[luckymann]

Young Gun Smaulding Fires No-Hitter as Caliente Blank Dorados

By Ángel Serrano, El Béisbol Independiente

DURANGO — At just 22 years old, Owen Smaulding announced his arrival as one of the Gulf League’s brightest young arms with a performance for the ages.

Pitching before a raucous Saturday night crowd at Estadio Francisco Villa, the rookie right-hander delivered the first no-hitter in Gulf League history, slicing through the Chihuahua Dorados lineup in a dominant 5–0 win that underscored Durango’s championship ambitions and Smaulding’s rapid rise.

Drafted just this January in the 13th round, Smaulding worked with the poise of a seasoned ace, striking out six and walking three across 100 pitches. He faced just 28 batters — one over the minimum — and relied on pinpoint control, a deceptive changeup and a defence that turned two key double plays behind him.

“I started thinking about it in the fifth,” Smaulding admitted after the game, flashing a smile that belied the steely resolve he showed on the mound. “You try to block it out, but man, those scoreboards don’t let you forget.”

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Smaulding has been one of the revelations of the 2001 campaign. Saturday’s gem improved his record to 12–5 with a 2.86 ERA over 21 starts. It was already his third complete game and third shutout of the year — a staggering feat for a pitcher not even a full season into his professional career.

“This kid has ice in his veins,” said Caliente skipper Carlos Jasso. “He’s got a veteran’s rhythm and a rookie’s hunger. That’s a dangerous combination.”

The Caliente backed their young phenom with a steady offensive showing. Oswald Peraza opened the scoring in the fourth with a solo blast — his 17th of the season — before a sac fly from Placido Polanco made it 2–0. In the seventh, Alex Arias drove in a run with a double, then Nap Reyes launched a two-run homer to left to put the game out of reach.

All told, Durango tagged Chihuahua starter Roberto Vargas for five runs on nine hits over 6.1 innings. The Dorados managed just three walks and no hits in return, grounding into two double plays and failing to reach second base after the fourth inning.

Smaulding’s no-no goes straight into the books — the first of its kind in Gulf League play. It also marks his second shutout this month, having blanked Saltillo on one hit just four weeks earlier.

“This league is no joke,” said Smaulding, drenched in Gatorade and cheers. “Every start teaches you something new. Tonight I learned what it feels like when everything clicks.”

With the win, Durango improves to 62–36 and tightens its grip atop the Zona Sierra standings. Chihuahua, meanwhile, falls to 48–50 and faces an uphill battle in the crowded wildcard race.

But Saturday belonged to Smaulding — the rookie with the quiet eyes and the wicked changeup, who just etched his name into Gulf League lore before his 23rd birthday.