-45 overall with three games remaining on the current home stand.
Garcia, Sabatino, and Schumacher combined to allow only one LumberKings baserunner on the evening when Garcia hit James Alfonso with a pitch in the third. A fielder’s choice groundout and a strikeout ended the inning, and the LumberKings would not reach base the rest of the way.
The Chiefs had no runs on four hits through the first seven frames, but they broke into the run column in the eighth against Clinton starter Zack Littell. With one out Andrew Sohn doubled, and he went to third on a single by Jhohan Acevedo. Acevedo advanced to second on a throwing error by LumberKings right fielder Chantz Mack. Sohn scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch when Clinton attempted to intentionally walk Mercado. After the wild pitch, the LumberKings pitched to Mercado, and he singled to drive in Acevedo for the 2-0 lead.
Schumacher took the mound with the 2-0 lead and a crowd of 5,154 rooting for the no-hitter. James Alfonso lined out to center and Martin Peguero flew out to right. Schumacher quickly got to 0-2 on Austin Cousino before a ball high and outside. Cousino lined out softly to Alex DeLeon at first to complete the Chiefs first no-hitter since July 4, 2011
Garcia went five hitless innings in his rehab outing, allowing only a hit batter to reach base while striking out six. Sabatino pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings, striking out two in his return to the Chiefs from the Florida State League. Schumacher (1-0) got the win with 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out one to earn the win and preserve the no-hitter.
