BRAD PENNY THROWS HOLLYWOOD’s SECOND NO-HITTER OF YEAR
For Immediate Release
July 3, 2004
BUFFALO – Brad Penny started the game last night talking to Kip Wells about his No-Hitter against Severn back on June 9th. He ended it with his first no-hitter and Hollywood’s second of the season (also their second in their franchise history).
“It’s a crazy game,” Penny said. The Hollywood right-hander hit Rondell White with 1-out in the 2nd, and then induced Joe Randa into a double play. It seemed harmless at the time, but as it turned out, he was perfect the rest of the way, sending the Werewolves to a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Braves.
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Brad Penny |
Penny, who Hollywood picked up from Fire Lake in an
off-season trade, went 5-6 for Coconut Creek last season. He received several outstanding plays from his infielders, including the last out when shortstop Angel Berroa barehanded a chopper by Roger Cedeno behind the mound
for an incredible ending. Penny said he wasn’t even thinking about a no-hitter until the ninth inning, though. “To be honest with you, I just waited until the last inning,” he said. The last time Hollywood threw a no-hitter was 23 days ago on June 9th, at Minute Maid Park. “That was the first game I’ve managed that there was a no-hitter,” Hollywood’s Steve Cutler said.
With the visiting Turner Field crowd of 13,604 standing
for the ninth inning, Scott Hatteberg led off with a routine grounder to short then Rich Aurelia hit an easy grounder to third for the second out. “I knew what was going on,” Penny said. “But in this game you always expect the worst.”
“The ball bounced my way, and with no LSD,” Penny laughed. “There were five or six balls that could have been hits.” Like the last one. Cedeno hit a high hopper over Penny’s head that Berreo barehanded as the ball bounced off the turf. His running throw beat Cedeno by one step.
The Werewolves mobbed Penny after the final out, the crowd roaring. “It was kind of hard to concentrate after I got that first guy,” Penny said. “The crowd was just unbelievable; I mean it was just absolutely unbelievable. I never expected that in a visiting ballpark.” Penny was pitching on eight days’ rest. “This was last thing that I ever expected. I’m not going to throw the ball 95 miles an hour. I have to hit my spots.”