The Arizona League Dodgers ended their 2014 season with a bang on Thursday – with a rare no-hitter. It is rare because of the youth on the AZL teams and also because it was accomplished by four pitchers.

AZL (Rookie League) Dodgers Yeuri Gonzalez, Harlan Richter, Brant Whiting (catcher), Jairo Pacheco and Kameron Uter threw a combined no-hitter against the AZL Brewers on Thursday.
(Photo courtesy of DodgerInsider.com)

A personal favorite of mine, Jairo Pacheco, who had a slow start to his season after being blistering hot in the DSL in 2013, finished off his season with 12 scoreless innings after leaving today’s game after the sixth inning. In August Pacheco had a 0.90 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in 30 innings while holding the opposition to a .175 batting average against.

The 18 year old Pacheco was relieved by Kam Uter, also 18. Uter walked one batter in his inning pitched. He, in turn, was relieved by Yeuri Gonzalez who retired the only two batters he faced. Harlan Richter finished the game with the final four outs. After walking a hitter in the ninth he induced a double play to complete a rarity – a no-hitter in the AZL.

As difficult as a no hitter is, perhaps it was made a bit easier by the offense that scored 10 runs. Although they had only seven hits they drew 11 walks. Alex Verdugo, the Dodgers second round selection in the 2014 First Year Player draft, provided all the offense that was needed. He walked once, had two hits, including a home run, drove in three runs and scored two. All of that happened in three plate appearances as he was taken out of the game after four innings. He finishes the season as the second leading hitter in the league.

Because the AZL Indians finished first in both halves of the season in the Central Division, the team with the next best overall record earns a berth into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. And though the AZL Dodgers finish the second half tied for second at 13-15 with the AZL Reds, they beat the Reds in head-to-head play, thus earning the Wild Card berth.

The AZL playoffs begin this Saturday in the Valley of the Sun.