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Game of the Week: D2 Detroit Stars at San Diego Padres, June 14, 2039
Asmus No-Hits Stars as Padres Take Tight Contest, 1-0
In a pitcher’s duel for the ages, the San Diego Padres came out on top thanks to Brice Asmus’ no-hitter, the fifth in Padres history. The Padres prevailed 1-0, as Zack Root gave almost as good as his teammates got, allowing just five hits over eight innings despite taking the loss.
Root had to work out of trouble a couple of times early on, allowing a first inning, one-out double to Brad Becerra; walking two in the third. But through four, he had allowed just one hit and two walks as he matched Asmus inning for inning; the Padres starter also allowed three baserunners through the top of the fifth, courtesy of an error that allowed Aaron Felton to reach in the first, a ball that hit Victor Ortiz in the 4th, and a walk to Shane McBride in the 5th.
As low-scoring games do, this one turned on just a couple of pitches in the bottom of the fifth. With Mobley leading off, Root hung a slider that the Padres OF turned on, lacing a double down the LF line. Two batters later, Chris Weber lunged and got some of a beautiful low outside fastball, looping it just over 2B McBride’s head. Mobley, having to hang back for a moment on the bloop, only got to third, but a roller to second by Victor Castro was slow enough to bring him home to give the Padres the only run they’d need.
Both pitchers were nearly flawless after the fifth, with Asmus walking two and Root giving up two hits, but nothing more.
The mood at Lane Field was electric as Asmus entered the ninth to face the top of the Stars order. Matt Petrick gave the home fans their biggest scare of the night, roping a shot off a 1-2 offering, but 2B Brad Becerra somehow got a glove on it in full dive, and corralled it long enough to record out one. Aaron Felton swung through a slider for out two, and as the crowd stood and cheered as one, Ali Brown rolled a slow one off a slider, to SS Chris Weber. The veteran charged it and handled it cleanly, flinging it across the diamond to get Brown by a couple of steps. The Padres converged on the mound as Asmus raised his arms in victory, a no-hitter in the books.
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