[jaykno14]

8/20: OFF

8/22: vs Rockies (57-67/25-38 Rd), loss 2-7 - LP: Jackson (3-3)
Two errors led to three unearned runs on Zach Jackson, and he only lasted three innings scattering seven hits and five runs, only two earned. Ben Hendrickson did well out of the pen going five innings allowing only one run to keep us within manageable distance, but we could just not figure out Jason Jennings. We had three hits as a team, and they came from Vinny Rottino (two) and Geoff Jenkins. Rickie Weeks did walk twice to continue his on base rate.

8/23: vs Rockies, win 2-0 - WP: Villanueva
Villanueva was able to go all nine innings, and didn't even break the 100 mark (99 pitches). Villanueva gave up only five hits and struck out seven, while walking one. Rickie Weeks got on base again going 1-3. Chone Figgins scored a run and was also 1-3, and Prince Fielder was 1-3 with a run and RBI. Corey Hart, who started for Geoff Jenkins in right field versus a lefty, was 2-4 wiht a RBI. Jeff Mathis went 3-4 and Erick Aybar was 2-4. We did leave ten guys on base.

8/24: vs Rockies, loss 5-6 - LP: Shields (3-2)
We had a 5-0 lead after the first inning, but could do no more as their bullpen held us to just two more hits after that inning. Our bullpen let them get back in it. Dave Bush went 6.1 innings giving up seven hits and striking out seven, but the bullpen could not hold on for his eighth win. Jeff Mathis and Juan Rivera hit home runs, both two-run shots. Prince Fielder was 1-2 with two walks and a run, and Rickie Weeks was 0-3, but walked once.

8/25 @ Marlins (67-59/33-29 Hm) - LP: Blanton (11-5)
Joe Blanton went six innings and only allowed four hits, but gave up four earned runs en route to a loss. We only had seven hits as a team and left nine guys on. Rickie Weeks and Billy Hall were both 2-4, but other than that no one else had more than one hit. Erick Aybar did have two walks. As a team we struck out 12 times against a pitcher making his major league debut. Not good.

8/26: @ Marlins, win 3-2 - WP: Sheets (6-12), S: Turnbow (22)
After allowing two men to cross the plate in the bottom of the first, Ben Sheets pitched spectacular and allowed only four more hits the rest of the game. He lasted eight innings giving up two runs, six hits, and striking out five. We scored all three of our runs in the top of the ninth, which was started by Vinny Rottino's pinch-hit RBI double. Rickie Weeks then drove in him and Erick Aybar for the go-ahead run. Dan Kolb pitched to a batter in the ninth (to allow Turnbow to finish warming up) and the Turnbow came in and got the last two outs.

8/27: @ Marlins, win 5-2 - WP: Jackson (4-3), S: Turnbow (23)
Zach Jackson pitched five innings of four hit ball and struck out seven while allowing only one run to cross the plate. Ben Hendrickson, Scot Shields, and Yovani Gallardo all pitched well in relief allowing the save from Derrick Turnbow in the ninth. Rickie Weeks was 2-5 with two runs scored, and Figgins had a RBI and two stolen bases. Bill Hall was also 1-3 with an RBI, and Tony Gwynn drove in a run. They had four errors as a team, which led to three unearned runs being given up by their pitchers.

Jay's Thoughts: It was good that we were able to win those final two games of the week to get back to .500 for the week. One of these days we are going to get over that hump and maybe get over the .500 mark. The bullpen has done well for us lately, especially Hendrickson and Calero. I am also becoming fond of the type of hitter that Erick Aybar is turning into. I like him at the bottom of the lineup for us. In September we are going to really try to see what we are going to have in our hitters for next season.

