Mullins shines in first pro victory

In earning his first professional victory, Nashville native Ryan Mullins retired the side in order four times in six shutout innings and limited Pulaski to just one hit while striking out 10 as the Elizabethton Twins beat the visiting Blue Jays, 5-1, on Tuesday night.

The third-round pick of Minnesota in June, Mullins struck out the side in the fourth inning and recorded 14 consecutive outs from the second to the sixth in earning the MiLB.com "Star of the Day."

The former Vanderbilt All-American allowed just one single and two walks in the game, lowering his ERA to 1.59. He has pitched well in all four of his starts for Elizabethton, but was saddled with no-decisions in his first three, including his last outing which lasted only one inning because of rain.

On the season, opponents have hit just .158 off Mullins, and the 6-foot-6 southpaw has yet to give up a hit to a left-handed batter. He has walked just five while striking out 23 in 17 innings.

Mullins was the winner of the first no-hitter in USA Baseball history on June 24, 2004, when he combined with four other pitchers, including recent first-round picks Joey Devine (Braves) and Luke Hochevar (Dodgers), to beat Canada, 9-0.