Round Rock
The night started rough for the Express but ended on a good note. I-Cub starter Sean Marshall, who was the last cut out of spring training, pitched 3 innings striking out 6 of the 9 batters he faced. Luckily for the Express, Marshall had a 45 pitch limit as he was being stretched out to return to a starters role after hanging out in the bull pen.
Josh Mueke’s bounced back after giving up a first inning homer to only allow 2 other hits over 5 innings, while striking out 5 and walking none. He earned the win after his teammates scored 2 in the sixth and single runs in the 7th and 8th for a 4-2 win.
Corpus Christi
The bats came alive for Corpus Christi as they tied a team record for runs in a 15-5 drilling of Tulsa. Although the bats were the story, Brian Bogusevic had a decent start to his 2008 season. He reached his 75 pitch limit 2 batters into the 5th and ended with a line of 4 innings pitched, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 3 strike outs.
“It was pretty good,” Hooks manager Luis Pujols said. “We were able to score early in the game and maintain. Bogusevic gave us four good innings, and we were able to hang on.”
Remember that, 10 run wins equal holding on for Manager Pujols.
Ryan McKeller pitched 3 innings of shut out relief for the win and got a hit and an RBI as well.
Kaz Matsui will be joining the Hooks on Tuesday.
“That’s the plan right now,” said Ricky Bennett, the Astros’ assistant general manager and director of player development. “He’s got a doctor’s appointment Monday and if all goes well then he’ll go on assignment in Corpus on Tuesday. There’s an off day Wednesday and he’ll got back (to Houston) and then to Tulsa Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday. That’s the plan right now. That all could change pending his doctor’s appointment.”
Salem
Polin Trinidad shook off a line drive off his pitching hand from the first batter in the first inning and earned an opening day win for the Avs.
“There’s something about that kid, he just competes,” Avalanche manager Jim Pankovits said. “He may not throw 92 or 93, his stuff might not be eye-opening, but he knows how to pitch and he’s mature beyond his years.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
The Avalanche scored 4 runs in the 5th with 2 outs to put enough runs on the board for the 4-3 over Potomac.
The local paper has a story about how nicely people behaved having Roger Clemens in the house to watch Koby. Apparently southern decorum doesn’t extend to keeping transactions private.
Still, in this town, benefit of the doubt and courtesy rule. Clemens easily made his way through the crowd to the gift shop and spent about $220 on 10 Avalanche T-shirts and four or five hats, according to the shop employees. Even those who asked for autographs did so respectfully, waiting until after he’d finished his shopping.
“He was so low-key and polite,” said Charles Cooper, who helped ring up Clemens’ merchandise. “He talked to everybody. Very pleasant.