By Kevin Winter SportsTicker Staff Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Kip Bouknight spun his first career no-hitter Wednesday, leading the Salem Avalanche past the Frederick Keys, 5-0.

The 23-year-old threw 106 pitches, hit two batters, issued three walks and struck out eight, raising his record to 12-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 23 starts.

A South Carolina State product who won the Smith Award as the nation's top collegiate player in 2000, Bouknight induced 12 ground-ball outs among the 31 batters he faced.

"It was nice to pitch with a lead," Bouknight said after Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer in the first inning. "I used both sides of the plate, threw strikes and relied on my catcher, Jeff Winchester, who called a great game, and the defense for support."

The 6-0, 190-pound righthander, whose first career Class A victory came against the Keys on April 15, used his slider and fastball to strike out one batter in every inning except the third.

"All I want to do when I go out there is give my team a chance to win," Bouknight said.

On August 8, 2001, Bouknight tossed six innings and combined with Pat Lynch on a perfect game for Tri-City, defeating Boise of the Northwest League. A 2001 13th-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies, Bouknight became the first pitcher since 1996 to throw a nine-inning no-hitter for Salem.

It was the fifth time in their 14-year history the Keys have been no-hit. ...

SHINING IN EXTRA INNINGS

The Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League established a minor league season high for runs in an extra inning as they scored nine times in the top of the 11th en route to a 17-8 win over Dayton on Sunday.

The Chiefs collected just three hits in the previous six innings before the explosion in the 11th.

"I've seen nine runs in an inning before," Peoria manager Danny Sheaffer said. "But I've never seen nine runs in an extra inning."

Shaun Boyd and Chase Voshell drew back-to-back walks to start the inning.

"We were in a bunt situation and we didn't get the bunt down," Sheaffer said. "All of a sudden, it just exploded after that."

Tim Lemon and Gabe Johnson delivered consecutive singles, Ricardo Cordova reached on a fielder's choice, John Nelson had a two-run double and Jordan Robinson added an RBI single before Yadier Molina belted a three-run homer.

"We had a couple of seeing eye-singles and then the outfield wall started getting peppered and Molina capped it off with a three-run homer," Sheaffer said. "It was good."

Lemon added a two-run single in his second plate appearance of the inning for Peoria, which improved to 8-5 in extra-inning games.

Ironically, on the same day, the Stockton Ports of the high-Class A California League used an eight-run 10th inning to post a 16-8 victory over the San Jose Giants. ...

HIGHLIGHTS

Cedar Rapids (Class A-Midwest League) second baseman Justin Turner snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run homer, leading the Kernels to a 7-6 victory over West Michigan on Tuesday. The win was the 6,000th by a Cedar Rapids professional baseball team dating to May 2, 1890, when the Canaries beat Aurora, Ill.

Kane County (Class A-Midwest League) righthander Jon Asahina, first baseman Jason Stokes and second baseman Kris Clute combined to turn the second triple play in the minors this season as the Cougars topped South Bend, 5-3, on Monday. With runners at first and second in the bottom of the second inning, Mike Dirosa lined out to Asahina, who threw to Stokes to double the runner at first. Stokes then went to second, where Clute completed the fifth triple play in the club's 12-year history. Kane County, owner of the second-best fielding percentage in the league (.970), became the 106th team in Midwest League history to accomplish the feat.

Modesto (Class A-California League) second baseman Caonado Cosme recorded three RBI in a 12-run seventh inning to lead the A's past High Desert, 15-12, on Sunday. After going hitless in his first three at-bats, the 23-year-old laced a run-scoring triple, then capped the rally with a two-run double. Modesto scored the most runs in an inning in a California League game since June 12, 2000, when it got 12 in the seventh against Bakersfield. ...

TOP PITCHING PERFORMANCES

Lakewood (Class A-South Atlantic League) rigthander Gavin Floyd had his bid to record a second no-hitter in 12 days broken up in the eighth inning of the Sunday's 5-2 victory at Charleston-WV. Floyd, who suffered the loss in a nine-inning no-hitter vs. Lexington on July 24, walked one and hit a batter over seven innings. He started the eighth with a groundout, but Jose Yepez laced a single to end the bid.

Macon (Class A-South Atlantic League) lefthander Macay McBride threw a five-hitter in 4-0 blanking of Charleston-SC on August 2, extending his winning streak to six games. McBride yielded a walk and struck out six to improve to 9-7 with a 2.00 ERA in 20 outings. A 2001 first-round draft pick, McBride has not allowed a run in 22 1/3 innings over his last three starts. ...

STREAKING

Bristol (Rookie Level-Appalachian League) outfielder Darren Ciraco extended his hitting streak to 24 games through Tuesday (40-101, 32 RBI), raising his average from .294 to .362. The 6-2, 200-pounder owned the longest hitting streak in the Appalachian League since Kerry Robinson hit safely in 23 straight for the Cardinals in 1995. Ciraco needed a 13th-inning double on Monday against Elizabethton to extend the streak.

Fort Myers (Class A-Florida State League) righthander Beau Kemp did not allow an earned run in 23 consecutive games from June 8-August 5 (29 1/3 IP, 16 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 19 SO), going 1-0 with 14 saves. Kemp was second in the league with 23 saves through Wednesday.

The Pirates (Rookie Level-Gulf Coast League) recorded their 15th straight win Wednesday, the longest streak in the National Association this season, with a 3-1 road victory over the Rangers. During the streak, the Pirates have outscored opponents, 73-26, and have a 2.91 team ERA of 2.91.

San Bernardino (Class A-California League) righthander Clint Nageotte fanned 10 or more batters for a minor league season-high fourth straight game to help the Stampede defeat Visalia, 6-4, on August 3. ...

LOWLIGHTS

After not driving in a run during the entire month of July, Brevard County (Class A-Florida State League) shortstop Eric Miller knocked in the Manatees' lone run in a 4-1 loss to Jupiter on August 1.

Burlington (Class A-Midwest League) righthander Colt Griffin, a 2001 first-rounder, did not get out of the third inning, allowing seven runs and seven hits in Sunday's 9-2 loss at Lansing.