LeBarron impresses as Things sweep
0629_SPT_wildthings_03 Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter Wild Thing's pitcher Zach LaBarron pitched the first five innings of the first game on Friday with a no-hitter before being replaced in the sixth inning.
0629_SPT_wildthings_02 Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter The umpire calls the Frontier Grey’s Luis Parache out at second after Wild Things’ C.J. Beatty tagged him out during the first game Friday night.
0629_SPT_wildthings_01 Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter Wild Things’ C.J. Beatty slides into home knocking the ball out of the Grey’s catcher Justin McDavid’s Mitt landing safely on base during the first inning of the second game Friday, June 28.
Zach LeBarron is so new to the Wild Things that his name is not yet stitched onto the back of his jersey.
However, with only five outs remaining in the opening game of a doubleheader Friday night against the Frontier League Greys, LeBarron had a chance to put his name in the Wild Things’ record book.
A left-handed pitcher from Bennington, Vt., who was signed by Washington earlier in the day, LeBarron was given the starting assignment and had thrown 5 1/3 no-hit innings and had a 1-0 lead. He allowed only one batter to reach base, a fifth-inning walk to Mark Micowski on a 3-2 pitch. LeBarron had pounded the strike zone, throwing 37 strikes among his 54 pitches.
Could he become only the third pitcher in Wild Things history – and first since 2003 – to throw a no-hitter?
We’ll never know.
That’s because Washington manager Bart Zeller walked to the pitcher’s mound and took LeBarron out of the game.
LeBarron, who had been released by the Los Angeles Angels two weeks ago at the end of extended spring training, had not pitched more than three innings in an outing since last summer. LeBarron admitted that his legs were tired, and Zeller decided it was time to replace his pitcher, even in the midst of a no-hitter. Zeller knew the pitching change was not going to be popular with the 1,845 fans at Consol Energy Park.
“I heard the people talking,” Zeller said. “But LeBarron was tired. It’s a long season and I’m going to need him again. I asked him an inning earlier how he felt, and he said that he felt tired and it was the longest he had pitched all spring.”
The pitching change didn’t alter the course of the game. Washington settled for a one-hitter and a 2-0 victory, then completed the sweep by winning the nightcap 4-1.
LeBarron got the first out of the sixth inning when Brock McCallister grounded out to second base, and that was the last batter he would face.
“He was getting the ball up, though it wasn’t showing in his results,” Zeller explained. “After he got that first out, we felt this was the time. I wanted the kid to leave on a positive note. We don’t pay attention to no-hitters in seven-inning games. … We have a coaching staff that was in agreement about that move. Not one person said. ‘Hey, do you know he has a no-hitter going?’ I wasn’t worried about that. I wanted to win a ballgame.”
Two batters later, the Greys’ Luis Parache lined a clean single into right centerfield off reliever Orlando Santos for the Greys’ first and last hit of the game. Jhonny Montoya got the final three outs for his second save.
LeBarron said he had no qualms about coming out of the game.
“My legs were tired,” he said. “I was just trying to throw strikes because I have a good defense behind me. I have never taken a no-hitter this deep into a game, but to me this is just the start of the season.”
The Wild Things produced the only run they would need in the second inning, when Stewart Ijames’ sacrifice fly scored Mark Samuelson. C.J. Beatty’s single that scored Shain Stoner in the sixth inning provided an insurance run.
In the second game, Washington’s Gary Lee and reliever Amalio Diaz, another late addition to the roster, combined on a three-hitter as the Wild Things stopped their four-game losing streak with the sweep.
Washington scored three runs in the top of the first inning against Greys starter Dillon Wilson (0-3). Beatty drove in Darian Sandford with a fielder’s choice ground ball and Ijames followed with a two-run single. Beatty made it 4-0 in the third when his double drove in Jovan Rosa.
The Greys, the league’s traveling team, scored their only run of the twinbill on JJ Muse’s solo homer in the fourth.
Lee (3-3) pitched six solid innings and Diaz got the final three out for his initial save with Washington.
“We played very well today,” Zeller said. “We made some plays that kept the other team down.”
The signings of LeBarron and Diaz were among several roster moves by the Wild Things. Pitcher Will Scott was placed on the 7-day disabled list and pitcher Jordan Elliott (0-0, 13.50) was released. The 26-year-old Diaz is the most experienced pitcher Washington has ever signed. He is in his eighth season of pro baseball and has pitched in 239 games, including 62 (13 starts) at Class AAA and 62 more in Class AA. Diaz played last year in the Frontier League with Joliet and had a 1-1 record, 2.10 ERA and 19 saves in 34 games before being signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Zeller was Diaz’s manager at Joliet. … LeBarron helped Southern New Hampshire to the NCAA Division II World Series last year. … The start of the first game was delayed 49 minutes because of rain.