Double-A club throws no-hitter on the same day in back-to-back years!

June 20 -- the start of summer, the longest day of year … and the day that the Springfield Cardinals throw no-hitters. Add in some Margaritaville-themed threads, and the vibes, as they say, are immaculate.

On Friday night, the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate threw a no-hitter on June 20 for the second straight year, their only two no-hitters in franchise history. And curiously enough, both have come against the Corpus Christi Hooks, this time in a 1-0 victory at Hammons Field.

At the big league level, the same team has not thrown a no-hitter on the same calendar day in back-to-back years in MLB history.

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The 2024 edition was a seven-inning affair led by the Cardinals’ No. 12 prospect Cooper Hjerpe. Over five innings, the southpaw had the Hooks searchin’ for their lost shakers of salt (Salt! Salt! Salt!) as he struck six while allowing one walk.

This time around, the no-no came with extra zest. After clinching a Texas League playoff spot the day prior, the Cardinals rolled out the organization’s No. 3 prospect Tink Hence for his first Double-A start of the season. The righty, who has appeared in the last two SiriusXM All-Star Futures Games, reached Springfield last season but suffered a right rib cage strain in the spring. With his return to the mound, the occasion already felt more perfect than a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

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“I just wanted to come here and contribute and bring good energy,” Hence said.

He did that and more as he struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings. The Hooks blew out their flip flops trying to square up Hence’s breaking pitches.

“I knew I had a pitch count coming into it, so I was really just trying to get as much as I can,” said Hence of his performance. “I didn’t want to waste pitches tonight.”

Zane Mills and Austin Love put the Hooks in a blender in the middle innings, keeping the no-hitter intact. In the bottom of the fifth, Darlin Moquete drove in the only run of the game to the delight of Cardinals and Parrotheads alike, while Sean Harney earned the save.

Hence, for one, was not bothered by the lack of run support.

“Each time we go out there, we just want to put up zeros,” said Hence. “One, two, three [runs], whatever -- we just want to give our team the best chance to win.”

As salty as a son of a son of a sailor, Hence navigated his Springfield return and made history in the process. The Cardinals seem to have harnessed the power of the summer solstice, but for Hence, he might have the Margaritaville magic to thank:

“It’s crazy. Every time I throw in specialty jerseys, I always throw pretty good.”