Arizona Fall League
Lone Star foes becomes allies as Rangers hurlers twirl gems to Astros catcher
A trio of Rangers pitching prospects worked with an Astros catcher to carry a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Friday night at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Alas, a single by Luis Lara (MIL No. 17) prevented the Surprise Saguaros from recording the first Arizona Fall League no-no in exactly eight years, but that didn’t take the shine off a lights-out effort from starter Leandro Lopez and Co. in a 2-1 win over the Peoria Javelinas.
And where else could you see future Lone Star Series foes making a run at history together?
Astros backstop prospect Collin Price never thought he’d be trying to lock down what was essentially a Rangers no-hitter.
“No. Absolutely not — especially since I faced them probably three or four times this season because they’re in our league,” Price said. “Normally I want to get hits off them, and tonight we’re trying to get everybody out. It’s part of the fun.”
Lopez, who was limited to 13 innings at High-A Hickory this season because of shoulder and elbow injuries, started it off with three hitless innings, striking out seven and walking one.
“I felt good,” Lopez said via interpreter and Saguaros second baseman Milan Tolentino (Guardians). “I’m bouncing back from a few OK starts and have been throwing the ball well recently, so glad I was able to continue.”
