BASEBALL/Taiwan's Sha whiffs six as part of no-hitter in season debut

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Young Taiwanese pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) kicked off his 2025 season in the United States with flair, striking out six in relief as he helped his team complete a no-hitter in a 2-0 win on Sunday.

The 21-year-old right-hander for the Stockton Ports, the Athletics' Single A affiliate, took the mound in the sixth inning against the Fresno Grizzlies in California with his team leading 1-0.

He retired all nine batters he faced, striking out two in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings before being replaced in the ninth.

Sha was one of three Ports pitchers who combined for the team's first no-hitter since 2019.

Starting pitcher Jefferson Jean, who struck out five over five innings, walked Kelvin Hidalgo in the bottom of the second inning for Fresno's only baserunner of the game.

The no-hitter came after the Ports dropped back-to-back games to the Grizzlies in their three-game season-opening California League series.