Castellanos paves way for Batavia's perfect game
3 Muckdogs pitchers combine to throw the first perfect game in franchise history in team's first win this year
The Batavia Muckdogs shrugged off an 0-5 start to their season by throwing a perfect game, the first in the franchise's history.
Leading the charge for Miami's Class A Short Season squad was No. 30 prospect Gabriel Castellanos, who struck out 12 Mahoning Valley hitters in seven frames before handing over the pitching duties to Brett Lilek and Steven Farnworth, who finished the job without trouble.
Wednesday marked Batavia's first-ever 27-up, 27-down performance, not to mention its first win of the year -- a 1-0 victory -- after losing all five of its previous games by at least four runs.
Even Castellanos' greatness was slightly unexpected; He entered the game with a career 7-21 record and 5.15 ERA and gave up five runs (two earned), five hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings against Auburn to open the year.
Batavia's nine-inning perfect game was the New York/Penn League's third all-time and first since 2007.