Springer floats one-hitter

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

Dennis Springer was a foot or two away from making a little history at Cashman Field on Monday night.

The 36-year-old knuckleballer surrendered only an one infield hit and faced just 28 batters, one over the minimum, in pitching the Las Vegas 51s to a 3-0 victory over the Omaha Golden Spikes.

Springer had thrown 4 1/3 perfect innings when Omaha center fielder Trenidad Hubbard hit a grounder deep into the hole at short and easily beat shortstop Keith Johnson's desperation throw to first. Hubbard was then erased two pitches later while attempting to steal second.

The only other Omaha batter to reach base was right fielder Aaron Guiel in the seventh inning when Las Vegas outfielder Brent Cookson got handcuffed by Guiel's tailing liner for an error.

Springer (1-2) threw just 104 pitches, about 75 percent of which he said were knuckleballs, and didn't walk a batter. He struck out three.

"Whenever you pitch a game like that it takes a lot of luck," Springer said. "And there was a lot of luck tonight."

Indeed, on a rare night when there was virtually no wind at Cashman Field, Omaha had four flyballs that were caught on the warning track, including two at the base of the wall in the seventh inning by second baseman Carlos Febles and first baseman Kit Pellow.

"There were a lot of hard-hit balls that were right at guys," Springer said. "Luckily, the wind wasn't too much of a factor because there were a couple of balls that probably would have been home runs."

Hubbard's infield single was a no-brainer for official scorer Jim Gemma. It bounced past the outstretched glove of Las Vegas third baseman Phil Hiatt and was snagged on the lip of the outfield grass by Johnson who leaped and whirled and threw to first but had no real chance to get Hubbard.

"It was a hit," Springer said. "KJ came up and tried to make a great play. Who knows? He might have got some guys, but it had to be one of the fastest guys on that team."

"It was perfect placement," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofield said. "Another foot to the right and KJ probably makes the play."

Springer, who was roughed up for 13 hits and eights runs in 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, a 12-5 loss at Fresno on Wednesday, said he had once pitched a no-hitter in winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

"Many moons ago," he said. "I think it was 1990."

Springer went on to compile a 23-46 and 5.26 career ERA in six major league seasons with the Mets, Marlins, Devil Rays, Angels and Phillies. He was released by the Mets last season after going 0-1 with an 8.74 ERA in two starts.

"I don't think I had a great knuckleball tonight," he said. "I think I changed speeds with different knuckleballs and that seemed to work well."

Almost well enough to knuckle himself into the history books.

The last Cashman no-hitter was by Tim Worrell of the Stars on Sept. 5, 1992 in a 2-0 victory over Phoenix. Mike Dunne also threw a no-hitter for Las Vegas on May 6, 1990 (2-0) at Portland.