About Pineda

Michael Pineda was incredible yesterday. He retired 28 of 29 batters. The only hit he allowed was a two-out infield single in the bottom of the fifth. That was after he retired the first 14 batters of the game. After the hit, he retired the final 13 batters of the game.

Milb.com noticed the performance and Benjamin Hill, a friend of this blog, wrote up a story.

Rattlers' Pineda dominates in final start

"That was the best game I have ever pitched," said Pineda after the game, with pitching coach Jamey Navarro serving as a translator. "I was hitting both sides of the plate, getting the first strike and dominating with letter-high fastballs."

Pineda's stupendous effort lowered his ERA to 1.95 on the season, good for second in the Midwest League. The native of the Dominican Republic retired the first 14 batters he faced on the afternoon, with Domnit Bolivar's infield base hit serving as the only blemish on his record. Bolivar hit a slow roller to third baseman Alex Liddi, who fielded the ball bare-handed and fired to first. It was a bang-bang play and umpire Keith Rogowski ruled that Bolivar was safe.

There are also these tidbits. I wonder where Ben picked these up? It's almost like he was listening to the broadcast or at least read the article on the Rattler website.

In addition to being the best-pitched game of his young career, Pineda's effort will go into the Timber Rattlers' record books, as well. The complete-game gem was the first one-hitter by an individual pitcher in the 14-year-history of the franchise, and his 14 strikeouts were the most accumulated by a Wisconsin pitcher since Tom Oldham whiffed 15 on June 28, 2004.

Let's not forget that Pineda absolutely shattered the old team record for ERA in a season. The old mark was 2.58 and held by TA Fulmer since 2003.

One qualifier I would add to the line best-pitched game of his young career. It should be best-pitched game of his young career so far.