Bailie to 6-0, Milestone for McCauley
July 5, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL- The Schaumburg Flyers stopped a four-game losing streak in its tracks on Tuesday, July 5, defeating the visiting Kansas City T-Bones 9-1 at Alexian Field. The Flyers improved to 15-29 with four first half games remaining as they eye improvement and a playoff run in the second half. Kansas City fell to 25-17 and out of first in the Northern League's South Division first half race as St. Paul beat Joliet to re-take a half game lead.
Flyers Manager Andy McCauley picked up his 120th career win in Schaumburg and surpassed Ron Kittle as the franchise's all-time leader in managerial victories. McCauley is 120-108 with the Flyers dating back to 2003.
On paper, it looked like a matchup between the two pitchers that many view as the top two starters in the Northern League as Flyers ace Matt Bailie opposed Kansas City's veteran stopper and pitching coach Greg Bicknell. But Bicknell struggled for much of his outing while Bailie cruised, allowing just two singles and one walk over eight innings to raise his record to 6-0.
The NL Pitcher of the Week for last week extended his scoreless inning streak to 14.1 innings pitched before giving up a run in the fifth inning. He then proceeded to retire the final 14 batters of the evening before giving way to Blake Cross for the ninth.
The Flyers jumped on top for good in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI grounder by Eric Cole as Schaumburg cashed in a leadoff double by Geoff McCallum. The home team remained on attack in the second inning, batting around to score four times and take control of the game with a 5-0 lead. Nelson Gord's RBI single started the scoring and Cole's sacrifice fly closed it out.
The Flyers left the bases loaded in the fourth and Matt Ceriani's fielders choice RBI grounder pulled K.C. to within 5-1 in the fifth as the T-Bones lingered within striking distance. But all doubts were erased in the sixth when Schaumburg scored three times to knock Bicknell out of the game and grab an 8-1 lead. A wild pickoff throw by Bicknell with runners at the corners created excitement as McCallum trotted home from third and Marcus Nettles raced all the way around from first base as the ball rolled around near the Flyers' right field bullpen. He easily beat a throw to the plate from 1B Ray Brown.
Bicknell, the NL Pitcher of the Month for June, took his first loss of the year, falling to 8-1, allowing eight runs, six earned, in 5.2 innings. He allowed nine hits and walked five Schaumburg batters. Three of the five men who walked came in to score.
Chris Weekly led an 11-hit attack with a 4-for-5, RBI performance at the plate. Gord added two more hits, two runs scored and an RBI. McCallum also scored a pair of runs.
The Flyers will go for two out of three on Wednesday when LHP R.J. Swindle (3-2) opposes RHP Jonathan Krysa (2-6) in a 7:05 PM game at Alexian Field. For ticket information, please visit flyersbaseball.com or call (847) 891-BALL.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Flyers signed veteran IF Jarrod Patterson, a former major leaguer with Kansas City (2003) and Detroit (2001). To make room, RHP Grant Dorn was traded to Brockton of the independent Can-Am League. Patterson was in uniform on Tuesday but did not play after flying to Chicago from Birmingham, AL.
Notes: Josue Lopez went 0-for-4 as a seven-game hitting streak came to an end...The Flyers played errorless ball behind Bailie one night after committing four errors in a loss...
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Northern League Stories from July 5, 2005
- Bailie to 6-0, Milestone for McCauley - Schaumburg Flyers
- Saints regain first place - St. Paul Saints
- Saltdogs put up double digits on the board in third straight game - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Railcats end four game losing streak with 1-0 victory over Redhawks - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Gary shuts out Redhawks 1-0 in 10 innings - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Nothern League All-Star coaching staffs announced - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Northern League announces All-Star managers and coaching staffs - NL
- Drobiak takes the cake - Joliet JackHammers
- Byrdak back to the bigs - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- T-Bones Win Opener, Take First In South Division - Schaumburg Flyers
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