5/07: vs Nationals (11-21/7-11 Rd) - Zach Jackson (2-1, 1.15) vs Mike Hinckley (1-3, 5.68)
Jackson continued to be our "ace" of the year, and went out and got a win for us today. He pitched seven innings giving up four hits, one run, and striking out five. Corey Hart had the big RBI, a bases loaded double in the first that gave us all we needed. Erick Aybar was 3-4 with a run, RBI, and walk, and a stolen base. Polanco scored a run in his Brewer debut, and was 1-4, reaching on an error also.
Outcome: Win, 4-2 - WP: Jackson (3-1), S: Vazquez (4)
5/08: vs Nationals - Ben Sheets (2-4, 5.80) vs C. Stammen (1-3, 3.94)
Sheets pitched like the old Benny. He went the full game, and allowed only three hits, striking out eight, and walking ZERO. That is the biggest stat I think. The bottom of the lineup picked it up today, as Molina and Polanco both had RBIs, and scored two runs a piece. Gywnn had three RBIs, and Fielder was also 2-4 with a RBI, and a triple.
Outcome: Win, 7-0 - Ben Sheets (3-4)
5/09: vs Nationals - Steve Hammond (0-0, 0.00) vs Jeff Neimann (2-3, 5.13)
Hammond gave us another very well pitched performance, and we finally pulled off our first sweep of the year! Juan Rivera was 3-4 with two RBIs, and Tony Gwynn was 2-4 with a run and RBI. Weeks got injured in the first inning and will probably miss a week. Figgins and Rottino will start at second base for the time being, but man do we lose a lot of power. Fielder is going to have to step it up this next week.
Outcome: Win, 4-2 - WP: Hoffman (1-0), S: Vazquez (5)
SWEEEEP!!!
5/10: OFF
5/11: @ Mets (22-13/12-3 Hm) - Carlos Villanueva (0-2, 2.86) vs Pedro Martinez (3-1, 2.23)
We only had three hits in this game, but the small ball payed off, and we beat the mighty Mets! CV pitched very well, only giving up two hits and a run in six innings. We scored on two sac flies, and a bases loaded walk. They came from Hart, Herrera, and Polanco. Shields, Majewski, and Vazquez all made big appearances out of the pen, and were able to hold down the win in 2.1 innings amongst the three of them. Blanton made his first appearance out of the pen and gave up a run in 0.2 innings.
Outcome: Win, 3-2 - WP: Shields (3-0), S: Vazquez (6)
5/12: @ Mets - Yovani Gallardo (3-2, 3.12) vs Willie Collazo (4-0, 1.11)
Blanton gave up five of the nine runs they scored, but Gallardo struggled also, and we could not recover. Juan Rivera went yard twice, and was 3-4, and Erick Aybar also hit his first homer of the season. Tony Gwynn was 3-4 with a stolen base. We still gotta' get this series, though, as Jackson is going next game.
Outcome: Loss, 3-9 - LP: Gallardo (3-3)
5/13: @ Mets - Zach Jackson (3-1, 1.17) vs Michael Devaney (3-1, 1.93)
I think this was a very winnable series. In this game Jackson had the game he was due for, and lasted only five innnings. He gave up five runs. We left a lot of guys on base again, and had nine hits and drew five walks. Jenkins was 3-5 with a RBI, and Fielder also had two RBIs. Erick Aybar was 2-4 with two runs scored. A big blow came to us when Tony Gwynn fractured his finger making a defensive play. I think I am going to put him on the 15-day DL because it says he will miss 1-2 weeks, but I have a feeling it might linger, and I want it fully healed.
Outcome: Loss, 6-9 - LP: Jackson (3-2)
We decided to put Gwynn on the 15-day DL and in return called up 25-year old Ben Watson, who we acquired early this year in the National trade. Right now that trade appears to have gone down the drain for both teams, so we will see whether he can maybe right the ship a little bit in a fourth outfielder role. Hart will play center full time until Gwynn gets back. Rickie is still out for another six days, so we will need some pop in our lineup.
Jay's Thoughts: Like I said I thought that this was a very winnable series in New York. A 4-2 week isn't bad with me, but we are going on a very tough stretch here, and need to start putting some series together if we want to make the comeback that I think we are capable of. We need to start coming through with hits with guys in scoring position, and so far this year it has only been Gwynn and Rivera that have done that. That is a big reason we got Polanco, who has already come through for us in that eight spot.
