Not even a star-powered Winston-Salem offense stood a chance against Shao-Ching Chiang.
The Indians prospect fired Class A Advanced Lynchburg's first nine-inning no-hitter since 1992 in a 3-0 victory over Winston-Salem on Saturday. Throwing a season-high 106 pitches (76 strikes) in the performance, he allowed one walk and hit one batter while striking out seven en route to facing two over the minimum. Perhaps more impressive were the 23-year-old right-hander's 16 ground-ball outs.
• Gameday
Chiang's outing began inauspiciously, with the first batter he faced reaching base on an infield error. He went on to permit just two more baserunners the rest of way, issuing a one-out walk in the second inning to Brady Conlan -- whom he promptly picked off -- and then hitting him with a pitch in the fifth inning.
He then retired the next 14 batters in order, including four on strikeouts. Chiang's no-hitter was saved on the final out of the game, as second baseman Willi Castro (Indians No. 10) leaped high in the air to snag a liner that appeared destined for right field.
Chiang had no issues with Top 30 White Sox prospects in Eloy Jimenez (No. 2, No. 7 on Top 100), Zack Collins (No. 10) and Luis Alexander Basabe (No. 20), who combined to go 0-for-10 with three strikeouts.
Chiang now has thrown back-to-back complete games for the Hillcats, giving him three in 63 career starts. Saturday's gem, however, was his first nine-inning complete game, as well as his first career shutout.
Signed out of Taiwan in September 2011, Chiang spent his first three seasons in the Rookie Arizona League, and another with Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley, before advancing to full-season Class A Lake County in '16.
His strong and consistent showing in the Midwest League earned Chiang an Opening Day assignment to Lynchburg -- a challenge to which he's responded by going 8-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 19 starts.
He's compiled 81 strikeouts against 22 walks over 122 2/3 innings in that span, all while posting the best ground-ball rate of his career.