Mets Single-A prospect spearheads club's first no-hitter in more than 20 years
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The St. Lucie Mets were still classified as a High-A affiliate. The Red Sox had yet to break the Curse of the Bambino and Cam Tilly wasn't even born.
Plenty has changed since St. Lucie last tossed a no-hitter, but the 22-year, 11-month and 17-day drought came to an end with the Mets' No. 27 prospect leading the way in a 7-0 win over Palm Beach on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Tilly twirled a career-high 6 1/3 innings, working around three walks and striking out four before handing the ball over to Elwis Mijares, who finished off the no-no with 2 2/3 frames out of the bullpen.
It was the first no-hitter for St. Lucie since June 23, 2003, when Ken Chenard and Mike Cox polished off a seven-inning gem. While the Mets' Florida State League affiliate had not thrown one since, it was, ironically, their third no-hitter that season.
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Tilly opened his 10th career start by retiring the first six batters with relative ease before issuing his first baserunner on a leadoff walk in the third inning. The 21-year-old got into a groove, setting down nine consecutive Cardinals on just 34 pitches across the fourth through sixth innings.
A pair of walks sandwiched around a groundout in the seventh put an end to Tilly's night after 80 pitches (46 strikes). Mijares recorded the final eight outs, striking out three and walking one, working around an error and a free pass in the ninth before getting the final out on a grounder to first.
While leading his club to a historic night will grab the headlines, Tilly's continued development is of far more importance to the Mets. New York selected the Indiana native with their seventh-round pick last year out of Auburn, but he did not make his pro debut until this season.
But what a first impression it was.
Tilly spun five hitless frames in his first start on April 4, but inconsistency plagued him through his remaining outings in April and much of May. However, the unofficial start of summer has been a welcome sight for the 6-foot-2, 207-pounder, who has not allowed a run in 11 1/3 innings in two starts this month.
The long ball was an early issue for Tilly, but after surrendering six in his first 24 innings, he's yielded just two over his past 23 2/3 frames. Unsurprisingly, his overall effectiveness has improved, as have his numbers, with the hurler looking more comfortable than at any time since his debut back in April.