[illeracula]

Pregame Notes: Game 5 series is tied at 2, so this is a must win game with Sweetapple on the bump... We are going up against Rod Cantrell who held us to 3 hits and struck out 10 in game one. Hopefully we can get on him this game... Sweetapple rarely has two bad outings so I am hoping he is ready and feeling good.

Our middle infielders are just not coming through, with Campbell and Candelaria out. Jesus Rivera 2-17 .118, Jose Escamilla 1-14 .071, Augusto Rodriquez 2-29 .069. Just can't seem to get anyone to catch fire.

Lineup: Kent Davis (CF), Roberto Perez (3B), Jose Rodriquez (RF), Pablo Freitas (LF), Julio Romero (C), Jacob Chaney (1B), Yasutoki Ine (2B), Augusto Rodriquez (SS)

Not much of a change in the lineup. Ine is starting at second after going 2-2 as a pinch hitter the past two games. And Augusto Rodriquez is back at short.

Game 5:
Rod Cantrell (1-0 0.00) << Cantrell has a 71% ground ball pct.
vs
Don Sweetapple (0-1 4.50)

Inning 1:
Top: Kent Davis gets things started lining a single into right. Roberto Perez follows that up with a single to right, moving Davis to third. Jose Rodriquez flies out to right. Perez steals second. Pablo Freitas goes down swinging. Julio Romero strikes out ending the inning.
Bottom: Lee Devlin walks to start things off. Don Perkins singles up the middle moving Devlin heads to third. Brian Cline pops out to short. Jorge Alonso grounds into a 6-3 double play.
Norfolk 0, New Castle 0

Inning 2:
Top: Jacob Chaney grounds out to short. Yasutoki Ine grounds out to third. Augusto Rodriquez grounds out to short.
Bottom: Ricardo Flores grounds out to short. Emory Cameron singles up the middle. Steven Wilson flies out to left. Lee Berry singles to right. Rod Cantrell, the pitcher, hits a weak single past short, scoring Cameron from second. Lee Devlin singles to left, scoring Berry. Don Perkins grounds out to second, Ine made a diving play saving a run and ending the inning.
Norfolk 0, New Castle 2

We just can't keep the Colonials at bat, giving up runs in the 1st or 2nd inning every game this series.

Inning 3:
Top: Don Sweetapple grounds out to second. Kent Davis strikes out. Roberto Perez gets the Cav's on the board with a 376 foot shot down the right field line. Jose Rodriquez flies out to center.
Bottom: Brian Cline flies out to right, with Jose Rodriquez making a diving catch. Jorge Alonso strikes out. Ricardo Flores flies out to the right field warning track.
Norfolk 1, New Castle 2

Inning 4:
Top: Pablo Fretias reachs on a fielding error by the shortstop. Fretias gets gunned out trying to steal. Julio Romero grounds out to short. Jacob Chaney grounds out to second.
Bottom: Emory Cameron grounds out back to the pitcher. Steven Wilson hits a rocket 429 feet to straight away center. Lee Berry strikes out. That pesky pitcher Rod Cantrell doubles down the left-field line. Lee Devlin doulbes down the left field line scoring Cantrell. Don Perkins grounds out to third.
Norfolk 1, New Castle 4

Inning 5:
Top: Yasutoki flies out to right. Augusto Rodriquez flies out to center. Don Sweetapple goes down swinging.
Bottom: Brian Cline pops out to first. Jorge Alonso doubles down the right field line. Ricardo Flores singles to left, moving Alonso to third. Emory Cameron strikes out. Steven Wilson flies out to center.
Norfolk 1, New Castle 4

Inning 6:
Top: Kent Davis singles to left. Roberto Perez bloops one over the third basemans head, moving Davis to second. Jose Rodriquez hits a rocket to third, Cameron muffs it, loading the bases. Pablo Freitas grounds into the 6-4-3 DP, scoring Davis and moving Perez to third. Julio Romero grounds out to short.
Bottom: Lee Berry grounds out to second, with Ine making another nice play. Rod Cantrell strikes out. Lee Devlin strikes out, but Romero drops the ball and Devlin reaches first. Don Perkins strikes out.
Norfolk 2, New Castle 4

Inning 7:
Top: Jacob Chaney grounds out to first. Yasutoki Ine gets an infield single up the middle. Augusto Rodriquez grounds into the 6-4-3 DP.
Bottom: Brian Cline gives the Colonials some insuarnce hitting a 2-1 fastball 362ft down the left field line. Jorge Alonso flies out to center. Ricardo Flores grounds weekly to third. Emory Cameron grounds out to second.
Norfolk 2, New Castle 5

Inning 8:
Top: Cody Johnson pinch hits for Don Sweetapple... Johnson walks. Kent Davis doubles down the left field line. Roberto Perez grounds out to first... Ken Minahan comes into pitch... Jose Rodriqeuz pops out to shallow center. Pablo Freitas singles to left-center scoring 2. Julio Romero goes down swinging.
Bottom: Dalton Whitaker comes into pitch, Kevin Howse comes into to bat 9th and play first, Chaney heads over to first and Whitaker is now in the #5 hole... Steven Wilson strikes out. Lee Berry goes down looking... Mike Moran pinch hits for the Minahan... Moran goes down swinging.
Norfolk 4, New Castle 5

Inning 9:
Top: Left Ashton George comes into pitch... I would pinch hit for Chaney a lefty here, but that would leave me without a catcher so Chaney stays in the game, then again he did hit .320 vs Lefties this season... Chaney walks to lead things off. Yasutoki Ine lays down the sac-bunt, the pitcher George throws the ball away moving Chaney to third and Ine to second. Augusto Rodriquez grounds out to third. Kevin Howse comes through with a single up the middle scoring 2. Kent Davis flies out to right. Roberto Perez grounds out to short.
Bottom: Whitaker on the hill, top of the lineup for New Castle... Lee Devlin goes down swinging. Augusto Guzman flies out to right. Brian Cline hits a rocket to third, Perez fields and throws the first. Game over.
Norfolk 6, New Castle 5
Norfolk leads 3-2

W: Dalton Whitaker (1-0)
L: Ashton George (1-1)
S: none
HR: NFK: Roberto Perez (1), NWC: Steven Wilson (1), Brian Cline (2)

POG: Roberto Perez

Recap: Rod Cantrell was on his game till he gave up 2 runs in the 8th, he didn't get the K's he had in game one, but ultimately the bullpen blow it, thanks to a throwing error. Sweetapple was touched-up with 2 bombs, giving up 11 hits. Dalton Whitaker pitched a perfect final 2 innings for the Cavs which saved the day, along with Kevin Howse first post-season hit a game winning 2-run single. Roberto Perez and Kent Davis both had 3 hits. Pablo Freitas and Kevin Howse each had 2 RBI. Lee Devlin and Rod Cantrell each had 2 hits for the Colonials, Devlin added 2 RBI.

The losing pitcher today Ashton George, is now the Colonials closer, began the season as a stater and in two games against the Cavaliers he was 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA.

We head back to Norfolk with Jose Matos getting the ball in game 6. I like my odds with him on the mound. Hopefully he keeps his pitch count down and can go deep into the game. Getting the DH will mean we will be putting out a better fielding team.

I'd like to win this series, because I have a feeling it will be a while we are back here. With some budget issues and league expansion we will need to make some roster adjustments. Hopefully our young guys are up for the challenge.