The Boise Spuds clearly believe in the art of “leaving on a high note”, because they traded away All-Star pitcher Luis Rojas just two days after he threw a no-hitter, in what was truly one of the most dominating single-game performances in the BBA this season.San Antonio was hapless against Rojas, as he carved up the Outlaws’ bats to the tune of 12 strikeouts and only one walk allowed in a masterful 112-pitch performance.
Rojas struck out the side in the ninth to end it. Following his last pitch, a slider which had Bobby Manc so far out in front he nearly fell over, Rojas pumped his fist in the air and reveled in the moment for a brief second before getting mobbed on the mound by his teammates.
It was the third no-hitter in Spuds history, and the first since Júlio Alicea tossed one in August 2042.
"I knew I had a no-hitter going, but the game was still scoreless,” Rojas said after the game. “And I don’t buy into all that don’t-talk-to-the-pitcher nonsense, so I was going around the dugout giving the guys a hard time for not scoring for me. I think they finally scored just so I would stop talking to them.”
Cordell Vaughn finally came through with a pinch-hit solo home run to lead off the eighth inning, which was the lone run in the game.
Rojas was traded to Phoenix on Thursday in exchange for veteran outfielder Jim Lorenzen, who will share center field duties for the next two months before becoming a free agent after the season, and Jorge González, whom the Spuds believe could be their starting first baseman next year.
“Luis wasn’t someone we were actively looking to move,” explained Spuds GM Woody Donahue when asked about the sudden trade. “But naturally, when he’s all over the news after his big game, teams are going to start calling. Phoenix was willing to send us González, a guy we had liked for a while, and it just came together.”
It was also a big game for catcher Shan Guan, who had never been a part of a no-hitter before, at any level. He was the first one to mob Rojas on the mound, corralling him in a bear hug after the final out.
“I was very honored to play a part in Luis’ performance,” Guan said, through an interpreter. “I’m going to get so many texts from my family in China when they see the highlights tomorrow. I have to tell them, it was all Luis, I didn’t do anything but call a few pitches. But if my family is proud of me, that’s all that matters.”
In a thorough effort by the Spuds to erase anybody who played a part in the historic game, Guan was also optioned to Triple-A immediately afterwards.