Team Stats
Record: 64-66 (3-3)
L10: 6-4
Streak: Won 2
Batting Average:.252 - 14th in NL
ERA: 4.64 - 14th in NL

Down On The Farm
1. SP Yovani Gallardo (MLB): 9 G, 1-0, 1 S, 2.37 ERA, 19.0 IP, 19 HA, 5 ER, 1 HRA, 4 BB, 26 K
2. SS Erick Aybar (MLB): 40 G, 135 AB, 37 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 22 R, 12 BB, 23 K, .274/.338/.385
3. SP Carlos Villanueva (MLB): 6 GS, 3-1, 4.10 ERA, 37.1 IP, 40 HA, 17 ER, 3 HRA, 9 BB, 37 K, 1 CG/SHO
4. SP Zach Jackson (MLB): 12 G, 8 GS, 4-3, 1.81 ERA, 54.2 IP, 38 HA, 11 ER, 1 HRA, 12 BB, 56 K, 5 QS
5. 3B Evan Longoria (A): 20 G, 64 AB, 15 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 9 K, .234/.290/.375
6. C Jeff Mathis (MLB): 121 G, 435 AB, 110 H, 22 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 57 RBI, 56 R, 46 BB, 88 K, .253/.327/.423
7. LF Tony Gwynn Jr. (MLB): 40 G, 72 AB, 18 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI, 7 R, 8 BB, 15 K, .250/.325/.347
8. RF Travis Snider (R+): 55 G, 201 AB, 65 H, 3 2B, 17 RBI, 26 R, 21 BB, 34 K, 5 SB, .323/.391/.338
9. CF Charlie Fermaint (A+): 129 G, 521 AB, 167 H, 19 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 80 R, 49 BB, 117 K, .321/.388/.430
10. RF Michael Brantley (A+): 10 G, 26 AB, 7 H, 3 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K, .269/.321/.269

Minor League System: 16th, 43 Pts: P Gallardo (51st), SS Aybar (54th), P Villanueva (61st), P Jackson (69th), 3B Longoria (74th)

Minor League Team Records:
Nashville: 61-75, 2nd Place
Huntsville: 70-63, 5th Place
Brevard County: 72-61, 3rd Place
West Virginia: 69-64, 3rd Place
Helena: 25-38, 4th Place
Arizona: 33-22, 1st Place

Hitting
C Jeff Mathis: See above
UT Vinny Rottino: 66 G, 118 AB, 33 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 20 BB, 26 K, .280/.388/.432
OF Tony Gwynn: See above
OF Geoff Jenkins: 118 G, 390 AB, 108 H, 19 2B, 3 3B, 20 HR, 81 RBI, 61 RBI, 53 BB, 79 K, .277/.372/.495

Pitching
MR Robert Hinton: 4 G, 6.0 IP, 5 HA, 0 HRA, 3 ER, 4 BB, 11 K, 4.50 ERA, .217 AVG
MR Danny Kolb: 46 G, 4-3, 2 S, 49.0 IP, 46 HA, 8 HRA, 23 ER, 24 BB, 34 K, 4.22 ERA, .251 AVG
CL Derrick Turnbow: 38 G, 3-3, 23 S, 45.2 IP, 34 HA, 4 HRA, 13 ER, 29 BB, 38 K, 2.56 ERA, .207 AVG

Around the League
Not much news around the league. Rafael Betancourt signed a one year extension with the Indians for $1.94M next season.

The Reds are beginning to pull away in the Central with a 3.5 game lead over the Cubs. In the wild card race it is beginning to get tight as the Marlins and Mets are tied and a half a game ahead of the Cubs, a game ahead of Atlanta (come on Braves!), and two games ahead of the Cardinals. The Twins have pulled away in the AL Central and have a 8.5 game lead over the White Sox, and it appears that the Angels are pulling away with the wild card.

What's On Tap?
8/28: @ Marlins (finishing up the series in Florida)
8/29: @ Astros (61-70/32-33 Hm)
8/30: @ Astros
8/31: @ Astros
9/01: vs Marlins (68-61/35-30 Rd)
9/02: vs Marlins
9/03: vs Marlins