In his brief professional career, rookie affiliate Johnson City pitcher Zach Prendergast had yet to record a quality start entering Thursday.
Prendergast did not stop at six innings Thursday. He threw seven, and did so without allowing a run. Even more impressive, he struck out 12 batters and walked none.
Prendergast graduated from Seton Hall this spring and went undrafted. He then signed with the Fargo-Moorehead Redhawks, of the independent American Association. After pitching four games for the Redhawks, Prendergast was signed by the Cardinals on July 24 and sent to Johnson City.
In Prendergast's first four starts with Johnson City, he allowed eight earned runs across 19 innings.