Game 2 is a must win for us, since we didn't play nearly as well on the road as we have at home this season. With Matt Hollis on the hill I am feeling pretty good, even with his struggles (3-5 last 10 games) over the 2nd half of the season. On the hill for the Baron sis Jesus Mansanarez, who threw well versus us this season, hopefully we will be able to get to him early.
I made a couple of line-up changes for game 2. Denny Dooley is on the bench and Mauro Candelaria will play 2B. Candy will move into the #3 slot, moving the catcher slot down to the 8th hole, as Peter Alexenader will be doing the catching. Francisco Gallegos moved from the 8th slot to the 7th slot. Not sure how I feel about this game, starting to get nervous.
Highlights-
Top 1:
Hollis starts off nicely setting down the Barons 1-2-3.
Bottom 1:
Candelaria singles with 2-outs, but nothing more for the Cav's
Barons 0, Cavaliers 0
Top 2:
Taylor lead off the inning with a double, but was left stranded on 2B.
Bottom 2:
Anderson doubled down the left field line, but as with Taylor never go to leave 2B.
Barons 0, Cavaliers 0
Note: I let Galvez and Gallegos swing away, next time it might be wise for me to use some small ball. Espeically the way this team has struggled scoring against good pitching.
Top 3:
Hollis sets down the 8-9-1 hitters, 1-2-3.
Bottom 3:
A one-out single by Lewis is wasted. A hit-and-run groud out by Janchez moved him to second then Candy hit a long fly out, leaving him on 2B.
Barons 0, Cavaliers 0
Top 4:
Taylor and Martinez added 2-out singles, but that was all she wrote for the Barons.
Bottom 4:
The Cav's 4-5-6 hitters are put down 1-2-3.
Barons 0, Cavaliers 0
Top 5:
Hollis puts up another 1-2-3 inning
Bottom 5:
The 7-8-9 hitters are set down 1-2-3 and Mansanarez has set down the last 8 Cav's hitters.
Barons 0, Cavaliers 0
Top 6:
Davis lead off the inning with a single, Hall was walked on 4 pitches.
Durango strokes a single to right-center, scoring Davis. Taylor hits into a DP. With a runner on 3rd and 2 outs red-hot Martinez grounds out to Hollis to end the inning.
Bottom 6:
With 2-outs
Candy hits a 365ft shot down the left-field line to tie the game. Mansanarez plunks Brock and Brock charged the mound and "threw a haymaker", both players have been ejected... Joseph Muller is the new pitcher, John Stewart runs for Brock... Stewart stole 2nd, but Anderson grounded out to end the inning.
Barons 1, Cavaliers 1
Note: We were lucky the Barons didn't score more in the top half of the inning, and the HR by Candy was huge. Makes me see I a made a mistake not playing him in Game 1... If Brock gets suspended for more than just this game I will be in trouble. Hopefully those fireworks will spark some energy and excitment in Norfolk.
Pitch Count Check: Hollis-79 pitches (20 Stamina)
Top 7:
A two out single by Jones is all the Barons get.
Bottom 7:
Galvez pops up to 2nd, but Collins drops the ball, allowing Galvez to stay on 1b... Granados is summend to PH for Gallegos... Granados layes down a perfect bunt, moving Galvez to 2nd... O'Donegan will PH for Alexander... O'Donegan is intentionally walked, bring up Rodriguez (.208 career postseason hitter, 149 AB's)... Rodriguez grounds into a 6-4 FC. Lewis walks to load the bases. Janchez grounds out to short ending a HUGE opportunity.
Barons 1, Cavaliers 1
Top 8:
With 2-outs Durango and Taylor single, but Martinez pops out to third to end the inning.
Bottom 8:
Candy walks to lead off the inning, moves to second an successful bunt by Stewart. Anderson grounds out to 2nd, Candy moves to third. Galvez grounds out 2nd.
Barons 1, Cavaliers 1
Pitch Count Check: Hollis-108 pitches
Top 9:
After striking out King, Hollis gives a double to Collins... Hollis is removed from the game and Dalton Whitaker is on the bump to pitch, hopefully he is over his flu... Sozen Kawamura PH's...
Sozen rips a double, scoring Collins... Rafeal Rodriguez is now pitching to face the PH Duke and lead-off man Davis... Duke walks, Davis pops out... Dan Nelson comes into pitch... Nelson gets hall to ground out to 1st. The damage has been done.
Bottom 9:
John Heath, the Barons closer comes into to pitch... Granados strikes out. O'Donegan grounds to third... Denny Dooley PH's for Rodriguez... Dooley pops out to 2nd.
Barons 2, Cavaliers 1
Barons lead the series 2-0, taking the first two games on the road.
Player of the game goes to Matt Hollis
Hollis (L): 8.1 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Game Notes:
King Brock and Jesus Mansanarez were both ejected after Mansanarez hit Brock after giving up a HR to Mauro Candelaria.
The Cavaliers left 7 men straineded, the Barons 9.
Mike Taylor had 3 hits and Francisco Durango had 2 to lead the Barons.
The Cavaliers only had 4 hits! Two by Mauro Candelaria.
Josephy Miller took home the win for the Barons, going 2.1 Innings of no-hit releif. He allowed 3 walks.
GM Thoughts:
At least we scored. That should be something we can build on for game 3 in Baltimore. Takayuki will be on the Hill and he has been red hot of late. Hopefully he can continue throwing the ball as he has.
Four hits? I can only shake my head. I know we are a better team than this, the Barons staff isn't this good, but wow do they own us. They did the same thing to us last year in the playoffs. I am not sure what I can do.
I feel like we have our nemisis and next year I should blow up this team and target beating the Barons... I know I need to sit back, our team is young and next year we will be better...
If it sounds like I have given up on this series its because I am very close to. 1 run in the last 18 innings? Contreras and Hollis counld't of done much more. The offense needs to buck up and start hitting the damn ball.
Maybe I left Hollis in the game one hitter too long. I had the righty and the lefty ready in the pen, but I figured the way Hollis has been pitching it should be his game. I am losing faith with Whitaker this season that is for sure. Hopefully he will be back to his good ole self next season. Carter, Saldana and Nelson are going to be my go to relievers for the rest of the series.
Delaware Conference - Game 2
The Clippers beat up on the Braves yet again. The Braves have one of the better staffs in the game and the Clippers are beat up, yet they continue to surprise. Julio Romero lead the way with a 3-4 day including a HR and a double, and Chad Campbell added 2 hits, including a double, and 2 runs and 2 RBI's. The Clippers offense exploded for 13 hits, including 5 for extra bases. Jose Matos showed why he is a perennial Golden Arm candidate going 8 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run and striking out 8.
The series now heads to Lewes where the Braves will try to get back on track.
Milford Clippers are up 2-0 against the Lewes Braves