Cueto tosses rain-shortened no-no
Published on May 13, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- Dayton Dragon pitcher Johnny Cueto pitched the first no-hitter in team history in a rain-shortened 6-0 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in game two of a doubleheader Saturday night. Cueto walked two and struck out eight in the 5-inning game. Mike Griffin supplied the offense with a three-run homer to help the Dragons to a split in the doubleheader. This was the second time the Rattlers have been no-hit, but the first time it has happened at home.
Dayton (18-18) took the early advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the second. The Dragons had runners on first and second with no outs. Gerardo Cabrera dropped a poor sacrifice bunt, but Rattler first baseman Bryan Sabatella threw wildly to third and a run scored. Later in the inning, Rattler starting pitcher Ruben Flores walked Mike DeJesus with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Meanwhile, Cueto retired the Rattlers in order in the first, second, and third innings.
The Dragons pulled away in the top of the fourth. The first two batters reached on a walk and a bunt single. Griffin laced a three-run homer over the left field wall for his first homer of the year and a 5-0 lead. An RBI double by Habelito Hernandez capped the inning.
Cueto allowed his first base runner in the bottom of the fourth inning. He walked lead-off batter Jeff Dominguez. Then, Cueto got Luis Valbuena to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and got Ron Garth to fly out to center.
The Rattlers (16-19) also got the lead off batter aboard in the fifth. Mike Saunders reached on another walk. Cueto had a chance to turn two again, but threw wildly to second for an error and the Rattlers had runners on first and second with no outs.
Cueto struck out Sabatella and Chao Kuan Wu for the first two outs. Then, he struck out Jairo Hernandez for the last out before the tarp was rolled onto the field.
Thirty minutes later, the game was declared over and Cueto had his piece of history.
The last time the Rattlers went without a hit in a game was April 12, 2004. Burlington Bee pitchers Dustin Hughes and Jake Mullis combined on a no-no at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa for a 3-0 victory.
Game three of the series is Sunday afternoon. Jose Escalona (4-2, 2.16ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Jeff Stevens (1-2, 5.40ERA) is slated to start for the Dragons.
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