Burgos and Shanks Combine to Throw No-Hitter for Gulls

Enrique Burgos and William Shanks combined Tuesday night for a no-hitter in pitching the Ventura County Gulls to a 3-0 win over Visalia at Recreation Park.

The last nine-inning, no-run, no-hit game in the Class-A California league was by Louis Marietta of San Jose in a 5-0 win over Visalia on June 28, 1983.

Burgos, who was lifted after seven innings because he exceeded the Toronto Blue Jay organization’s 100-pitch limit, benefited from an outstanding play by third baseman Jim Bishop in the seventh. Bishop ranged to his left to stab a ground ball and register a force out at second base. Bishop and shortstop Eric Yelding each made an error on ground balls early in the game.

“You’ve got to be lucky, have your night and get good plays behind you to pitch a no-hitter,” Gulls Manager Glenn Ezell said. “I give Burgos credit for throwing it because it came against a good-hitting team. When he needed it, he had his fastball, forkball and his slider. All three were working well tonight.”

Burgos walked five and struck out six. Shanks registered his 17th save by retiring all six batters he faced, two on strikeouts.

A 6-3 left-hander who joined the Gulls three weeks ago, Burgos improved his record to 1-3. The Panamanian native had a record of 7-17 in three previous professional seasons.

The Gulls scored the only run they needed in the second when Darryl Landrum walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch by Visalia starter Don Iasparro. In the fourth, Omar Malave scored on a single by Scott deMarrais, and with two out in the sixth, deMarrais scored on a double by Kevin Batiste.

Gull Notes

Fresno third baseman Ty Dabney was named the California League’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in a vote of managers. Palm Springs first baseman Ty Van Burkleo, who attended Chatsworth High, was second in MVP balloting and was named the all-star first baseman. . . . Catcher Greg Myers and left-handed pitcher Jeff Musselman were the only Ventura County Gulls to make the all-star squad’s first team. Musselman has been promoted to Knoxville of the Double-A Southern League. . . . Other first team selections included Reno second baseman Roberto Alomar, Palm Springs shortstop Tony Perezchica, outfielders Tom Thomas (Visalia), Doug Jennings (Palm Springs), T.J. McDonald (Fresno) and Rob Dewolf (Stockton). Jeff Peterek of Stockton was named pitcher of the year and was joined on the all-star staff by Musselman, Willie Fraser of Palm Springs, Randy McCament of Fresno and John Ludy of Stockton. Tom Kotchman of Palm Springs was named Manager of the Year. . . . Geronimo Berroa, Santiago Garcia, Jose Mesa, Luis Reyna, Todd Stottlemyre and Eric Yelding of the Gulls all were accorded honorable mention.