SW Michigan pitches combined no-hitter

Jino Gonzalez III, Matt Larson and Jose De La Cruz combined on the first nine-inning no-hitter at C.O. Brown Stadium as the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays blanked the Beloit Snappers, 7-0, on Saturday night.

Making his third start of the season and second since coming off the disabled list, Gonzalez (1-1) walked one and struck out four in five innings, retiring the last 11 batters he faced.

Larson extended that streak to 16 straight Snappers retired before Jeremy Pickrel reached on an error by shortstop Reid Brignac. Larson fanned two in two innings.

De La Cruz finished off the second no-hitter in the Midwest League this season, walking one and striking out two over the last two innings.

Francisco Leandro preserved the gem with a sensational catch on a flare to left field by Tarrence Patterson leading off the ninth. After Deacon Burns fouled out, De La Cruz struck out Chris Brown to end the third no-hitter in franchise history.

Southwest Michigan's last no-hitter was a nine-inning gem by Elvys Quezada, who whitewashed the South Bend Silver Hawks on May 24, 2004. The Devil Rays' last no-no at Brown Stadium was a seven-inning effort by Carlos Hernandez on May 28, 2000 in the second game of a doubleheader against West Michigan.

Three pitchers combined on a 10-inning no-hitter for the Peoria Chiefs on April 20 in a 3-2 victory at Cedar Rapids.