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Sampson Just Misses No-No, Grabs One-Hit Shutout on Friday

All-Star loses no-hit bid with one out in the ninth but throws Curve's first nine-inning, complete-game shutout since 2009
By Mike Passanisi
July 18, 2014

CURVE, Pa. - Adrian Sampson came two outs away from the first-ever solo no-hitter in franchise history but had to settle for a complete-game shutout in a, 3-0, win on Friday night in front of 5,004 at Peoples Natural Gas Field. With one out in the ninth, Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Carl Yastrzemski, lined a double inside the line in left to wreck Sampson's no-hit bid.

Despite the no-hit bid falling short, Sampson's start goes down as one of the best ever in team history, if not the best. Of all the complete-game shutouts in the 16-year history of the franchise, none of them (seven or nine innings) have been of the one-hit variety. The last overall pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout was Brad Lincoln, who accomplished the feat on May 21, 2009 ironically enough at Bowie.

Sampson (8-5) had a bit of a sluggish start to the game in the first as he threw 24 pitches. Niuman Romero, the second-batter of the game, reached on an error by Stetson Allie but Sampson was able to work around it and get out of the inning.

From there the fifth-round pick from the 2012 draft zoned in and retired 18 in a row before allowing the next man in the game to reach. With one out in the seventh, Sampson walked K.D. Kang but then got the next two outs to escape the frame.

In the eighth the defense helped Sampson take his no-hit bid to the ninth. Jarek Cunningham, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in that inning, made a couple of spectacular plays on weakly hit ground balls to retire the first two batters. Johnny Ruettiger hit a dribbler to the right of second baseman Dan Gamache and he slid to field the ball and retired Ruettiger to keep the no-no intact. Also aiding Sampson's cause was the first baseman Allie, who made a nice stretch on one play and a nice pick on another to keep a zero in the hit column.

The righty reached the ninth and Sammie Starr smashed a hard-hit ball towards third. Cunningham had to dive to keep it from going down the line and was able to throw across the diamond to retire Starr and set Sampson up with two outs to go.

Yastrzemski's double came with Sampson ahead in the count 0-2 and fell just inside the line in left. The Curve righty recovered to get Romero to ground out before Kang fouled out to Willy Garcia in left to end it. When it was all said and done, Sampson threw only 98 pitches in the nine-inning shutout.

His run support came in the first when Allie drove home Drew Maggi with a RBI fielder's choice. The offense gave him some more wiggle room in the fourth when Gamache ripped an RBI double and Maggi had an RBI fielder's choice.

With the nine shutout innings, Sampson lowered his ERA to 2.58, which as of print time was third-best in the Eastern League.

Altoona (38-62) aims to make it two straight when they meet Bowie (51-48) in the 6 p.m. soiree on Saturday night in Curve, Pa. The first 1,500 fans through the gates on Saturday night will take home the Neil Walker Cartoon T-Shirt. Saturday night also serves as 4-H Night and the second Scout Night of the 2014 season. After the game, kids can run the bases.

On the bump for the Curve tomorrow will be LHP Jhonathan Ramos (2-3, 5.27), who has just returned to Altoona from Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be opposed by RHP Zach Davies (5-5, 3.57).

Gates will open at 5 p.m. while airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the ticket windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

-CURVE-