Rockies' Bettis flirts with no-hitter in dominant outing vs. Phillies

Despite a valiant effort from Chad Bettis on Friday night, Ubaldo Jimenez still boasts the only no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history.

Bettis, the 26-year-old right-hander recalled earlier this month, held the Philadelphia Phillies hitless at Citizens Bank Park until Cody Asche poked a single into left field with one out in the eighth inning. Though he was unable to join Jimenez in that exclusive fraternity, Bettis' efforts were enough to lift the Rockies to a 4-1 victory.

Before Asche shattered the no-hit bid, the Phillies' lone baserunner came in the bottom of the seventh on a fielding error by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who couldn't corral a ground ball off the bat of Ben Revere that first deflected off Bettis.

Bettis, who cracked a wry smile after losing the no-hitter, was removed following the eighth inning, yielding to closer John Axford after notching seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits - Carlos Ruiz added another harmless single two batters after Asche - over eight sublimes.

Despite opening the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, Bettis enjoyed his second dominant outing in as many starts, flirting with a no-hitter just five days after notching seven strikeouts while allowing just two runs over 8 1/3 innings in an 11-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.