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04/20/2008 1:39 AM ET
Fister loses no-hitter in seventh
Wins third straight start as Diamond Jaxx blank Barons
By Tom Cardinale
The Mariners selected Doug Fister in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft out of Fresno State. (Jeff Lewis/AP)

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Doug Fister knows all about improvement.

Fister took a no-hitter into the seventh inning to win his third straight start Saturday as the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx blanked the Birmingham Barons, 3-0.

After being drafted 1,451st overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2003, Fister chose to enroll in college and ultimately signed with the Seattle Mariners after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft.

A similar trend has developed in his starts this season. Fister gave up three runs over five innings in his 2008 debut, then yielded one run over five frames in his next outing. That was followed by six scoreless innings and a second straight win, setting the stage for Saturday's spectacular effort.

The 24-year-old right-hander ended up striking out seven over 7 2/3 innings, yielding three hits and one walk to lower his ERA to 1.52.

"It's a team effort," he said. "Our guys are swinging the bats really well and really playing defense. It's kind of an all-around thing."

The Fresno State product lost the no-hitter in the seventh on a one-out double by David Cook and quickly found himself facing a first-and-third jam.

"It's having the team around you that we do," he said. "It's knowing if a ground ball gets hit to third base, Ronnie Prettyman is going to make that play, and the same thing all the way around the infield and outfield. It's having that knowledge that your teammates are going to be right there with you."

Protecting a 2-0 lead, Fister struck out Micah Schnurstein and got Stefan Gartrell to ground out.

"I just tried to make sure to throw ground balls and get early contact," Fister explained. "It helps to have a good catcher back there. I think the most important thing was being on the same page with Adam Moore -- he called a great game back there."

Fister said he was aware of the no-hitter, adding, "Every pitch is a big pitch and you can't let those circumstances get into your head. I believe this is the closest I've ever been [to a no hitter]."

Jason Mackintosh pitched the final 1 1/3 frames to pick up his second save.

Michael Saunders scored on a double play in the bottom of the first to provide Fister and the Diamond Jaxx with all the offense they needed. Jon Nelson raced home on a passed ball in the fifth and Prettyman doubled in an insurance run in the seventh.

Former eighth-round pick Clayton Richard (2-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over six innings.

The defeat ended the Barons' five-game winning streak.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.