The Perfect Ending

September 1, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release

C.O. Brown Stadium was packed on the final games ever for affiliated minor league baseball in Battle Creek. The biggest crowd of the year of 5,348 came to the ballpark to send off the Rays. The fans were treated to unbelievable concessions and merchandise deals as well as great Midwest League baseball. The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and Beloit Snappers squared off in a double-header to make up for Wednesday's postponed game. Wade Davis took the hill for the first game and gave a memorable performance that will go down in baseball history.

Wade Davis did something that hadn't been done in the Midwest League in 34 years. He tossed a no-hitter... and lost. Yancarlos Ortiz led off the fourth inning and was put on base by a Davis error. Ortiz then stole second with Edward Ovalle batting. Ortiz moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Christian Lopez. The Snappers scored when Dwayne White hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Davis allowed nothing else offensively for the Snappers. During his no-hitter, Davis fanned seven batters and reclaimed the franchise record for strikeouts in a season from teammate Jake McGee who set the record at 163 on Tuesday. The record now stands at 165.

Unfortunately for Davis, the Rays were unable to get anything going on offense either. The Rays recorded four hits and three walks but left all runners on base. To lead off the bottom of the seventh, Christian Lopez went to third on a throwing error by relief pitcher Adam Hawes who sailed the ball over the first basemen's head. But with a runner on third and no outs, the Rays were unable to tie the game and Davis picked up the loss.

Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2006

• Swing Hang First Loss on Hochevar - Burlington Bees
• Swing clinch West, hang first loss on Hochevar - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cougars Fall in Rare Loss to Kernels - Kane County Cougars
• Dragons Fall in 14 to Whitecaps, 1-0 - Dayton Dragons
• Marathon goes to the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Another close loss for the Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Lugnuts Blank Rays, 6-0 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Snappers Blanked by Chiefs - Beloit Sky Carp
• The Perfect Ending - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Bees Drop Dramatic Finale to Kernels - Burlington Bees

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Southwest Michigan Devil Rays Stories

• The Perfect Ending
• Jake McGee becomes strikeout king of BC Franchise
• Devil Rays fall in twelve inning marathon
• Devil Rays and Dragons Split Double-Header
• Devil Rays shutout by Peoria