Sky Sox combine on no-hitter

After 37 seasons of minor league baseball - spanning three franchises and more than a century - a no-hitter finally was achieved in Colorado Springs.

Franklin Morales combined with relievers Chris George, Matt Daley and Steven Register to frustrate Albuquerque and lead the Sky Sox to a 5-1 victory.

A sun-splashed crowd of 4,277 saw Sky Sox hurlers strike out eight and walk nine - Morales even allowed an earned run - but the Isotopes rarely hit a ball hard enough to challenge for a hit.

"Call it effectively wild," Register said.

Register spent the early part of the game in the clubhouse, watching recently promoted Greg Reynolds pitch on TV for the Colorado Rockies.

"I walked out in the sixth inning and saw they didn't have a hit," Register said. "There was definitely a lot of pressure."

George said Daley even mentioned the no-hitter to him, going against superstitious tradition.

"It takes a certain amount of luck," George said. "It's a big deal because this is certainly a hitter-friendly ballpark."

The only other no-hitter in modern Sky Sox history (1988-present) was Aug. 2, 2003, when Chris Gissell (seven innings) and Jesus Sanchez combined to win 3-0 at Nashville.

Morales was making his first start since being demoted by the Rockies. His major league record (1-2, 6.39 ERA) was affected by poor mechanics. Morales, 22, said he's working on concentration, consistency and stepping directly toward home plate so as not to throw across his body.

"I did it about six times today and it messes me up," he said.

Morales walked five, including three in the fourth inning when the Isotopes scored on a sacrifice fly.

"His stuff is there," manager Tom Runnells said. "His command isn't there yet. Young kids have to understand you get hurt by walking people. Give him a lot of credit; he battled through it. And the game was exciting and fun."

Doug Bernier's two-run triple in the second gave the Sky Sox a 2-0 lead. Ian Stewart, who doubled and scored in the second, added an RBI double in the third.

Jayson Nix, who missed the past three games to attend his grandfather's funeral, extended his hitting streak to five games.

Christian Colonel (.346) had an RBI single in the eighth. He has singled in six straight pinch-hit appearances.

Sox stuffer

After the Albuquerque Dukes moved to Portland, Ore., Calgary's minor league team moved to Albuquerque and was christened the Isotopes, which paid tribute to an episode of the TV show "The Simpsons."