Odorizzi's eight-inning gem leads to combined no-hitter against Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - Jake Odorizzi will gladly sacrifice a chance to be alone in the record books, if it results in a long stint in professional baseball.

The 19-year-old Wisconsin Timber Rattler right-handed pitcher wasn't upset long when he was pulled after throwing eight no-hit innings against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. If a possible future in the Major Leagues meant turning over his gem to a teammate then so be it.

“I'd take the long career over one no-hitter to my record,” Odorizzi said. “It's no big deal.”

Oh, but it turned out to be a very big deal. Odorizzi's gem was capped by reliever Adrian Rosario and the pair teamed to no-hit the Kernels in 3-0 Midwest League game last night at Memorial Stadium in front of 2,127 fans.

“It was fun for me to pitch. It was fun for everyone to watch,” Odorizzi said. “It was a great time out there. My teammates played great behind me and made plays for me. I had a blast out there it was awesome.”

His night ended a little prematurely for many people's liking. Some of the fans, even Kernels fans, booed when he didn't take the mound in the ninth. Odorizzi was upset about being pulled, but when he was told he had already thrown almost 120 pitches he realized it was the right move by Wisconsin Manager Jeff Isom.

“I was fired up at the moment,” Odorizzi said. “Wasn't too happy about it then they told me how many pitches I had. You just have to let it go. Your career is more important than just one game.”

Odorizzi said he was able to throw all four of his pitches for strikes, which kept the kernels from keying on any one pitch. Eighty of his 118 pitches were strikes, supporting his claim. After all those pitches, Odorizzi wasn't hurting after the game. He said it will probably catch up to him in a couple days.

“Too much adrenaline to feel tired,” Odorizzi said. “I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow or the next day. Right now, nothing.”

His teammates didn't avoid him like the plague as the outs started mounting up. Like many traditions and superstitions in baseball, the feat wasn't mentioned during the game. They didn't need to tell the youngster what was at stake.

“They weren't staying away from me,” said Odorizzi, who was greeted with a shaving cream pie to the face in the locker room after the game. “I knew what was going on. I wasn't looking too much into it. You can't do it or you get out of your groove.”

He watched the final inning on the top step as Rosario struck out the final two batters to end the game. Odorizzi was taking just as much joy from the combined no-hitter.

“Team no-hitters are a great accomplishment,” Odorizzi said. “It was great that I did good and it was great he came in and finished it out. It was an all-around good game.”

Rosario was grateful for a chance to close out the game, which became his first no-hit experience. he wasn't worried with everything at stake.

“I don't feel nervous,” Rosario said. “I just threw strikes and got outs.”

It was the third no-hitter at Memorial Stadium this season. Stephen Locke, who coincidentally pitched well in the loss, had a five-inning no-hitter for the Kernels July 12 in a rain-shortened game against Peoria that was supposed to be a 7-inning contest. Fabio Martinez, Kyle Hurst and Mike Kenney combined for a nine-inning no-hitter April 30 for the Kernels against Quad Cities.

It was the first no-hitter against the Kernels since Peoria did it on April 20, 2006.

It was a strong performance from the Milwaukee Brewers 2008 first-round draft pick out of Highland (Ill.) High School. He improved to 7-3 and dropped his earned-run average to 3.58.

He only allowed four base runners in eight innings, striking out 10 and allowing one walk, which was to Jon Karcich to lead off the eighth inning.

Wisconsin (27-30, 53-72) scored a run in the fifth when Michael Marseco scored on Kentrall Davis' RBI groundout. The Timber rattlers scored twice again in the sixth on Joey Paciorek's RBI single to score Khris Davis and Dvontrey Richardson's infield single that brought home Cameron Garfield.

The Kernels managed two base runners in the second when Jose Jimenez reached on an error to lead off the inning and Randal Grichuk took his place after a fielder's choice. Cedar Rapids (31-25, 74-50) didn't threaten and looked off-balance most of the night. A Grichuk line-out snatched by Paciorek at third to end the seventh was the team's hardest hit ball. 

“We chased a lot of pitches, ton of pitches out of the zone,” Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello said, noting that Odorizzi was able to deceive the batters up and down the lineup. “He obviously had some good stuff tonight.”

Locke (7-6) pitched well in six innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits. The three runs were produced by five infield singles. Locke tallied seven strikeouts. Mosiello complimented Locke's performance.

 "Good job by Stephen. He played a heck of a game," Mosiello said. "He gave us a chance to win, and that's all we ever ask out of those guys."