Luis Mendoza’s No Hitter That Was & Then Wasn’t & Then Was Again, But Still Might Not Be

In one of the more bazaar chain of events I’ve ever seen in the minors, Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers pitcher Luis Mendoza threw a No Hitter last night against the Memphis Redbirds at Memphis. Following the celebration it was announced that the Redbirds official scorer John Guinozzo had overturned his original call of a ninth inning error on left fielder David Lough and had awarded Redbirds shortstop Tyler Greene with a hit. So Mendoza’s No Hitter was no more. Fast forward an hour later and the Storm Chasers send out a tweet stating “The Drama Continues: It’s Back To A No Hitter For Mr. Luis Mendoza”. Following the tweet by the Storm Chasers, Mendoza stopped and signed Redbirds fan Bob Sanders’ completed scorecard with the “No Hitter 7-18-11” inscription on his way out of the clubhouse. Moments later MILB.com the official site of Minor League Baseball came out with a revised, and since slightly edited story that said the Mendoza one hitter was once again a no hitter for now but matter is still undecided and will be headed to the Pacific Coast League office on Tuesday. Now the latest version of the MILB.com story says the matter could, but not will, head to the league office on Tuesday, and outlines the league rule that allows the league office to recommend a change, or change themselves, an official scorer’s ruling if called upon by said scorer to review a certain play. So at least for the moment, as of 4:00 a.m. central time, Mendoza did indeed throw a No Hitter last night. If the No Hitter stands it would be the second of Mendoza’s career. He no-hit the Salt Lake Bees back in 2009.

Mendoza Hurls Controversial No Hitter – MILB.com

UPDATE: Here is the local Memphis newspaper article with comments from Omaha acting manager Tommy Gregg about the controversy.
Omaha’s Luis Mendoza blanks Redbirds for first no-hitter at AutoZone Park – Commercial Appeal

UPDATE to the Update: If you read the first comment in the Commercial Appeal story it is a person claiming to be Guinozzo explaining his thought process behind the original scoring of an error, his overturning to a hit, and his reversal back to the original call of the error.

UPDATE #3: MILB.com has posted video of the David Lough error. It kinda looks like a hit.
VIDEO: David Lough’s 9th Inning Error

UPDATE #4: The Memphis Redbirds filed an appeal with the Pacific Coast League in an effort to get the error, turned hit, turned error, to be changed to a hit once again. No timetable for a ruling by the league.
Memphis Redbirds appeal ruling on Monday’s no-hitter — CommercialAppeal.com

UPDATE #5 The Pacific Coast League office have overturned the error and awarded Tyler Greene a hit, taking the No Hitter away from Luis Mendoza. Read about it at Ballpark Digest who provides complete coverage of the PCL’s ruling.

Monday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA
Pedro Alvarez Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #2

Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox – Home Run #10

Jesus Montero New York Yankees – Home Run #8

Cord Phelps Cleveland Indians – Home Run #8

Mat Gamel Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #19

Trayvon Robinson Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #24

Jerry Sands Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #14

Jai Miller Oakland Athletics – Home Run #24

Carlos Peguero Seattle Mariners – Home Run #5

AA
Will Middlebrooks Boston Red Sox – Home Run #11

Tim Wheeler Colorado Rockies – Home Run #27

Jose Altuve Houston Astros – Home Run #5

Kody Hinze Houston Astros – Home Run #4

Hector Gomez Colorado Rockies – Home Run #9 & #10

Matthew Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #21

Christian Colon Kansas City Royals – Home Run #5

High-A
David Nick Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #9

Ian Gac Chicago White Sox – Home Run #24

Michael Burgess Chicago Cubs – Home Run #12

Justin Bour Chicago Cubs – Home Run #19

Robbie Grossman Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #7

Low-A
Corey Dickerson Colorado Rockies – Home Run #20

Brandon Jacobs Boston Red Sox – Home Run #13

Lake County Fielders Broadcaster Qumar Zaman Quits On Air

This is something straight out of the movie Major League. Qumar Zaman, who was the Lake County Fielders radio man, quits on air during a broadcast, and then cuts a WWE like promo against the team ownership. This one will go down as a YouTube classic for years to come. Listen to the broadcast below, and then read this Q&A with Zaman done in the aftermath of his departure by the folks at HallOfVeryGood.com

Monday’s Notable Minor League Baseball Starting Pitchers

List compiled by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. Follow JP on twitter @Jaypers413

