Drive's Bard helps pen abbreviated no-hitter

Greenville hurlers Daniel Bard and Ryan Phillips didn't allow Kannapolis any hits through six innings Monday. Then Mother Nature swept in and ensured them of a no-hitter.

The no-no was the first in the professional career of Bard, who was the 28th overall pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina.

"When I went out there in the sixth, I wasn't thinking about it at all," said Phillips, who had never been involved in a no-hitter either. "But once the rain started coming after that sixth inning, I thought maybe I wouldn't have to worry about blowing it."

Phillips didn't have to throw another pitch as the game was halted and eventually called after a 30-minute delay in the top of the seventh.

"It doesn't feel like a true no-hitter, but it's definitely cool to say we did it," he said. "Give him (Bard) all the credit, I only threw one inning. He was really throwing the ball with ease and staying ahead of the hitters all night."

Greenville's closest previous brush with a no-hitter was May 29, 2006, when Chris Jones and relievers Ismael Casillas and Hunter Jones allowed one hit over nine innings vs. the Augusta GreenJackets.

The Drive (26-38) scored four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Manuel Arambarris' two-run homer. Arambarris went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Jonathan Still and Josh Reddick each had two hits and scored once.

Reddick extended his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games. Over that span, Reddick has hit .373 (19-for-51) with a home run, 11 runs and three RBIs.

Intimidators starter Jacob Rasner (3-6) allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two in 4 2/3 innings for the loss. Kannapolis (28-37) has lost four straight.