Hudson, Faison no-hit Cubs

By Andy Brown

Published: June 5, 2008

The Yankees saved their best for last.

Right-handers Dallas Hudson and Paul Faison combined to no-hit the Cubs and help propel the Yankees to a 5-1 win in their Dixie Minor League season finale Tuesday night at Old Creek Town Park.

Hudson, who earned the win on the mound, tossed three innings and surrendered one run on four walks. The Yankee hurler also struck out seven batters.

Faison came on in relief of Hudson in the fourth and final inning of play and struck out the side after issuing a leadoff walk.

The duo held the Cubs scoreless for the final three innings of the game after a RBI-ground out by Radaress Haynes that scored Frank Garrison in the top of the first inning and gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

Garrison had led the inning off with a walk and then stole second base and advanced to third base on a passed ball to get into position to score on the ground ball.

The Yankees countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning.

Marc Jeter started the rally with a double. He then stole second base and had every intention of swiping third, but the Cubs felt differently about things.

When Jeter made his break for third, Joshua Shakespeare fired a strike to Haynes who then applied the tag for the first out of the inning.

Faison then drew a walk from Cub left-hander Davis Johnston. He then stole second and third base and scored the game-tying run on a passed ball.

After Davis got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Zach Benefield drew a walk and advanced to third base on a wild pitch and a passed ball. After a second passed ball Benefield tried to give the Yankees the lead, but Shakespeare quickly raced to the backstop and flipped the ball to Johnston at the plate who tagged out Benefield for the final out of the inning.

The Yankees snagged the lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Joshua Barragon led the inning off with a ground ball to the right side of the infield that the Cubs were unable to field cleanly allowing Barragon to reach base safely.

He advanced to second base on a passed ball and then stole third base. The Cubs tried to cut Barragon down at third base, but the throw skipped into left field allowing him to race home for the go-ahead run.

After Will Gibson, who came on in relief of Davis at the start of the inning, got a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Austin Tew reached base after being hit by a pitch and then advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base before Gibson notched two more strikeouts to end the threat.

The Yankees sealed the win in the bottom of the third inning by pushing three runs across the plate.

Barragon delivered the big blow of the inning with an RBI double through the right side of the infield that scored Benefield. Faison and Anthony Lamberson also scored in the inning.

Jeter and Barragon each doubled to pace the Yankee offense.