Millwood dominates in Trenton debut

Making his first start since September, 36-year-old Kevin Millwood showed no signs of rust Sunday.

Millwood carried a no-hitter into the sixth en route to a seven-inning complete-game shutout in Game 1 of Double-A Trenton's doubleheader against Harrisburg. The Thunder rolled to an 8-0 victory in the one-hitter.

The right-handed veteran signed with the Yankees on March 26 with the stipulation that he can opt out of his contract if he doesn't reach the Major Leagues by May 1. He allowed four walks and one hit while striking out three.

"I feel like I'm getting closer to where I need to be," Millwood told The Trentonian. "Aside from the walks, I felt like I threw the ball well."

Making the start at Trenton's Waterfront Park for injured prospect Dellin Betances, Millwood walked Josh Johnson to start the game. Johnson stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice, but Millwood got a comebacker and a fly ball to get out of the inning.

He worked a 1-2-3 second, striking out the second hitter, and got around another leadoff walk in the third. After a one-out base on balls in the fourth, Millwood retired seven straight.

Harrisburg's Buck Coats got aboard with a two-out free pass in the sixth, and Millwood gave up a single to Nationals prospect Tyler Moore. The former Major League All-Star got an infield pop fly to get out of the inning unscored upon.

He struck out the first hitter of the seventh and got the next two in order.

"I was pretty impressed with the way he went in and out and when he got ahead and exploited the hitters' weaknesses," Thunder manager Tony Franklin told the newspaper.

Yankees prospect Austin Romine, who served as Millwood's batterymate, was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Austin Krum doubled, knocked in three and scored twice.