Other articles by Bruce Pascoe:

UA recruiters look down the road Freshmen mean array of options Now that's a switch Like Fogg, Williams will come in unseen Cats gain one more of USC's recruits NY duo sure they can make it here It's not Rocket science: Chase faces challenge Hill goes No. 8 to Knicks Budinger traded to Houston RocketsHill chosen No. 8 overall by Knicks

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Seven months ago, nine-year major-league veteran Trot Nixon was returning to Fenway Park to face his old team in the American League Championship Series before the eyes of millions.

He batted .429 in three appearances for the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Red Sox.

On April 22, Nixon, 34, was roaming the outfield for a likely lame-duck 3-17 minor-league team that plays home games before a few thousand people or so at Tucson Electric Park.

He was hitting .214.

You cannot tell him the difference in his production was physical.

"A lot of things can pile on," said Nixon, who was 3 for 3 with a three-run homer Friday in the Sidewinders' 6-5, 10-inning victory over Nashville. "My family's not here with me; they're back on the East Coast (in North Carolina). And I wanted to have an opportunity to be at the big-league level."

So without his family in the stands, without the frenzy of Fenway to play in front of, as he did for eight seasons, Nixon found his eyes began to wander. He wondered what scouts might be there, and if they were looking at him.

"I was committed to being down here, but I didn't think that mentally I was totally committed," Nixon said. "It wasn't that I was coming out to the field and didn't care. It was just that my agenda should have been to come out here, continue to get better and focus on what I need to do, instead of wondering if somebody was in the stands or whatever."

Since signing a $3 million one-year deal with the Indians in 2007, Nixon has had to adjust his standards. The Indians did not seek to retain him last winter, and he said only the Diamondbacks, who wanted insurance for injured infielder Chad Tracy, offered him a minor-league contract.

He took it.

Nixon did not make the team, hitting .214 in 24 games for the D-backs in spring training. But after a few weeks in Triple-A, Nixon changed his mental approach.

His offense followed suit. Nixon has hit safely in 12 of 14 games since April 22, raising his average to .337.

"Pretty much the only thing I'm thinking right now is get up in the morning, come to the field and be productive," Nixon said, "and have a good attitude about everything."

The ironic thing is, just as Nixon is ignoring the scouts, they may become more interested.

"I think that's why he's still playing, to get an opportunity," Sidewinders manager Bill Plummer said.

"Hopefully, somebody will take him to the big leagues."

● First baseman Josh Whitesell preceded Friday's post-game fireworks fittingly with a walk-off game-winning home run to right field in the bottom of the 10th. He was mobbed by teammates. "That's as exciting as it gets for a player," Whitesell said.

● The rehabilitating Tracy took Friday's game off, not because of his knee, but because of flu-like symptoms.

● Doug Davis will throw up to 85 pitches tonight in his first rehabilitation start since thyroid cancer surgery last month.

● Major-league umpire Bill Hohn is working a rehabilitation assignment in Tucson through Tuesday after a back ailment sidelined him late last season.