CLEVELAND (AP) - Ervin Santana’s no-hitter at Progressive Field had company almost as soon as it was over.
Just a few hours after Santana completed his gem for the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians, another no-hitter was pitched about 20 miles west in an independent Frontier League game.
Andrew Moss of the Joliet (Ill.) Slammers beat the host Lake Erie Crushers 10-1 at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, a western suburb of Cleveland in nearby Lorain County.
The 24-year-old Moss walked six, struck out seven and has a 4-3 record in nine starts for the Slammers.
“That might have been the ugliest no-hitter of all time,” a happy Moss said. “I walked six guys, hit one, but we were able to get the job done and get the win. My defense was amazing and its always easier to pitch when your offense scores 10 runs.”
Moss walked the bases loaded in the seventh and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly by Jason Taylor.
He retired the first 11 batters he faced, getting some help from center fielder Bobby Leeper when he made a diving catch in the first inning to take a hit away. In the sixth, shortstop Brad Netzel made a leaping catch of a line drive.
A 35th-round draft choice by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009, Moss went 11-5 in their minor-league system, including 2-0 earlier this year at Quad Cities of the Class A Midwest League.
The two gems on Wednesday followed a perfect game by a pitcher for one of Ohio’s minor-league clubs.
Justin Germano of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers found perfection with a 3-0 win Tuesday night, striking out seven in Syracuse, N.Y. Germano opened the 2011 season as part of the Indians’ bullpen.
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