[pauwoo]

@ Austin Grackles (24-21, .533, 4th NL West)
Boasting a low-key rejuvenated Paulo Legna, who, in year one with Austin, is trending to contribute 5.1 WAR (the last time he finished above 5 WAR was in 2080 while with Detroit), and the 4th ranked staff in the National League, these Grackles are holding their own in a stacked NL West and are currently making their living a scant two games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Leopards. And, now is the time to make their move, to announce themselves as a contender in the National League… off to a 9-5 start so far this month and looking to make up some ground, the Grackles will have their work cut out for them with us in town… sure we’re just 7-7 so far this month, and are only one series removed from being swept by Vancouver, but I have a good feeling about our form right now, coming off that confidence-boosting series victory over Colorado in our house. Our time is now – doesn’t matter what club is standing in our way. Or not… they could smash us – the only guarantee here is that I’ll have some tasty brisket sliders for supper before tonight’s game.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP D. Hornbrook (2-4, 5.31) vs RHP J. Matthiessen (4-3, 3.02)
RHP M. Holman (1-5, 3.56) vs RHP A. Adcock (4-4, 3.39)
RHP N. Barilla (0-1, 6.00) vs RHP P. Parrow (3-3, 3.86)

#46: Loss, 7-8 (10)… coming into this season I wasn’t as high on my Pioneers as the preseason punditry was with their annual predictions, pegging us as a 95-win club with real playoff possibilities on the horizon – but, during this contest, when we managed to knot thing up at 7 each with a 3-run top of the 9th, I began to consider the possibility, to entertain the idea that, in only my second year at the helm, my sellout style of General Management may already yield some hardware in PDX. And, just as quickly as I allowed my mind to wander towards such fanciful thoughts, Paulo Legna would snap me out of it, after sending a beautifully hit single into shallow centerfield that would bring C Vladimir Batista around to score the game-winning run. So much for that.

Paulo went 5-for-6 with 3 RBI in this one… I'm the one-man army, Ason, I never been tooken out, I keep MC's looking out… Also, I made the following trade: 2B Wyatt Raphael (51/51) is headed to Las Vegas for 2B Takamori Miyake (46/48) and MiLB SP Sheen Alphonso (31/66). It all started because I liked the Pitchers name…

#47: Loss, 3-5 (11)… this time it’d be a 2-run DING DONG, courtesy of Ronaldo Guzman, that did us in after we’d manage to, once again, knot things up with an improbable run during the top of the 9th only to have our hopes and dream summarily dismissed with great prejudice by an Austin Grackle. Angel Marino brought one around on a double, Fukumoto hit his 8th homer of the season, a solo shot, and Skyler brought one around on a single, but, as ever, it’d be too little, too late for the boys here as Austin wasted no time securing a series win in their house… so, while it’s not “our time” as I thought going into this set… at least the brisket has been delicious.

#48: Loss, 6-8… we’d make a game of it, sort of, scoring 3 runs during the top of the 8th to cut our deficit to 2 runs, but it was a wash the rest of the way as we find ourselves on the wrong side of a sweep for thew 2nd time in three sets. I’m sure there are things to parse out here – moments I could call attention to, the doubles we hit, Harris’ homer… BUT… why bother? Because you know the only thing worse than being in Texas? Having your butt handed to you while you’re there.

Note: The NCAA Tournament starts tomorrow… smart money, if there is such a thing, is on the Grand Lakes University Hooters to go all the way. Oh, and, we’re a .500 ball club now – oh how the wannabe mighty have fallen.

Record: 24-24, .500, 3rd AL West
Up Next: Back home for a 6-game stretch starting with a visit from the San Diego Skipjacks of the NL West.