Jake McCasland's breakout season continued Sunday night as the Class A Augusta right-hander fired a seven-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 win against Delmarva in game two of a doubleheader. If not for an error he committed in the third inning, it would have been a perfect game.
Making just his sixth start for the GreenJackets and the seventh of his career, McCasland, 24, struck out five and needed just 72 pitches (52 strikes) to complete his gem.
McCasland excelled coming out of bullpen to begin the season, posting a 1.48 ERA with 30 strikeouts, while also showing the ability to work multiple frames by logging 30 1/3 innings across 14 appearances. It was for that reason that the right-hander was shifted into the starting rotation in mid-June -- a decision that has paid immediate dividends.
With his no-hitter, McCasland now owns a 1.50 ERA through 36 innings as a starter. He's recorded 32 strikeouts against four walks in that span, while holding opposing hitters to a paltry .191 average.
Selected by the Giants in the 26th round of the 2013 Draft, McCasland is in his second tour of the South Atlantic League after he registered a 5.40 ERA while appearing in 23 games (one start) in 2015.