Current Week: 4-2 (31-12 (+6))
Next Week: 3 vs Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 4 @ Baltimore Barons
Power Ranking: 1
Fan Interest: 89
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 263 (1st)
Avg: .305 (1st)
HR: 42 (7th)
SB: 75 (1st)
Runs Against: 146 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.24 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.06 (2nd)
Def Eff: .725 (1st)
Game 38: Norfolk 9, Ellicott City 1
Matt Hollis (6-1) continued to win games, as he shut down the Express over 8 innings. Allowing just 3 hits and 1 run, while striking out 7. The offense was lead by kent Davis who had 3 hits and Ed Duke who went 2-2 with 2 HR's (10) and 3 RBI's. Mike Ford and Cody Johnson also added 2 hits. Roberto Perez hit a 2-run HR (8).
Injury News: After the game Francisco Gonzalez let us know that King Brock will miss about 2 weeks with a mild hamstring strain. He will be sent to the DL and Joe Chambers will be called up to play 3B. Roberto Perez will head to the DH slot.
Game 39: Norfolk 3, Richmond 2
Arturo Ramirez (ND) went 6 strong innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 runs, striking out 6, before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Will Rose (1-0) pitched 2/3 innings of shutout ball and Dalton Whitaker took home the save (11). We beat Don Sweetapple again, thanks to an error by the Cardinals SS and a 2-run HR by Ed Duke (11), the only extra-base hit for the Cavaliers. Jeff Lewis and Mauro Candelaria each added 2 hits. The Cav's had 5 total hits on the day. Joe Chambers committed his first error of the season.
Game 40: Norfolk 2, Richmond 3
Shawn Brock (ND) pitched well enough to win, but the offense couldn't back him up. Brock went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs (1 ER). Dalton Whitaker (1-2) struggled with his control in the bottom of the 9th, allowing 2 walks before giving up the game winning hit. The Cavaliers offense was sluggish to say the least, collecting 6 hits, with Jeff Lewis accounting for 2 of them. Lewis and Kent Davis each had an RBI.
Game 41: Norfolk 6, Richmond 7
Vaughan Griffith (ND) struggled over 6.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 3 walks and 6 runs. The bullpen kept it close till Luis Gonzalez (0-3) gave up a walk-off double. Augusto Rodriquez had 3 of the 10 Cavaliers hits. Joe Chambers added 2 hits and 2 RBI's. Other than that the offense didn't do a whole lot.
Game 42: Norfolk 6, Richmond 4
Miguel Contreras (ND) went 6.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs (2 ER) while striking out 5 on his way to yet another no decision. Jamie King (2-0) gave up a run on a hit an 2 walks to give up the lead, but was lucky enough to get credited for the win. Dalton Whitaker pitched the 9th for the save (12). Mauro Candelaria lead the offense with 3 hits. Kent Davis and Roberto Perez each added 2. The big blow however was a pinch-hit 3-run HR for Bryan O'Neil (1) to give the Cav's the lead in the 8th.
Game 43: Virginia Beach 0, Norfolk 8
Matt Hollis (7-1) was one out shy of collecting another complete game, going 8.2 innings, allowing 5 hits and striking out 11. Jamie King retired the last batter to end the game. Ed Duke lead the offense going 3-3 hitting 2 HR's (13) and driving in 4. Kent Davis also had 3 hits. Jeff Lewis hit a 2-run HR (5).
Around the League: - Cristobal Diaz of the Lewes Braves will miss the next 9-10 months with a torn labrum. On the season in 7 starts Cristobal was 2-3 3.20. Diaz is 20 years old, with a bright future.
- Anthony Dundee, the ace of the Georgetown Sixteens, will miss the next 12 months with a torn labrum. He was off to a great start this year in 9 starts posting a 5-1 2.21 record.
- Todd Eldridge of the Newcastle Colonials is out 3 weeks with a strained hamstring. In 9 starts this season Eldridge is 2-3 4.19.
- The Ellicott City Express traded Dylan Clark to the Milford Clippers for 19-year old prospect Armando Vazquez (4*). Clark was hitting .336-4-18 for the Express at the time of the trade.
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Leonard Davis, Lewes Braves, 10-14, 4 HR's, 8 RBI's, 7 Runs
MarVa: Ed Duke, Norfolk Cavaliers, 8-20, 5 HR's, 10 RBI's
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (135.8)
2) Milton Brewers (118.2)
3) Ocean City Tourists (114.7)
4) Georgetown Sixteens (114.7)
5) Ellicott City Express (108.7)
GM Notes: Ron Reilly, Maik Wassink, King Brock and BH Chong will be back next week, which is pretty awesome, getting this team close to full strength... I have been in talks with the Newark Millers regarding a trade for Ron Reilly and with Reilly about to roll off the DL, that trade could happen. I am looking for a swap of first round picks #5 vs #20 and a prospect. Not sure how it will go. Reilly is going to be expensive next year and his injury troubles seem to be popping up again. Plus we have 2 starters that are ready to go now, and one on his way to being the ready in 2020... Ed Duke seems to be back on track, having one of those weeks. Book-ending it with 2-HR games. Its something I need more of, we just seem to go into big power slumps at times. Especially with double-machine King Brock on the bench... I am happy we are back to playing the Surf Dawgs we seem to just pound on them, gives the offense some confidence. Its good to see... Our bullpen has shown signs of weakness. Will Rose still has an ERA over 6. Luis Gonzalez is really struggled. Vaughan who has been strong out of the pen is now in the rotation. If I do pull of a trade for Reilly, expect Vaughan and Takayuki Iemochi to take over the #5 slot. I like what Vaughan has done out of the pen.