Greenville pitchers combine for first no-hitter in franchise history

Miguel Pena (Kelly O'Connor)

Left-handers Miguel Pena and Hunter Cervenka and right-hander Tyler Lockwood combined to throw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Greenville Drive history this afternoon, beating the Rome Braves, 1-0. The victory completes a four-game sweep for Greenville.

Pena got the start and threw 6.0 perfect innings, striking out 7. Cervenka took over in the seventh, striking out the side that inning and took a perfect game into the eighth inning, before walking Jakob Dalfonso to lead-off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt, Cervenka struck out both Elmer Reyes and Felix Marte to keep both the no-hit bid and the lead intact. Lockwood came in to pitch a perfect ninth for his second save of the season, striking out Tony Mueller to finish it. In all, the three pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and just one walk.

Greenville’s offense was provided by Keury De La Cruz. The left fielder continued his hot streak, collecting two of the Drive’s three hits, including a solo home run in the fifth inning that provided the game's lone run.

The appearance was the eleventh of Pena’s professional career. Pena, 21, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 draft out of San Jacinto Junior College, and the Texan is off to an excellent start to his first full season as a pro. Today’s victory brings his record to 2-2, with a 1.72 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 31.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 29 batters on the season while walking only 3.

The no-hitter is the second of the season in the South Atlantic League, following one on April 24 by the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and the first for a Red Sox minor league affiliate since August 13, 2006, when Jeff Farrell and Yulkin German combined on the achievement for the Lowell Spinners.

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