Scott shines in Florida State League debut

He knew after the third inning.

After facing the minimum through three innings on Saturday night, Daytona's Tayler Scott was aware of the fact he hadn't allowed a hit against the Brevard County Manatees. But he wasn't feeling any pressure.

"It was just one of those games where everything was working," Scott said after taking the no-hitter into the seventh inning of the Cubs' 13-2 romp at Space Coast Stadium. "Fastball was very good, I was able to keep it down in the zone."

Sticking with his game plan of pitching inside and keeping the ball down, the 21-year-old right-hander rolled through six frames. He allowed only two baserunners, both of whom were erased on double plays.

In the seventh, he retired Tyrone Taylor -- Milwaukee's top hitting prospect -- on a fly ball to left. When Orlando Arcia came to bat, Scott got the Brewers' No. 4 prospect to do what he wanted -- hit the ball on the ground. What happened next, however, was not part of Scott's plan.

"It was a comebacker at me [that] clipped my glove," the South Africa native said. "[Second baseman Gioskar] Amaya made a great play, but it was a hit."

With the no-hitter gone, Scott knew he needed to get out of the inning. After Michael Reed popped out, Victor Roache singled, but Alfredo Rodriguez bounced to Amaya for Scott's 10th ground-ball out.

By then, Daytona had staked a 9-0 lead.

"Having some run support definitely helps a lot," Scott said after his teammates totaled 21 hits. "Starts like that definitely make you more comfortable going into the next one."

After keeping his ERA to 2.52 in the short-season Northwest League in 2012, Scott went 6-8 with a 4.22 ERA in 24 starts for Class A Kane County last year. Saturday's Florida State League debut is a promising sign as the 2011 fifth-round pick begins his fourth pro season.

Starling Peralta followed Scott with a perfect inning, but Austin Kirk surrendered two runs on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts in the ninth.

The Cubs' offense was led by Pin-Chieh Chen, who went 3-for-5 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Cubs No. 3 prospect Albert Almora and Tim Saunders also plated three runs apiece, while Jeimer Candelario slugged his first homer of the season, a leadoff shot in the fourth.

Manatees starter Jed Bradley (0-1) was tagged for seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Stephen Peterson retired two batters in the eighth and gave up four runs on five hits.