Taijuan Walker – Seattle Mariners – Low-A

Keyvius Sampson San Diego Padres – Low-A

Jarred Cosart Philadelphia Phillies – High-A

Darin Gorski New York Mets – High-A

Austin Ross Milwaukee Brewers – High-A

Pat Dean Minnesota Twins – High-A

Drew Hutchison Toronto Blue Jays – High-A

Brandon Workman Boston Red Sox – Low-A

Matt Harvey New York Mets – Double-A

Julio Teheran Atlanta Braves – Triple-A

Robbie Ross Texas Rangers – High-A

Eric Surkamp San Francisco Giants – Double-A

Liam Hendriks Minnesota Twins – Double-A

Casey Crosby Detroit Tigers – Double-A

Dellin Betances New York Yankees – Double-A

Jarrod Parker Arizona Diamondbacks – Double-A

Nate Eovaldi Los Angeles Dodgers – Double-A

David Perez Cleveland Indians – Short-A

Mauricio Robles Seattle Mariners – Triple-A

David Holmberg Arizona Diamondbacks – High-A

Edwar Caberera Colorado Rockies – High-A

Cody Scarpetta Milwaukee Brewers – Double-A

Nick Barnese Tampa Bay Rays – Double-A

Note: List is gathered at MILB.com, is tentative, and all of the day’s starting pitchers may not have been revealed at post time.

Red Sox Shortstop Prospect Jose Iglesias Hopes To Find His Hitting Stride In The Second Half

Aside from making his big league debut, he went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts in 6 games in May, the 2011 season has not yet gone as planned for the Boston Red Sox top infield prospect Jose Iglesias who is currently on the disabled list at Triple-A Pawtucket after suffering a concussion on July 3rd. After hitting .285 with 10 Doubles, and 3 Triples at Portland in 2010, the 21 year old began 2011 at Triple-A Pawtucket with lofty expectations. Unfortunately for Iglesias and the Red Sox Nation, he has yet to live up to them, batting just .227 with only four extra base hits prior to being hurt. Iglesias is nearly ready to come off the disabled list, and he and Pawtucket hitting coach Chili Davis talk about their plan to get Iglesias’ offense back on track.

Jose Iglesias Looking To Rebound In Second Half — WEEI.com

Phillies First Base Prospect Matt Rizzotti Pounds The Ball In Reading

He may have his path to the big leagues being blocked by Ryan Howard, but that hasn’t stopped Phillies prospect Matt Rizzotti from crushing balls at Double-A Reading this year. The 25 year old 22 Doubles, a career high 18 Home Runs, and is hitting a highly respectable .295 in this his second stint at Double-A. Rizzotti talks about his solid season, what he’s looking to improve upon as he moves up the minor league ladder, and his approach to hitting the baseball.

Matt Rizzotti, Archbishop Molloy and Manhattan College product, attracts major attention in Reading — New York Daily News

Sunday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA
Pedro Alvarez Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #1

Valentino Pascucci New York Mets – Home Run #12 & #13

Steven Lombardozzi Washington Nationals – Home Run #2

Johnny Giavotella Kansas City Royals – Home Run #8 & #9

Clint Robinson Kansas City Royals – Home Run #18

Trayvon Robinson Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #23

Jai Miller Oakland Athletics – Home Run #23

AA
Tyler Moore Harrisburg Senators – Home Run #20

Roger Kieschnick San Francisco Giants – Home Run #11

Johermyn Chavez Seattle Mariners – Home Run #12

J.D. Martinez Houston Astros – Home Run #11

Wilin Rosario Colorado Rockies – Home Run #15

High-A

Cesar Puello New York Mets – Home Run #6

Khris Davis Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #15

Marcus Lemon Atlanta Braves – Home Run #1

Michael Wing Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #8 & #9

Michael Choice Oakland Athletics – Home Run #26

Bobby Borchering Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #18

Kiel Roling Colorado Rockies – Home Run #10 & #11

Low-A

Jake Marisnick Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #11

Jurickson Profar Texas Rangers – Home Run #10

Adam Duvall San Francisco Giants – Home Run #20

Sean Coyle Boston Red Sox – Home Run #8

Florida Marlins Journeyman Farmhand Ryan Klosterman Retires To Join University Of Central Florida Coaching Staff

Longtime Florida Marlins minor league shortstop Ryan Klosterman who retired from baseball last week has joined the coaching staff at the University of Central Florida. Klosterman was in the middle of his third season at Triple-A New Orleans where he was hitting just .156 at the time of his retirement. Originally a 5th round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, Klosterman was a career .242 hitter in eight minor league seasons. Klosterman talks about his playing career and his enthusiasm for his new role as a college baseball coach.

After minor league career, Klosterman joins UCF as assistant

Journalist Braves Hail & Floods In Wyoming To Track Down A Story On Mets First Round Pick Brandon Nimmo

New Jersey Star Ledger writer Andy McCullough documents on film his trip to Wyoming to do a story on 2011 Mets 1st Round pick Brandon Nimmo. The first half of the video shows the crazy weather that McCullough ran into. The second half is a sit down with Nimmo who talks about overcoming the odds to be drafted without having played high school ball (they don’t have high school baseball in Wyoming), and the huge reception he has received from Mets fans. The video link is on the right column of the story.

Mets draft pick Brandon Nimmo talks about the five tools — NJ.com

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