Cueto, Mother Nature no-hit Rattlers

Johnny Cueto tossed the first no-hitter in Dragons history as Dayton beat host Wisconsin, 6-0, to split Saturday's doubleheader.

Cueto (3-1) walked two and struck out eight over five innings in a game shortened by rain. He retired the first nine batters before giving up a leadoff walk in the fourth.

The Dominican right-hander escaped trouble in the fifth. After Mike Saunders opened the inning with a walk, Eddy Hernandez hit a grounder back to the mound and Cueto made a wild throw to second base to put runners on first and second. He struck out the next three batters before the tarp was put over the field. The game was called 30 minutes later.

"I was upset that it was pouring at the bottom of the fifth," Cueto said. "I was cold but I was determined not to lose the game."

Dayton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second against starter Ruben Flores (0-2) on an error and a bases-loaded walk. Mike Griffin belted a three-run homer off reliever Rollie Gibson in the fourth as the Dragons (18-17) won for the ninth time in 14 games.

Wisconsin (15-20) was no-hit for the second time in team history. Burlington's Dustin Hughes and Jake Mullis combined for the feat on April 12, 2004.

The Timber Rattlers, who posted nine runs on 10 hits in the opener, lost for the fourth time in six contests.