[illeracula]

Heading into game 3, the Sixteens announced that Alex Gross, who left game 2 early, will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn labrum. Gross went 2-2 2.60, with a save, in 41 games during the regular season.

Game 3 was a match up of rookie Juan Cuesta, who comes into the game "hot", versus ex-Cannon Jose Lopez who won 13-games this season... I am not overly confident going into this game, but I am hoping that Cuesta is... I did decide to overrule manager Patterson with the lineup choice. Tully Maxwell will get the start at SS over Bravo. Playing the match-up of righty (Maxwell) vs lefty (Lopez)... I hope Otto Carillo is ready soon, I need a defensive SS on this club.

The game
The game got started off on a high note. We would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first with a double by Porter and a single by Douglas. Then in the bottom of the second Howard Porter made a diving play with the bases loaded and doubled up the runner on third preserving the lead. I was feeling good at this point... Then in the third back-to-back doubles by Davis and Porter gave us the 2-0 lead. I was feeling good.

But in the 3rd Cuesta would lose it. Walking the firs batter of the inning is never good, but the first two! How could that turn out ok? Well it didn't. With one-out Naoaki Okubo lined a HR over the left-field wall. The lead was gone... 3-batters later, Carlos Lopez drive a 1-1 pitch 404-feet the opposite way, and just like that the Cannons were down 3 (5-2).

We cut the lead to 5-3 in the 6th thanks to doubles by Douglas and Ohayashi, but Lopez was settling in and our bats were looking "off".

The Sixteens added an insurance run in the 7th with a Stephen Bentall 417ft smash down the left-field line. And in the bottom of the 8th they added 2-more thanks to a Leon Mendoza, who has a 7-contact and 6-power rating, 452ft blast to center. I am hoping that HR didn't take the fight out of us. We need to battle back in game 4.

In the end the Sixteens offense was just to powerful for the Cannons, crushing 4-HR's. Hopefully game 4 will bring us better luck.

Round 1: Best of 5:
Game 3 (Series tied 1-1): Chadds Ford , Georgtown
Juan Cuesta (0-1): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Bill Summers: 2.0 IP, 3 H, R, 3 K
Howard Porter: 2-4, 2 2B, R, RBI
Matt Douglas: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
H: 7, LOB: 3

The Sixteens lead the series 2-1

Game 4 Projected Starters:
Chadds Ford: Eric Harmon (10-13 4.82)
Georgetown: Hisashi Miyakawa (12-14 4.28)

Giving up HR's to players with lower power ratings (Mendoza-6, Lopez 5, out of 20) isn't a good sign. We have to pitch better to win. We can't rely on this offense right now. The offense just can't get it going. look how our 'big' bats are doing:
Donald Hampton is hitting .167, Hank Davis .182-0-1, Naofumi Ohayashi .182-0-2 and Leon Hernandez .111-0-0.

This almost makes me want to make a move. Maxwell didn't prove much during his game, so expect Bravo back in the lineup for game 4... but don't be surprised if Juan Guzman makes a showing at second... I am tempted to start Raul Garcia behind the plate and move Hampton to DH for game 4, but I am not sure. I think it makes sense. But Hampton has struck out 7-times in 12 AB's, despite his 2-big hits in games 1 and 2, that is UGLY... This is where the loss of Todd and Casanes is catching up to me. The bench just ins't that deep to handle losing 2 of our top-10 sticks.

Eric Harmon will be on a short leash during game 4. He pitched against the Sixteens two times this season going 0-1 3.55. In 12.2 innings he allowed 17 hits and 6 walks, while only striking out 7. Game 4 is a must win all arms will be on deck...

Other Scores:
Game 3: Washington 1, Norfolk 2 (Norfolk leads 2-1)
Game 3: Richmond 2, Annapolis 9 (Annapolis leads 2-1)
Game 3: Seaford 6, Lewes 4 (Seaford leads 2-1)
Game 4: Washington 4, Norfolk 1 (Series tied at 2)
Game 4: Richmond 4, Annapolis 1 (Series tied at 2)

Both games in the MarVa Conference will come down to game-5's. This is already an exciting playoff season and we are only in the first round.

Stars:
Alfredo Mejia, Washington: 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, 3 K
Carlos Delgado, Annapolis: 8.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Leo O'Conner, Annapolis: 3-4, 2 R, RBI
Allan Cameron, Annapolis: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI
Miguel Caravajal, Seaford: 3-4, HR R, 4 RBI
Raul Martinez, Richmond: 8.0 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K
Jorge Gonzalez, Washington: 8.0 IP, 6 H, R, 5 K
Carlos Lopez, Georgetown: 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI