Gt. Falls McCarthy Pitches 7 no-hit innings

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Friday, July 4, 2003

 

McCarthy on the mark

By GEORGE GEISE

Tribune Sports Editor

 

 

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Chris Cron wasn't going to break the rules, not even for his star pitcher.

Brandon McCarthy, the ace right-hander for the Great Falls White Sox, held the Ogden Raptors hitless for seven innings Thursday at Legion Park, and it looked like the 19-year-old could go on throwing strikes all night.

 

But Cron, the manager, knew better -- and so did McCarthy. The Chicago White Sox baseball organization has strict pitch-count limits for its young prospects, and McCarthy was nearing that number. So Cron lifted his hurler in the eighth inning, and the White Sox held on to beat the Raptors 3-1 to give McCarthy his fourth victory against no defeats.

 

"I know the rules, and I didn't have a tough decision at all," said Cron. "His limit is 90 (pitches), and he had thrown 85. If he couldn't finish the game, there was no reason to send him back out there (in the eighth). He had done all he could do."

 

McCarthy wanted to continue -- who wouldn't want to finish off a no-hitter? -- but he understands the nature of Rookie League baseball.

 

"If this were the big leagues, it would be a different story," said the 6-foor-7 McCarthy, who dazzled the Raptors with an assortment of fastballs, sharp-breaking curves and changeups. "But it's the minor leagues, and they have their rules.

 

"I had one no-hitter in high school and a couple 1-hitters. Maybe I'll get my chance again someday."

 

If he pitches like he did Thursday -- or the way he has the first three weeks of the Pioneer League season -- an official no-hitter is certainly within McCarthy's grasp. He struck out 12 Raptors and walked just one, and no batter came close to getting a base hit.

 

His earned run average dropped below 1.50, best in the Pioneer League.

 

"Brandon has certainly opened some eyes in this organization," said Cron. "He's doing exactly what he was sent here to do -- throw strikes and get better."

 

If he gets much better, of course, the Chicago front office will be sending him up the minor-league ladder, which isn't good news for Great Falls fans.

 

"He's what, 19 years old?" said Cron. "He did almost the same thing the last time out (beating Ogden last week). He threw 88 pitches in that game, but it was a seven-inning game and we let him finish."

 

Even with McCarthy's splendid performance, the 2,468 fans at Legion Park had to sweat out a tense finish.

 

John Russ relieved McCarthy in the eighth and retired the side without a hit, giving the crowd hope for a combined no-hitter. But Simon Ferrer led off the ninth with a grounder through the hole between first and second for a single. A fielder's choice and walk preceded a run-scoring double by Ryan Carter, then Taylor Slimak walked to load the bases.

 

That's when Cron summoned closer Fernando Hernandez, who coaxed Michael Lynch into bouncing out to the first baseman to end the game. It was the third save of the season for Hernandez.

 

The White Sox scored all three of their runs in the second inning off Ogden starter Edgar Ahumada (0-2). Brandon Bounds and Charlie Lisk singled with one out, then Chris Kelly ripped a two-run double to left-center. Kelly eventually scored on the tail end of an attempted double-steal.

 

Great Falls managed just eight hits against three Ogden hurlers.

 

The White Sox improved to 11-4, leading the Northern Division, while Ogden fell to 6-10. The Raptors -- who played in Great Falls last summer as the Dodgers -- lost six of seven games to the Sox this season; they won't play again unless they meet in the playoffs.

 

Sean Thompson (0-0) starts tonight for Great Falls against the Provo Angels on a Fourth of July feature. A crowd of at least 4,000 is expected for the game and a big fireworks celebration that follows. The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

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Great Falls kick ass.