Swing dodge no-hitter

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By Quad-City Times staff | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 12:14 AM CDT | () comments

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A leadoff double by Donovan Solano in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday prevented Quad-Cities from being no-hit in Midwest League play for the first time since 1997.

Solano’s blooper down the right field line off of Fort Wayne reliever R.J. Rodriguez was the Swing’s lone hit in a 1-0 loss to the Wizards in front of a crowd of 6,357 at Memorial Stadium.

Fort Wayne starter Drew Miller dominated Quad-Cities through seven innings, striking out 11 batters and walking one as he battled Swing starter P.J. Walters until pitch counts ended the outings for both.

“I really wanted to stay in the game after the seventh inning, but I respected the decision because it was made with my best interests in mind,” Miller told MLB.com.

“After I left the game, I had faith the bullpen would close it out.”

A 6-foot-3 right-hander who was a 37th-round pick of the Padres in the 2005 draft, Miller needed just 83 pitches to even his record at 1-1.

He faced only one over the minimum and did not allow a runner past first while locating his fastball well and blending his curve and change-up effectively.

Walters allowed only one hit, a second-inning single by Rayner Contreras, in five innings. Contreras was the only Wizard to reach base against Walters, who struck out three.

Miller struck out the side twice and left with a 1-0 lead after the Wizards pushed a run across against Swing reliever Elvis Hernandez with two outs in the sixth.

Fort Wayne’s Brian Hernandez reached on a one-out single, then took second when Tom King was hit by a pitch before scoring on a single to right by Cedric Hunter.

Wizards reliever Rolando Valdez kept the no-hit bid alive in the eighth, giving up a one-out walk to Mark Shorey before Chris Grossman grounded into a double play.

Rodriguez took the baseball in the ninth watched as the ball hit by Solano skipped out of the glove of diving right fielder Kyler Burke and rolled past him down the line.

Solano was stranded at second, however, as Quad-Cities (9-10) was shutout for just the second time this season.

Rodriguez struck out Willian Sandoval and Daryl Jones before Christian Lopez flew out to end the game.

Quad-Cities has not been no-hit since Ramon Ortiz pitched Cedar Rapids to a 1-0 win at John O’Donnell Stadium on Aug. 7, 1997.

The franchise has been no-hit just five times in its 48-year history.

Fort Wayne pitchers have not recorded a no-hitter since the Wizards joined the league in 1993.

Contact the sports desk at (563) 383-2285 or sports@qctimes.com

Around the Midwest League

Typically one of the older teams in the Midwest League, struggles have been few and far between in recent years for Kane County.

The Cougars have been a playoff qualifier in seven of the past eight seasons, but opening weeks of the 2007 season have been a struggle for second-year manager Aaron Nieckula and his team.

An affiliate of the Athletics, Kane County is off to a 3-13 start this season. The Cougars are seventh in the league with a .239 team batting average and 14th in ERA at 4.86.

When his team split two games at Quad-Cities earlier this month, Nieckula said he was encouraging his team to be patient.

“We can’t get caught up thinking about the numbers and where we are at. We just have to keep playing and for the most part, these guys have done that,’’ Nieckula said.

He continued to see that attitude as Kane County welcomed Peoria to Elfstrom Stadium last weekend.

Nieckula told the Aurora Beacon-News that his group has remained positive throughout its early-season struggles.

“It’s easy to talk about that, but they have had to do it,’’ Nieckula said. “They will have to realize success, string a few hits together and catch a few breaks along the way.’’

He said he considers his team’s issues to be more of a mental situation than a physical one at this point.

“The most important thing for these guys is to not lose confidence in their abilities and continue to believe in themselves.’’

A hit in Dayton

Chris Valaika has become a big hit in Dayton, where the Dragons’ shortstop has continued to hit the baseball.

Valiaka, who set a Pioneer League record with a 32-game hitting streak last season, had his season-opening 11-game hitting streak with Dayton end with an 0-for-4 game Sunday against Burlington.

He was named the Midwest League player of the week on Monday after hitting .481 with three doubles during a week which included a 4-for-5 game Friday against Quad-Cities. Overall, Valiaka is batting a league-leading .423.

“He uses the whole field and turns on the ball nicely,’’ Dragons manager Donnie Scott told the Dayton Daily News. “Hitting is contagious and it’s spreading up and down our lineup.’’

Three for one

Peoria turned the league’s first triple play of the season last Thursday in the seventh inning of a 6-1 victory at Great Lakes.

After a pair of walks, the Loons’ Carlos Santana hit a sharp grounder to Josh Lansford at third base. He tagged the bag and the Chiefs connected on relay throws to Matt Camp at second and D.J. Lewis at first to put the first triple play ever at Dow Diamond in the books.

Loons head west

Great Lakes, the league’s relocated Southwest Michigan franchise, makes its first trip to Iowa during the upcoming week.

The Dodgers affiliate plays at Clinton from Thursday through Sunday before spending four days in the Quad-Cities.

Manager Lance Parrish told the Midland Daily News that his team will miss the comforts of its new clubhouse at $28 million Dow Diamond in east-central Michigan.

“It’s beyond everyone in this clubhouse’s wildest dreams,’’ the former Tigers catcher said. “They’re definitely going to be spoiled here this year. I’m sure it’s unlike anything they have played in before.’’

This week

Swing of the Quad-Cities

Thursday-Friday

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Thursday-Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Community Field, Burlington, Iowa

Saturday-Sunday

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: John O’Donnell Stadium, Davenport

FYI: Saturday, Swing into Reading Day; Sunday, Clyde’s birthday party and Family Fun Day

Monday-Tuesday

Opponent: Great Lakes Loons

When: Monday, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: John O’Donnell Stadium, Davenport

FYI: Monday, Kids Eat Free Monday; Tuesday, Family 4-pack with four box seats, four slices of pizza, four sodas and a program for $44

Clinton LumberKings

Thursday-Sunday

Opponent: Great Lakes Loons

When: Thursday-Saturday, 6 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Field, Clinton, Iowa

FYI: Thursday, Thirsty Thursday beverage discounts; Friday, Ashford University Night; Saturday, Whittier Elementary PTA Night and Baseball America giveaway; Sunday, DARE Day

Monday-Tuesday

Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels

When: Monday-Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By the numbers

15

League-leading number of home runs hit by Quad-Cities so far this season. Homers that can translate into dollars through donations to the Homers for Hearn program through the Swing and MidWestOne Bank.

Around the league

Burlington: Bees manager Jim Gabella became the franchise’s career wins leader earlier this month. Gabella has managed in Burlington for the past three-plus seasons.

Clinton: Third-year LumberKing Truan Mehl was promoted Monday by the Rangers to high-A Bakersfield (Calif.). Mehl was hitting .429 with two doubles and one triple in six games this season.

Dayton: Swept the league’s weekly awards, with Daryl Thompson earning pitcher of the week honors after going 2-0, allowing no runs while striking out eight and walking one in 12 innings.

Lansing: Won 10 consecutive games — a record for the 12-year old franchise — before losing a Sunday home game to Beloit.

Peoria: Added converted catcher Oscar Muldowney to its pitching staff. Muldowney was a 2001 draft pick who made the move the mound following the 2005 season.

Quad-Cities: Former Swing infielder Joe Mather continues his torrid start for the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate, Springfield. Mather leads all of minor-league baseball with seven homers.

Just ask

Have a question pertaining to the Midwest League? Mail it to Steve Batterson, Quad-City Times, P.O. Box 3828, Davenport IA 52801 or e-mail it to sbatterson@qctimes.com.