[Elipticon]

The Charlotte Flyers are very similar to the Cascades, just with a bit less speed and a bit better pitching (though thankfully their aces aren't starting this series). Hopefully this goes better.

GAME 1:

Pittsburgh Starter: Bobby Matthews (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP)
Charlotte Starter: Ikuo Hara (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP)

We lost this one badly, but it's better than it looks. For one, Bobby Matthews looked downright competent on the mound, pitching 4 innings of no-hit ball before his control began to wear him down, and the hitters put Flyers starter Hara on the ropes for a time, until a series of disastrous errors for the Barons ruined any chance of winning. Matthews would be pulled in the 8th after another horrible inning, while Hara would have to be pulled due to injury after striking out 8 of our Barons. Flyers 5, Barons 0.

Standout Baron: Catcher Bob Butler, who went 2 for 4

Team Debuts: Bobby Matthews, Rob Riviera

Transactions: Someone on the team realized that Brian Hash is a terrible pitcher, and now he's back down in AAA. Bill Wilkins has been promoted to the starting rotation until Sal Morales comes back, Bob Grosvenor is promoted to closer, and finally Rob Riviera has been promoted to the majors. He got the final out of the 8th for Pittsburgh.

GAME 2:

Pittsburgh Starter: Bill Wilkins (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP)
Charlotte Starter: Steve Maddox (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP)

Save for a single bad inning from Wilkins, this was a defensive slugfest the whole way through, with barely anyone getting on base. Of course, the magical man that is Victor Gonzales managed to get hit and advance to third again, but that's besides the point. In the bottom of the 8th, Wilkins was pulled for Bob Grosvenor, who immediately gave up a home run. Oh well, there goes a respectable loss.

But then, a miraculous 9th inning rally begins to form. Dick Aroyo singles, Dave Schultz advances on an error, and Salvatore Florez hits a 3 run bomb to finally get the Barons on the board. Maddox is pulled for elite closer Robert Bransington, but he can't stop Bob Menzel from hitting a single. The rally is only ended by Al Petrosky, who like the mighty Casey, immediately strikes out on 3 pitches. Flyers 4, Barons 3.

Standout Baron: Salvatore Florez, with his 3-run Home Run.

Team Debuts: Salvatore Florez, Bill Wilkins, Bob Grosvenor

In The News: The first ever Power Ranking are out! The rankers, taking pity on us, give Tampa the bottom rung over us. They're also winless, but they had an off-day, so our only 0-4 comparisons are the Newark Cherries in the AL.

Overview: I thought the only interesting story would be the continuing weirdness of Victor Gonzales, who somehow is one of only 2 starters to be batting the Mendoza Line, but there were some genuine signs of life in the last game. But still, our least runs against is still more than our most runs scored, and until that changes we won't be winning anything.