Week 6 Notes: 2 vs Indiana (1-1), 3 at Wisconsin (2-1)
· 05/12: IN 3, MI 2 – Calzadilla 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 11 K – Kearns 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, BS (1)
· Kearns was bound to blow one some time, but what a wasted performance by Chris Calzadilla. Kearns had only walked one all year.
· 05/13: MI 4, IN 3 – Steve Muller 7.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K, ND. Bullpen blew another save and Kearns almost blew the second chance.
· David Rodela came in after Kearns allowed a HR leading off the 9th and then loading the bases and got a double play and a strikeout to end the game.
· 05/15: MI 6, WI 2 – Rob Higgin 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K, W (7-0, 1.89) – K. Hyatt 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI
· Kevin Hyatt came on for Steve Krauskopf in the third inning after Krauskopf was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
· 05/16: WI 7, MI 1 – Adam Caldwell (WI) 2-4, HR (5), 4 RBI – Cuevas 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K, L (5-2, 3.71)
· 05/17: MI 8, WI 6 – Adam Penney 1-1, PH three-run homer in ninth to take the lead. Kevin Kimrey 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
· Next Week: 2 at Kentucky, 4 vs Massachusetts
What could have been a really solid week was made just a good one by one thing that has not given us much trouble all season long – an erratic bullpen. Chris Kearns has now allowed runs in his last three appearances, even though he did get the save in the 8-6 victory over Wisconsin in the final game of the week. Trevor Hartsell also gave up a big home run in the eighth inning of that contest to make us have to come from behind for the third time in the ballgame.
We've been patient with David Whitington and it is starting to pay off as his average is slowly creeping upwards. He is just now getting to the 50 AB point and it seems as if he's starting to figure it out at third base.
The starting pitching has been excellent except for the subpar performance by Cuevas mid-week, but he's been so consistently solid this season, we definitely won't hold it against him.
Finally, it was great to see Adam Penney get a HR in his first AB back off the disabled list. He was picked up in a balancing trade earlier in the year, but he never figured to see playing time. He impressed at Westland, and when Lux got hurt, he got a chance to carve himself out a role until he was injured. We'll see if we can't get him some more AB's.
We are now only one game under the .500 mark, so we're starting to play better, but we still sit seven games back in the Lakes, and that just won't do. Trying to remain patient.