You would think that taking a no-hitter into the final inning of a 9-0 shutout might be the most important thing on the mind of a young minor league pitcher, and perhaps for many it would. But for right-handed pitching prospect Chase De Jong of the Dodgers Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers it was little more than a passing thought. Instead, the 22-year old Long Beach, California native was more concerned about supporting his teammates who had supported him early and often during the first game of a doubleheader against the Arkansas Travelers (Angels) on Friday night.

“Having a lead before you even step on the mound is always a great feeling,” De Jong said after the Drillers pounded the Travelers 9-1 in the first game of the twin bill. “My team put me in a good position to win and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass.”

The doubleheader was the result of a rain out between the two teams on July 14 and, per MiLB rules, consisted of two seven-inning games in order to help preserve the starting rotations and bullpens of both teams; something that also weighed heavily on De Jong.

“With it being a doubleheader tonight, my one goal for the game was to cover all seven [innings] so we would have the best chance for a well-rested pen for the second game,” said the hard-throwing right-hander.

De Jong entered Game-1 of Friday night’s doubleheader with the sole intention of pitching all seven innings to save his team’s bullpen for Game-2. Not only did he do that but he didn’t allow a hit in the first six of those seven innings. (Photo credit – Rich Crimi)

De Jong benefited from a tremendous offensive power surge by his teammates, who spotted him to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Drillers blazing hot center fielder Alex Verdugo. Verdugo is the defending Texas League Player of the Week, having been named such this past Monday.

The Tulsa crew added two more in the third inning on a two-run home run by recent Futures Game second baseman Willie Calhoun and broke the game wide open with four more runs in the fourth inning on consecutive hits by catcher Vinny DiFazio, third baseman Jordan Tarsovich, shortstop Tim Locastro, first baseman Cody Bellinger, right fielder Kyle Garlick and Calhoun again. For good measure the Drillers added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on RBI singles by Locastro and DiFazio respectively.

While all of this was happening, De Jong allowed no runs and no hits while walking two and striking out five through his first six innings of work.

“It was incredible. Vinny [DiFazio] received that ball so well for me tonight getting the in-between calls,” said De Jong. “I had great defense being played behind me all night”

The Travelers finally got to De Jong in the bottom of the seventh and final inning on a questionable leadoff infield single off the bat of Travelers designated hitter Andrew Daniel that ended De Jong’s bid for a no-hitter. He then picked up another strikeout which was followed by a wild pitch and then a double by Travelers third baseman Alex Yarbrough scoring Daniel to give the Angels affiliate their only run. De Jong then recorded his seventh and final strikeout of the night followed by a fly out to Drillers right fielder Jacob Scavuzzo to clinch the 9-1 win.

With the win De Jong improved his record to 10-4 on the season to become the Texas League’s first 10 game winner. In doing so he lowered his ERA to 2.59, also best in the league.

“I’m happy with how I did my job tonight,” De Jong said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”