Game Notes:
While the Astros are beating up on the Nats in Houston, the junior version of the Washington club was getting the win over the baby ‘stros in NO. This time, the Zephyrs claimed their own late-inning comeback victory with 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the game by a 5-4 score.
Charlton Jimerson got things off to a thunderous start for RR, leading off the contest with a massive 475-shot out to CF. That’s one heck of a poke at the Shrine on Airline. While the fact that it was windy and less humid than normal in the Big Easy may have helped, it still was considered by local observers to be the longest homer ever seen at the stadium. Further demonstrating the teasing promise of the Miami Hurricane-ex, he then proceeded to go 0-4 the rest of the way with a couple of whiffs.
Chris Sampson got his AAA career off on the right foot with 4 shutout innings as the starter. The former shortstop showed he can still handle the bat with a single and a successful sacrifice in his 2 plate appearances.
Veterans Joe Valentine and Dave Borkowski mucked things up at the tail end to allow the Z’s the win. The former gave up a run in the 7th and exited with a runner aboard and 2 outs in the 8th. Borkowski, who as noted previously has been a starter for most of his 11-year professional career and was working for the second night in a row, came on to give up a 4 straight hits (and those 3 runs) and gets tagged with the loss.
Super Joe (not Charboneau) had 2 whiffs to match his 2 errors.
Alan Zinter hit his umpteenth career minor league homerun with a PH solo shot in the 9th.
2B Brooks Conrad (RBI triple) and CF Mike Rodriguez each contributed a couple of hits. M-Rod swiped a bag.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Sampson was the replacement for scheduled starter Carlos Hernandez, who as noted in today’s Chron may have a possible labrum tear. (2) Per MiLB policy, the replacement umps are not being named (presumably to avoid possible retaliation by the striking union members). Here’s what shows up in the box scores–HP: HP Umpire. 1B: 1B Umpire. 2B: 2B Umpire. 3B: 3B Umpire.
Game Notes:
A trio of Missions’ pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Missions blanked the Hooks 5-0.
On a positive note, for the second day in a row CC saw an impressive AA debut on the mound. Starter Matt Albers gave up a run on 6 hits over 6 innings of work. He also exhibited a nifty pickoff move by erasing not one but two baserunners.
Jon Skaggs’ organizational debut was pretty sucky, blowing up for 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk in 2 IP.
J.R. House had the one piddlin’ hit, a ground ball up the middle in the bottom of the 4th.
CF Josh Anderson threw out a runner at 3B.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Just as in game #1, House opened the game at catcher before moving to 1B in the later innings. He was replaced behind the plate by Kevin Davidson.
Game Notes:
After OF Beau Torbert doubled to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, the sky opened up and the game was suspended.
Other News and Notes:
(1) The game will be continued on Saturday before the regularly-scheduled game with Torbert on at second and no one out in the bottom of the first inning.
Game Notes:
The good guys win the rain-shortened game by a 2-1 score over Lakewood.
Starter Levi Romero limited the damage in his 5 innings of work to just a solo shot.
Tip Fairchild, who expected to open in the starting rotation, hurled a scoreless 6th and final frame.
Lex won the game in the bottom of the 6th (though they wouldn’t know that until later when the game was called after an 80-minute rain delay). With two outs, DH Ryan Reed singled and moved to second on a passed ball. He was brought home on a double by catcher J.R. Towles.
Reed was the only player in the Lex lineup with multiple hits.
SS Tommy Manzella walked twice, with LF Mitch Einertson driving him with a base hit on one of those occasions for the game’s first run.
CF Josh Flores and RF Eli Iorg each had a single in three trips. Flores swiped the first of what promises to be many SBs on the season.
Einertson cut down a runner at 2nd.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Fairchild, having worked only the one frame, could come back and start Monday’s game if the plan still is to have him as the 5th starter. (2) Koby was hitless in his Sally debut.
Quoting:
“I think my best pitch was my fastball. And the second pitch, my split-finger,” Romero said. “I think that my mechanics tonight were pretty good. I was stepping back and throwing the fastballs well. I threw 56 pitches, and 40 for strikes.”