Archer, Reed combine on spring training no-hitter

It may not count but it still doesn't happen very often: A spring training no-hitter!

Chris Archer and Addison Reed combined to no-hit Arkansas in Tucson's first game Friday night, 5-0.

Archer was effectively wild, walking 6 batters and striking out 9 over 7 innings. Only 61 of his 118 pitches were for strikes -- less than 52 percent. Reed was crisper in his 2 innings, striking out two over 22 pitches (14 were for strikes, 63.6 percent).

The Kingsnakes opened the scoring early. After Jose Altuve led off the game with a single, he scored on a double by Eric Thames, who returns to the DMBL for the first time since 2012 when he played for Livingston. Nelson Cruz led off the 4th with a homer off Dylan Bundy. Nolan Arenado followed with a single and Carlos Gonzalez launched another homer, for a 4-0 lead. Arenado led off the 6th with another homer and that was it for the scoring as well as for Bundy. He surrendered 5 runs on 6 hits over 5 innings, walking 2 and striking out 6. Brian Shaw, Greg Holland and Ryan Buchter finished up with three hitless innings; the only blemish being a trio of walks by Holland in the 8th that he managed to escape.

The Golden Falcons' most serious threat came in the 3rd when Archer bunched up his walks. Cesar Hernandez led off with a walk, Archer's first, and took second on a sacrifice by Brandon Phillips. Ketel Marte grounded out for the 2nd out, bring up the top of the order. Archer then walked Buster Posey and Lorenzo Cain to load the bases before Michael Brantley harmlessly flied to left to end the inning.

Archer's performance could strengthen his case for a spot in the back of Tucson's rotation, which is expected to be headed up by Max Scherzer and lefty Robbie Ray, who have sat out spring training thus far. After four starts, Archer leads the group 3.70 ERA and 27 strikeouts. His 24.3 innings matches Tanner Roark and Patrick Corbin for the team lead and his 1.15 WHIP is second only to Madison Bumgarner (0.99).

Archer was acquired by the Kingsnakes, along with a 10th round pick, from Vancouver in exchange for shortstop Brandon Crawford ahead of the 2017 protected lists.