Lopez helms no-hitter in Puerto Rico

After a less than stellar regular season, Jorge Lopez is off to a scintillating start in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

The Brewers' No. 13 prospect was almost perfect over five innings and combined with five relievers on a no-hitter Friday night as Mayaguez blanked Santurce, 3-0.

Making his second start for the Indios, Lopez allowed just one baserunner as Giants prospect Kevin Rivera reached on a wild third strike with one out in the third inning. The 23-year-old fanned four and exited with the game still scoreless.

Mariners No. 29 prospect Paul Fry recorded two outs in the sixth but issued back-to-back walks before Felix Baez (1-0) ended the inning. Dodgers southpaw Michael Johnson, Twins right-hander Dereck Rodriguez and Cardinals prospect Kevin Herget each worked an inning, with Herget recording his league-leading third save.

Santurce starter Andres Santiago held the Indios hitless for four innings, but Mayaguez broke through in the seventh on an RBI single by Royals prospect Emmanuel Rivera.

While he did not figure in the decision, Lopez kept his winter ball ERA at 0.00. He's given up one hit over nine innings while striking out six and walking one. Coming off a breakout season in 2015, the Puerto Rico native struggled in his first exposure to Triple-A, going 1-7 with a 6.81 ERA in 17 games -- including 16 starts -- for Colorado Springs. He returned to Double-A Biloxi at the end of July and went 2-4 with a 3.97 ERA in eight starts.

Lopez spent most of 2015 with the Shuckers and was named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher after going 12-5 with a 2.26 ERA and 137 strikeouts over 143 1/3 innings. He led the league with a 1.10 WHIP and shared the top spot in wins while finishing a close second in ERA behind teammate Tyler Wagner (2.25).

A 2014 All-Star Futures Game participant, Lopez earned a late-season promotion to Milwaukee and was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts for the Brewers.