Team Stats
Record: 14-24 (4-2)
GB: 9.5 GB Cubs in Central; 9 GB Phillies in Wild Card
Batting Average: .247 - 6th in NL
ERA: 4.83 - 16th in NL
Team Standings
Code:
American League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Baltimore Orioles 28 11 .718 - 27-12 1 17-4 11-7 0-1 9-3 114 W13 10-0
Toronto Blue Jays 18 21 .462 10.0 21-18 -3 13-7 5-14 2-3 5-10 W3 5-5
Boston Red Sox 16 21 .432 11.0 16-21 0 9-8 7-13 3-1 3-6 L3 4-6
New York (A) Yankees 16 22 .421 11.5 16-22 0 8-13 8-9 3-1 6-7 W1 4-6
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 14 24 .368 13.5 14-24 0 8-9 6-15 1-3 4-2 L6 2-8
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Minnesota Twins 22 16 .579 - 24-14 -2 14-9 8-7 0-0 4-5 124 L2 6-4
Cleveland Indians 22 17 .564 .5 21-18 1 10-8 12-9 5-0 10-3 W4 5-5
Chicago (A) White Sox 20 16 .556 1.0 19-17 1 9-8 11-8 1-1 8-5 L1 6-4
Detroit Tigers 19 19 .500 3.0 22-16 -3 7-11 12-8 1-1 5-8 W2 7-3
Kansas City Royals 18 21 .462 4.5 15-24 3 9-12 9-9 2-1 7-4 W1 5-5
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Los Angeles (A) Angels 23 16 .590 - 24-15 -1 13-7 10-9 0-2 5-7 124 W1 4-6
Texas Rangers 22 16 .579 .5 20-18 2 13-7 9-9 3-2 7-7 L1 5-5
Seattle Mariners 15 23 .395 7.5 18-20 -3 6-11 9-12 0-4 3-8 L1 6-4
Oakland Athletics 13 23 .361 8.5 12-24 1 7-9 6-14 1-2 4-5 L7 1-9
National League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
New York (N) Mets 24 14 .632 - 25-13 -1 14-4 10-10 0-2 5-7 124 W2 6-4
Philadelphia Phillies 23 15 .605 1.0 22-16 1 11-6 12-9 2-0 11-8 W1 5-5
Atlanta Braves 22 16 .579 2.0 20-18 2 12-9 10-7 1-0 8-2 W1 5-5
Florida Marlins 17 21 .447 7.0 20-18 -3 9-12 8-9 2-1 4-7 L1 4-6
Washington Nationals 13 25 .342 11.0 10-28 3 6-11 7-14 0-0 6-3 W1 4-6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Chicago (N) Cubs 23 14 .622 - 16-21 7 14-6 9-8 3-2 12-4 122 L1 7-3
Cincinnati Reds 20 18 .526 3.5 22-16 -2 12-8 8-10 2-3 4-6 L4 5-5
Pittsburgh Pirates 18 20 .474 5.5 16-22 2 8-10 10-10 1-2 8-1 L1 5-5
St. Louis Cardinals 17 20 .459 6.0 16-21 1 10-10 7-10 2-2 8-7 L1 5-5
Houston Astros 16 22 .421 7.5 19-19 -3 9-8 7-14 1-2 4-13 W1 5-5
Milwaukee Brewers 14 24 .368 9.5 17-21 -3 10-11 4-13 1-1 4-8 L2 5-5
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Arizona Diamondbacks 21 18 .538 - 21-18 0 12-9 9-9 2-2 6-6 123 L1 4-6
San Francisco Giants 20 19 .513 1.0 25-14 -5 8-13 12-6 0-1 3-4 W3 5-5
Los Angeles (N) Dodgers 19 19 .500 1.5 19-19 0 11-7 8-12 1-1 3-7 W5 7-3
San Diego Padres 19 19 .500 1.5 19-19 0 9-8 10-11 1-2 3-6 W1 6-4
Colorado Rockies 18 20 .474 2.5 18-20 0 8-9 10-11 2-0 6-6 L3 3-7
Hitting
Who's Hot: LF Juan Rivera: 5 G, 18 AB, 8 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K, .444/.500/.833
Who's Not: C Bengie Molina: 6 G, 17 AB, 3 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K, .176/.222/.412
Pitching
Who's Hot: SP Ben Sheets: 1 GS, 1-0, 9.0 IP, 3 HA, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0.00 ERA, .100 AVG, 1 CG, 1 SHO
Who's Not: SP Joe Blanton: 2 G, 4.2 IP, 4 HA, 1 HR, 6 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 11.57 ERA, .286 AVG
Around the League
AL Player of the Week: OF Kendry Morales (LAA): 13-26, .500 AVG, .519 OBP, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, (1x)
NL Player of the Week: 1B Scott Thorman (ATL): 12-22, .545 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, (1x)