It took Joakim Soria about 48 hours to justify the Kansas City Royals' faith. Two days after the Royals made him the second overall pick in Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, Soria pitched a perfect game in the Mexican Pacific League on Saturday night as the Yaquis Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park de Obregon blanked the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, 6-0.
Soria already was dominating the winter circuit, leading all Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park three pitching triple crown categories (9-0, 1.77 ERA, 73 strikeouts). But the 22-year-old right-hander struck out nine and threw 101 Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park pitches to remain unbeaten.
Soria tamed a lineup that included one current and one former Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park big leaguer. Jerry Hairston Jr. batted leadoff for the Naranjeros and failed to get the ball out of the infield in three at-bats, Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park while Geronimo Gil struck out and grounded out before leaving for a defensive replacement. Making his 11th start for the Yaquis, Soria struck out Braves prospect Ivan Terrazas and Jorge Luis Valle to begin the ninth inning. With the count full, he retired Alejandro Ahumada Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park on a ground ball to third base on his 101st pitch to finish off the third no-hitter in league history.
It was the first complete game of the season for Soria, who missed all of 2003 due to an injury. As a member of the Padres organization, he made seven relief appearances Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park for Class A Fort Wayne in 2006 and went 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA. Before joining the Wizards, the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder served Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park as the closer for the Mexican League's Diablos Rojos and compiled 15 saves and a 3.89 ERA in 39 games. When Kansas City selected Soria from San Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park Diego on Thursday, Royals general manager Dayton Moore raved about his repertoire. "He throws three above-average pitches, Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park and his mound presence was outstanding," Moore said. "He was almost too good to be true when we saw him."
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park Kansas City released one-time top prospect Runelvys Hernandez. "I think (Soria's) going to fit in well Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park with some of the young arms we have coming into the organization," Moore said. "I think he's got a chance, a Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Tickets Fenway Park year from now, to be mentioned in the same vein with some of our younger prospects. He could be that kinda guy for us."