Peoria pitchers no-hit Cedar Rapids
It was the first no-hitter for the Chiefs since Scott Gardner and Anthony Lee combined to no-hit the Springfield Cardinals 2-1 on April 28th, 1993 in a seven-inning game.
Gallagher set the tone by tying a career high with eight strikeouts and retiring the last 11 batters he faced. He walked two and was hurt by two errors as the Kernels took a 2-0 lead after two innings. Both errors were committed by shortstop Jose Rios.
After Gallagher left the game, the Chiefs rallied against the Kernels bullpen to tie the game in the 7th. Alberto Garcia reached on an error by shortstop Sean Rodriguez and Alan Rick singled up the middle. After Rios was hit by a pitch, Luis Montanez got the Chiefs on the board with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Aaron Smith lifted a flyball into right that was lost by Warner Madrigal. Madrigal recovered to force Rios at first, but Rick scored from third to tie the game.
Walt Nolen took over for Gallagher in the 7th and retired all nine batters he faced including five on strikeouts. The Chiefs threatened in the 8th and 9th innings but failed to score as the game went to extras.
In the 10th, Smith bunted his way on with one out and advanced to second on a four pitch walk to Ryan Harvey. Drew Larsen followed with a single to right off Kernels left-hander Jaime Douglas. Smith slid across the plate just ahead of the throw from Madrigal to give the Chiefs a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, Jon Hunton entered for the Chiefs looking for a piece of history and his first save of the season. He struck out Tommy Duenas swinging for the first out. He then got Madrigal looking on three pitches for the second out. After falling behind Billy Boyer 2-0, Hunton responded with back to back strikes. With his team on the edge of the dugout, Hunton froze Boyer with strike three on the outside corner to end the no-hitter.
Nolen (2-0) picked up the win while Hunton earned his first save. Overall, the Chiefs hurlers retired the final 23 Kernels batters. Freddy Sandoval, who walked with one out in the third was the last batter to reach for Cedar Rapids.