Streak makes name for unknown Allen

You've probably never heard of Brian Allen. After all, pitchers with 1-1 lifetime records tend to slip under a lot of radars.

For the record, Allen is a pitcher for the Charleston RiverDogs, having signed as a free agent in June 2002.

Allen, 23, is 6 feet 3, 180 pounds, throws right-handed and, oh yeah, has the longest current scoreless innings streak in the Tampa Bay organization.

Allen pushed that streak to 241/3 innings Monday night against Capital City after pitching the final two innings for his second save of the season. The performance helped Charleston beat the Bombers for the first time in nine games.

Allen is 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA after entering the season with a 3.16 ERA. During the streak, which covers 19 appearances, he has allowed nine hits and held opponents to a .114 batting average. But don't tell him that.

"I'm not a numbers guy," Allen told the Charleston Post and Courier. "My dad is, and I have to tell him not to let me know how long the streak is. All numbers really show is what you did in the past."

SHHHH, THEY'RE WINNING: It seems fitting that Allen's latest hushing of opponents came on a night when there was no noise for five innings at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Monday was "Silent Night," in which the 2,924 fans, many with duct tape over their mouths, sat silently in an attempt to set the record for the quietest game in pro baseball history.

The feat should allow the RiverDogs to take over the title, which has been held since 1909 by the New York Highlanders and Jersey City Skeeters, according to the Baseball Hall of Shame's Warped Record Book. To ensure silence, ushers were replaced by librarians, golf marshals roamed the dugouts and the announcements were signed to the crowd, which held up placards reading "Yeah!" when the 'Dogs scored, "Boo!" when the Bombers scored and "Hey Beer Man" when it was thirsty.

STEALING THE SHOW: Joey Gathright stole three bases Monday, giving him 53 for the season and tying him with Kyle Towner for sixth in Bakersfield history. Gathright, who has 75 steals in his two-year career, leads the California League in that category and is third with a .343 average.

TRADE YA: In what is believed to be a first, Hudson Valley general manager and team president Steve Gliner was traded for Fort Myers Miracle general manager Dave Burke. The move takes effect Oct. 1.

Turns out Gliner's family lives in Florida and his in-laws are in Charleston, S.C. Burke is a native of Wayne, N.J., a 60-mile ride from the Renegades home in Fishkill, N.Y.

INJURY REPORT: Hudson Valley third baseman Mark Schleicher has returned to St. Petersburg to have surgery on his injured left shoulder. Schleicher, who was drafted in the 20th round last month, played in 12 games for the Renegades, hitting .225 with one home run and three RBIs. ... Outfielder Nate Dion returned to Hudson Valley after missing more than two weeks with a mild concussion sustained when he ran headfirst into the outfield wall. Despite his absence, Dion leads the New York-Penn League with five triples.

FORMER FARMHAND OF THE WEEK: Pat Borders. He signed a minor-league contract in January 2000 and spent the next year and a half waiting in Durham for a promotion. He was hitting .236 for the Bulls and acting as a mentor to Toby Hall when the Rays sold his contract to Seattle Aug. 27, 2001.

Borders, a former World Series MVP, is playing for the Mariners' Triple-A club in Tacoma, hitting .321 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs. He was selected to play in tonight's Triple-A All-Star Game in Memphis, where he will face current Bulls Ryan Jackson, Jason Smith and Lee Gardner. Durham pitcher Carlos Reyes was supposed to be there but will skip the game to tend to family matters.