NEWSLETTER
The South Bend Cubs combined on a team no-hitter on Thursday night, blanking the Fort Wayne Tin Caps to win their sixth consecutive game. They join the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Iowa Cubs and Chicago Cubs as organizational affiliates to throw no-hitters this season. (Yes, I’m aware what happened to the Chicago ballclub after theirs, thanks for asking.)
Cubs prospects Alexander Vizcaino, Joe Nahas, and Burl Carraway combined for 10 strikeouts while issuing just two walks and a hit by pitch. South Bend’s offense broke a scoreless game open with a three-run seventh inning with RBI hits from Bryce Windham and Yonathan Perlaza.
Fly the W! It's a @SBCubs no-hitter.@Cubs prospects Alexander VizcaÃno, Joe Nahas and Burl Carraway combine for the gem! pic.twitter.com/UKrmfbWWA1
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 13, 2021
The game was started with two comfortable innings from new acquisition Alexander Vizcaino, who hit the first batter he faced and then cruised through the next six batters. Vizcaino was up to 97 mph on the Fort Wayne radar gun and utilized his breaking ball for two of his three strikeouts. The Cubs are following the Yankees lead by playing things very cautious with the 24-year-old, pulling him after 29 pitches, one short of his season-high. Will be interesting what they determine are the correct next steps for the slight, flame-throwing righty.
Joe Nahas came in next and did the real heavy-lifting: six no-hit innings in a piggybacking relief role. Nahas’ extreme over-the-top release point likely offered a tricky contrast coming off Vizcaino’s loose three-quarter slot. After stalling out at 5.2 innings in each of his last two starts, I’m sure it felt good for the 21-year-old Nahas to cross that six inning threshold. He was super in control on the mound, up to 95 mph on the fastball and pitching off of an 80 mph curveball that buckled more than a few Tin Caps knees. This brings Nahas’ season ERA down to 3.29 split between the two A-ball levels.
South Bend asked Burl Carraway to come in for the save, and after a four-pitch walk to start things off, the funky southpaw settled in and grooved through the next three batters in nine pitches. Seven of those were fastballs, topping at 95 mph, with two curveballs both in the strike zone. It’s been more good than bad in the last month for the former second-round pick, but mechanical inconsistencies are still visible out there. It will be a big winter developmentally for the 22-year-old with premium stuff.
This game was also noteworthy as being Alex Canario’s first without a hit in a Cubs uniform. However, the outfielder twice hit the balls on the screws to the outfield, twice leading to sliding/diving catches by Fort Wayne outfielders. Oh, well: it was a great night, if not a perfect one.
HISTORY!!
It's a no-hitter for South Bend!
Alexander Vizcaino, Joe Nahas and Burl Carraway combine to no-hit Fort Wayne!
3-0 Cubs win, that's 6 in a row.#FlyTheWWWWWW #Cubs pic.twitter.com/lHmIovLgAz— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) August 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/CubsCentral08/status/1425965131486449665
