Martin takes no-hitter into seventh
The Braves' prospect Martin took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as Class A Advanced Lynchburg blanked Wilmington, 1-0, on Wednesday.
After recording 13 straight outs, Martin allowed a leadoff single to Angel Franco. Atlanta's seventh-round pick in the 2011 Draft gave up a single to Brian Fletcher, but completed the seventh with the shutout intact.
"I just really located my fastball to both sides of the plate," Martin said. "I had my cutter going really well in the early innings. Just setting the tone early with my fastball and cutter, I got them worried about them and then was able to throw other pitchers later.
"I just got to a 3-2 count and [Franco] fouled some pitches off," Martin said of the single. "I threw a cutter and he stayed on it and hit it to opposite field."
Martin, who struck out seven and walked two, improved to 4-3 with the victory. The 22-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.29 and he leads the Carolina League with 42 strikeouts. Martin credits some changes he made after his start against Carolina on April 23, when he allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings.
"I actually moved to the other side of the rubber over the first-base side," Martin said. "It really made my fastball and cutter efficient, being able to throw it in to righties. The last three outings I have been successful with the fastball command and the development of the cutter."
Since then, Martin has allowed two runs in four starts, fanning 28 batters in 25 innings.
Tim Smith provided the Hillcats with their only run with a sixth-inning homer.
Chasen Shreve tossed a perfect eighth and Juan Jamie fanned two in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
Jason Adam fell to 1-4 after allowing a run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings for the Blue Rocks.