No-hitter: Devin Smeltzer achieves baseball milestone for Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are joining the no-hitter club.
Devin Smeltzer pitched the first-ever no-hitter for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Triple-A baseball, mowing down the Charlotte Knights 3-0 in the seven-inning second game of Friday night's doubleheader at 121 Financial Ballpark.
The no-no was the first for the franchise since Eli Villanueva's rain-shortened five-inning no-hitter for the Jacksonville Suns on Aug. 15, 2010, and the first of six or more innings in regular-season play since Kevin Mobley threw a no-hitter for the Suns against the Tennessee Smokies on Aug. 3, 2000.
Smeltzer (5-8) allowed only three walks over seven innings, striking out four batters from the Knights (47-83, 12-43). The Jumbo Shrimp (63-66, 21-24) moved in front in the first inning after an error, single and balk, and pulled away in the third after a Jordan Groshans RBI single.
A native of Voorhees, N.J., Smeltzer celebrates his 28th birthday on Thursday. He is in his first year with the Marlins' organization after arriving via free agency from the Twins' farm system.
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Charlotte won the first half of the doubleheader 4-1, coming from behind in the fourth inning. Tyler Neslony homered for the go-ahead run, and Yolbert Sanchez and Tyler Naquin followed with RBI singles against Jumbo Shrimp starter Chi Chi Gonzalez (6-9).
Former Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena earned the win in the opener for the Knights, limiting Jacksonville to five hits and one run across 5 2/3 innings.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp pitcher Devin Smeltzer throws no-hitter
