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August 7, 2010 - FARGO, N.D. – Rockford starter Brett Durand scattered three hits and pitched his second career shutout on Saturday as the RiverHawks blanked the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 5-0, at Newman Outdoor Field.
Durand (7-6) struck out six and walked one in a 90-pitch performance as the RiverHawks won their third in a row. It’s Rockford’s longest winning streak since the RiverHawks won four straight, May 21-24.
Jason James and onetime RedHawk Rich Austin led a 12-hit attack. James was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Austin, who left Rockford No. 2 on the team’s career hit list after a Frontier League pennant in 2004, regained the second spot in the record book with a 3-for-5 performance. The veteran first baseman extended his on-base streak to 21 games.
Durand bounced back from the worst start of his career – eight runs on 13 hits in a 12-5 loss to last-place Schaumburg on Monday – with perhaps his finest appearance in four professional seasons. Durand pitched just 25 balls and went to three balls on only one hitter. He struck out five RedHawks in an eight-batter stretch in the third through fifth innings.
Durand allowed only one batter to reach base with fewer than two outs. After Eric Campbell led off the fifth inning with an infield hit, Durand retired the game’s last 15 batters in order.
It was Durand’s fifth career complete game and first nine-inning shutout – the other was a seven-inning, 3-0 four-hitter against River City in the opener of a Frontier League doubleheader on Aug. 1, 2009 at Loves Park.
Durand, with his 17th victory in two years with the RiverHawks, moved into sole possession of fourth place on the team’s all-time win list. He passed Jason Shelley, the 2003 Baseball America magazine Independent Leagues Player of the Year, and Frank James.
Rockford broke a scoreless tie with back-to-back, two-out doubles by Austin and James in the third inning. The RiverHawks added a run in the fourth inning, then doubled the lead in the fifth on an Austin single and a James homer just inside the foul pole in right field. James’ ninth homer of the year was his first in 22 games.
Fargo starter Jake Laber (7-3) lost for the first time in seven starts. Laber gave up four runs on nine hits over seven innings.
Evan McArthur added a RBI single in the eighth inning.
Austin, with 313 hits in four years with Rockford, passed Ben Fjelland (311) for second on the all-time list. When both left Rockford after the 2004 title – Austin spent three years with Fargo and two with Bologna in Italy – Fjelland was the all-time leader. James, with 505 hits, is the current hit king.
The RiverHawks are home Tuesday for a 6:05 p.m. doubleheader against Joliet. It’s Two-For Tuesday. Tickets are two for the price of one.
The RiverHawks are members of the Northern League, an eight-team independent professional baseball league in its 18th season. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Games are broadcast live on ESPN 1380 (WTJK-AM) and on ESPN1380.com. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at www.rockfordriverhaks.com.
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