For nine innings, 101 pitches and 29 batters, a trio of Gwinnett Braves didn't allow a hit.
Rob Wooten, Matt Marksberry and Jose Ramirez combined to throw the second no-hitter in Triple-A Gwinnett's history as Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate topped Louisville, 3-0.
Wooten, making just his second career start and first of the season, threw 61 pitches and struck out eight as he navigated his way through the first six innings. Marksberry came on for a pair of innings and Ramirez finished the job with a 1-2-3 ninth.
"I just kept making pitches," Wooten told MiLB.com. "It was kind of a weird game, I mean I got three at-bats. I don't think I've had three at-bats in my whole career. Everything was weird, but I had full confidence and it wasn't anything new to me. The guys played great behind me and we got out of it. I have that reliever mentality where I just go out there to make pitches to get outs. It was extremely fun."
A fourth-inning wild pitch on a strikeout and an error by shortstop Sean Kazmar were the only plays that stood between Gwinnett and a perfect game. Instead, the Braves celebrated their first no-hitter since Todd Redmond threw one on May 28, 2010 -- also against Louisville. The Braves won that game, 4-0.
Wooten, 30, is in his first season with the Braves organization after several years with the Brewers. The right-hander most recently signed with the Braves on May 20 and had appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen. Gwinnett needed a spot starter Thursday and although Wooten hadn't started a game since Aug. 13, 2015, he stepped up and thrived.
With Wooten finished after six frames, Marksberry, whom the Braves drafted in the 15th round of the 2013 draft, was called upon to keep the no-no bid alive. Marksberry, whom the Braves optioned to Gwinnett on Wednesday, may have been the perfect man for the job as he's allowed just one hit in his last five Minor League appearances, a span of eight innings.
"I was aware that he didn't give up a hit," Marksberry said. "Kudos to Rob, he did his thing and got through six. We were just hoping to get four or five out of him, and he just came in there and dealt."
Then came 26-year-old right-hander Ramirez. The Mariners traded Ramirez to the Braves in December. In his first season with the organization, Ramirez has appeared in two games with the Major League club and 27 with Gwinnett.