Samardzjia comes within two outs of no-hitter

Pitching for his third team this season, Jeff Samardzjia very nearly wrote himself into the Sardine City record books, coming within two outs of tossing the franchise's first complete-game no-hitter last night.

Rookie Trea Turner broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the 9th inning. The Straphangers handily defeated Poovey Farms, 6-0, with Samardzjia finishing with a 1-hit, 9-strikeout complete game.

In his 3rd start for Sardine City since getting picked up on waivers from Philly, the Notre Dame product shut down a Poovey Farms lineup that includes Freddie Freeman, Josh Donaldson and Xander Bogaerts. The only other no-hitter in franchise history was a combined effort by Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Motte in July 2012. It would have been the second no-hitter this season after a combined effort by Hillsborough just a few weeks ago.

Samardzjia set down the first 10 batters, including six by strikeout, before a one-out walk to Jean Segura in the 4th. The next 11 batters would go quietly until another walk, this time to Kyle Seager leading off the 8th.

Still with no hits through 8 innings, Poovey Farms sent up Dee Gordon to pinch-hit for the No. 9 hitter, Wellington Castillo, leading off the 9th with a flyout to right. Turner then singled up the middle for Poovey's first hit off Samardjzia. After a standing ovation from the Poovey Farms home crowd, Samardzjia got Segura to ground out to short, forcing Turner at second before ending the game with a strikeout of Freddie Freeman.

Samardzjia finished with 9 strikeouts and 2 walks, allowing just one hit over nine innings. Of his 105 pitches, 71 went for strikes (.676 strike percentage). He improved to 5-4 overall and lowered his ERA for the season to 4.35. In 3 starts for Sardine City, he's now 2-0 with an ERA of 4.23 and 0.99 WHIP.

Sean Manaea took the loss for Poovey Farms, scattering 6 hits and 2 runs over 8 innings. The rookie left-hander struck out 7 and walked 1 and fell to 4-3. Kelley finished up with an ugly 9th inning that saw four runs on four hits and two walks.

Playing second base, Javier Baez gave Samardzjia all the offense he would need with home run to lead off the game. The Straphangers added a run in the 5th when Kurt Suzuki singled home Evan Longoria, who had doubled a batter earlier.

Sardine City put the game out of reach with a 4-spot off reliever Shawn Kelley in the 9th. After Stephen Piscotty hit a solo shot, Longoria drew a two-out walk that was followed by a single by Suzuki. Eric Hosmer doubled home Longoria to make it 4-0 with two runners in scoring position.  Joc Pederson was walked intentionally to load the bases and Baez smacked his third hit of the game, a double that nearly cleared the bases but for Pederson getting thrown out at home by Turner.

The 32-year-old Samardzjia started the season in Livingston, which selected him in the 4th round (57th overall) of this year's draft. He didn't get much slack, getting cut after going 2-1 with a 6.35 ERA in 5 appearances, including 3 starts, for the Lords of Swing.

Philly picked him up off waivers and he fared better, going 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP but still got a pink slip after 7 starts. Sardine City nabbed Samardzjia off waivers from Philly after injuries to its starting rotation.