Ronald Herrera, Jonathan Holder Combine for No-Hitter in Trenton
The No-Hitter has been the theme as of late on Yanks Go Yard
Just one night after New York Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi nearly no-hit the Texas Rangers in his native Lone Star state, two Yankees prospects down in Trenton (AA) decided to raise the ante and one-up ‘Nasty Nate’.
On Tuesday night the Trenton Thunder used two pitchers to toss a combined no-hitter against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
20-year old Right-handed pitcher Ronald Herrera started things off by tossing eight dominant hitless innings that included two walks and five strikeouts. Herrera was originally acquired by the Yankees as part of the Jose Pirela trade last November.
22-year old Thunder reliever Jonathan Holder sealed the deal with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, improving his ERA to an impressive 0.73 out of the Trenton Bullpen.
Backed by four runs, Ronald Herrera improved his 2016 record to 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA.
The combined no-hitter was the first no-no down in Trenton since former Yankee Tyler Cippard tossed one on August 9, 2006 on the road against the Harrisburg Senators (WSH). Newly appointed Philadelphia Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez pitched a perfect game against the Thunder at Arm & Hammer park back in 2009, but Tuesday night marked the first time the Trenton Thunder were on the winning side of a no-hitter in their home ball park.
As with any no-htter or perfect game at any level of professional or minor league ball, an outstanding defensive play or two are usually in order. The no-hit bid was nearly broken up in the top of the ninth when Roemon Fields bounced a high chopper back to the mound, but Holder made an athletic play to grab the ball out of the air before it bounced behind the mound and fired onto first for the second out of the inning. Earlier in the fifth inning, utility-man and Yonkers, NY native Dan Fiorito made a diving stop on a smoked ground ball to recorded another key out and preserve a hit that was crucial to the no-hit bid.