DeSclafani throws first-ever perfect game

After 26 no-hitters in DMBL history, it wasn't a former Ben McDonald winner or a future Hall of Famer who threw the league's first-ever perfect game but a journeyman who could be mistaken for your local plumber.

Sardine City's Anthony DeSclafani etched his name into DMBL lore with an 81-pitch masterpiece on Wednesday, shutting down the Erie Snowwolves in a 2-0 win over Erie in front of the home crowd at The New York Cannery. An incredible 61 of his pitches -- 75.3% -- went for strikes. He struck out 7 while facing the minimum 27 batters. DeSclafani improved to 3-4 and lowered his ERA to 3.43 and his WHIP to 1.05 (which ranks 9th in the league). Sardine City improved to 29-33, in 3rd place in the DiMaggio Division, 3 GB of Vancouver.

It's the second no-hitter in franchise history -- the other was a combined effort by Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Motte in 2012 -- and the first in DMBL since Trevor Bauer did it for Blue Ridge last August.

The Straphangers offense didn't do much but it was enough. Miguel Rojas and Donovan Solano led off the game with back-to-back singles before Erie starter Kris Bubic plunked Corey Seager. Rojas then crossed the plate for the first run when Aaron Judge grounded into a double play. In the 5th inning, Matt Chapman connected for a solo homer for the game's only other run.

The Snowwolves wasted a fine start from Bubic, who limited the Straphangers to 4 hits and allowed just the 2 runs. He finished with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks in 7 innings.

It's been quite a turnaround for DeSclafani, who turned 32 last month. He joined Sardine City last spring and essentially served in a mop-up role the rest of the season, going 0-1 with a 8.79 ERA and 1 save in 42 innings over 24 relief appearances with a 32:24 K:BB.

The Freehold native, nicknamed Disco and T-Bone, has bounced around DMBL a bit since first becoming eligible in the 2016 season. That year, he was was selected by Philly in the 9th round (144th overall) but struggled mightily. He lasted just 20+ innings (10.89 ERA) in 9 appearances, including 3 starts. El Paso picked him up a month later. DeSclafani went 4-10, 4.50 ERA for the Chihuahuas but ate up innings, logging 146 innings over 22 starts for a 95-loss club. It was enough to stick around in El Paso and in 2017, he made 27 appearances, including 11 starts, going 5-6 with 3 saves and a 5.32 ERA.

The 2008 Colts Neck High School alum was drafted in the 3rd round (45th overall) by Allentown in 2020 but was released a month later before getting picked up by Livingston. He had a strong year for a 100-win wild card team, going 13-5, 3.84 ERA, in 180.3 innings over 27 starts.