Raul Alcantara turned in the best start of his season Thursday night as he twirled six no-hit innings for Double-A Midland in its 13-0 win against the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Alcantara, the Athletics No. 16 prospect, walked one, struck out four and threw 58 of his 88 pitches for strikes.
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The right-hander had the benefit of a 13-0 lead, but Midland manager Ryan Christensen opted to turn to the bullpen in the seventh. The no-hit bid ended when reliever Ben Bracewell allowed a single to Jack Mayfield in the top of the eighth inning. Alex Bregman, the Astros' No. 1 prospect, notched Corpus Christi's only other hit in the game when he ripped a double with two outs in the ninth. Thursday's tilt was Bregman's first game since April 22 due to a hamstring injury.
The A's appear to be playing it safe with Alcantara -- who has thrown more than 90 pitches in one of his six starts this season -- after he missed the 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery.
The 23-year old made 15 starts a season ago, but never threw more than four innings or 60 pitches.
On offense, several prominent Athletics prospects contributed. A's No. 6 prospect Matt Chapman went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. No. 17 prospect Ryon Healy went 2-for-5 with two runs, a double, triple and two RBIs and No. 21 prospect Jacob Brugman also recorded two hits (including a triple) and scored three runs.
Franklin Barreto, Oakland's top prospect, left the game after he fouled a ball off his leg in the first inning.