You hear it tossed about every now and then, especially while one is in progress. No, not the taboo of saying “no-hitter” or “perfect game” while one is happening because that would be… well… taboo. No, we’re talking about something that is not quite as rare but is nonetheless difficult and remarkable; something that is affectionately known as “a Maddux”, so named after Hall of Fame right-hander (and former Dodger) Greg Maddux because he accomplished this incredible feat 13 times during his 23-year major league career.

What the heck is a Maddux, you ask?

A Maddux is a term that was first coined by baseball writer Jason Lukehart in which a pitcher throws a complete game shutout in under 100 pitches, and on Sunday afternoon Rancho Cucamonga Quakes right-hander Adam Bray did exactly that on a total of 93 pitches.

But wait, there’s more!

Bray’s masterful 5-0 complete game shutout was accomplished with the 24-year-old Minneapolis, Minnesota native having faced the minimum of 27 opposing batters and allowing only a third-inning line drive single to San Jose Giants third baseman Jonah Arenado (Nolan’s brother) to center field. But the younger Arenado brother was erased two batters later on a perfectly executed inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

“Adam was dominate today, quick tempo and attacked with all pitches for strikes,” Quakes manager Drew Saylor said of his young right-hander immediately following the game. “Seventy of his 93 pitches were strikes. He is such a tremendous competitor and his demeanor really stuck out today. You couldn’t tell if he was losing 8-0 or throwing a one-hitter through nine.”

Bray threw a one-hitter through nine.

“Executing pitches was my goal and I did that really well,” Bray said. “In one of these games, you just go out there and try to keep the lead. These guys are so aggressive, you want to keep them off-balance, working quickly, and I did a good job of that. It was fun. Anytime we can beat the Giants affiliate, it’s a fun time,”

Bray’s complete game 5-0 shutout on Sunday on 93 pitches is believed to be the first “Maddux” in Quakes history. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

For those unfamiliar with Adam Bray, he was selected by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of South Dakota University. The 6′-3″ / 210-pound right-hander was a mainstay in the starting rotation during his four years with the Jackrabbits. Along the way he set records with 264 strikeouts, 326.2 innings pitched and 51 games started. To round out his Jackrabbit résumé, he ranked second in victories, compiling a 23-16 record. During his senior year in 2015, he posted an 8-4 record and 2.96 earned run average in 14 starts while striking out 80 and walking 25 in 91.1 innings pitched.

During the 2016 season Bray appeared in a total of 34 games, splitting time between the Dodgers Low Single-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons and the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, starting in only four of them. In his combined 74 innings pitched, he had an ERA of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.11. His very respectable WHIP was due in large part to his 80 strikeouts while issuing only 11 walks.

Bray began the 2017 season back with the Quakes and in his 19 games (12 starts) – including Sunday’s masterpiece – he is now 5-2 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. With his eight strikeouts on Sunday, Bray now has 89 on the season with 17 walks.

The last Quakes pitcher to toss a complete game shutout was right-hander John Richy on May 28, 2015 at LoanMart Field against the Modesto Nuts. In that game Richy allowed four hits and hit a batter in the eventual 7-0 Quakes win. And even though Richy’s outstanding performance was not a Maddux, it did include a two-run home run by current Dodgers rookie sensation Cody Bellinger. Richy was later released by the Dodgers and is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system.

During his remarkable outing on Sunday, Bray retired the first six batters he faced prior to Arenado’s clean single. He then retired the final 20 batters he faced.

…something that Greg Maddux might do.

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(ThinkBlueLA senior writer Harold Uhlman contributed to this article)