[ayaghmour2]

April 11th, 1904: Good news on the injury front as Justin Arrington is just day-to-day with a shoulder strain. I'd see how he plays today, but then I'd likely give him a few more days off.

Milwaukee CF Brad Marino and Brooklyn C Felipe Navarro were named Players of the Week.

The first Power Rankings of the year have us 6th. At 3-3, we're 2.5 games behind the Mustangs.

The Rebels are in town with Erik Pike (0-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) facing Matt Puckett (0-1, 10.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) who will hopefully turn things around. It was much better then his first start, but we still fell short in a 6-4 defeat.

Puckett went 6 with 6 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Ellingson and Londono both allowed 2 hits, a run, and a walk in an inning a piece, although Ellingson picked up a strikeout.

Arrington was 1-for-2 with 2 walks, a double, run scored, and another hit by pitch, so I'd make sure he sits till he's 100%. Jesus Camargo was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Giobbe Capuana was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI's.

April 12th, 1904: Cody Hall was set to make his first start of the season against Chris Brown (1-0, 7.27 ERA, 1.73 WHIP), who the Rebels added through Free Agency. We saw him last year in Washington before he was traded to Baltimore, and I even offered him a deal before settling on Puckett. Hall looked great, and we evened the series with a 5-2 win.

Cody went 7 with 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Londono picked up a hold with a strikeout and hit in the 8th. Laranjeira struck out 1 in a perfect 9th for his 4th save in as many attempts.

Damian Salcido, who was struggling until today, went 4-for-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI's to raise his average to .200. Josh Stevens was 1-for-3 with a walk and two run homer. Jorge Rancier was 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Hall was 1-for-2 with a sac-bunt.

April 13th, 1904: The third of four saw Eric Thomas (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 2.14 WHIP) take on Allan Sain (0-0, 5.14 ERA, 1.86 WHIP). Thomas was brilliant, and we shut out the Rebels 2-0 and would look to take the series tomorrow!

Thomas went the distance, tossing an impressive 4-hit shutout with a walk and 7 strikeouts.

Jeremy Bell was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in. Jorge Rancier was 2-for-4 with a triple. Jesse Chesley was 1-for-4 with a double.

April 14th, 1904: We looked to extend our win streak to three with a high octane pitching match of D.J. Ruhkne (2-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) and the now healthy Kevin Miller (0-2, 7.80 ERA, 1.53 WHIP) who is still showing a little rust. The rust was lifted today, as neither team managed a run through the first 8 innings. In the 9th, Manny Cardenas doubled home two off Tobias Laranjeira, and the Rebels finished us off in the bottom half for a 2-0 win.

Miller went the distance, a 4-hitter with 6 walks and 10 strikeouts.

Ruhnke was even better, 8 shutout innings with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Laranjeira allowed 2 hits, 2 runs, and a walk in the 9th.

Jeremy Bell was 2-for-3 with a walk and 2 doubles. Arrington was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Jesse Chesley was 1-for-4 with a triple.

We weren't the only shutout, as Mustangs righty Yeong-shin Kim tossed an 8-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over the Cajuns. Milwaukee is an impressive 9-1, with a 3.5 game lead over New Orleans and St. Louis and 4 games ahead of us.

We'd stay home for a three game set with the Wildcats, who sit at 4-5. We'd face Marcos Hernandez (0-1, 4.20 ERA), former Charger Juan Brajas (1-0, 2.25 ERA), and Tim Allday (0-1, 10.80 ERA).

April 15th, 1904: The Wildcats were in town for the first time this season, with ace Marcos Hernandez (0-1, 4.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) taking on Nate McCue (1-1, 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) who bumped back up to a 3.5*. I wouldn't be surprised if it fell back down to 3, but with a late inning rally, we took the opener 7-6!

McCue looked shaky, 9 hits and 6 runs with just 3 strikeouts in 6 innings. Ellingson got the win, allowing just 1 hit with 2 strikeouts in 2 innings. Laranjeira got the save, getting a walk and strikeout in the 9th.

Jesse Chesley was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI's 2 walks, and a homer. Mike Koski was 3-for-4 with a solo shot. Giobbe Capuana was 1-for-4 with a three run homer. Jesus Camargo was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

April 16th, 1904: We looked to take the series a day early as the Wildcats skipped Barajas in favor of Tim Allday (0-1, 10.80 ERA, 2.30 WHIP). He'd face Matt Puckett (0-2, 8.25 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). Runs were scored all game, but a huge 9 run 6th proved to be the difference in our 13-9 win.

Let's go for the sweep!

Puck didn't look too good, 5 innings with 8 huts, 6 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Ellingson picked up the win, allowing 2 hits and a run with 2 strikeouts in an inning of work. Josh Fisher allowed 2 runs with a hit and 2 walks in an inning. Londono picked up a 2 inning save, with a hit and 3 strikeouts to close the game.

Andy Palme was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, homer, and 5 RBI's, his first 5 of the season as his average improved to an impressive .139... Justin Arrington was 2-for-4 with a walk, 2 runs, his first homer of the year, and 3 RBI's. Damian Salcido was 2-for-5 with a run scored and driven in. Jesus Camargo was 2-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, and a double. Giobbe Capuana was 2-for-4 with a walk, 2 runs, 2 RBI's, and a homer. Omar Atillio was 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Josh Stevens was 1-for-2 with a double, 2 runs, and 3 walks.

Cleveland SS Israel Parra hit for the cycle in a 6-1 win over the Buffalo Calvary.

Former Charger RF Eric Creel hit his 300th career homer. The Chicago Cardinal is having a great start to the season, hitting .395/.458/.744 with 3 homers and 5 RBI's in 12 games. In his career, the former 3rd Overall Pick has a career .304/.380/.576 batting line with 819 RBI's in 1,156 big league games, although he hasn't hit over .300 in a season since 1899.

April 17th, 1904: We looked to finish off the sweep with Cody Hall (1-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) facing 26-year-old Willis Salinas (1-1, 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), so we will not see our former pitcher Juan Barajas. All the offense was gone today, as we were topped 2-1 as the Wildcats avoided the sweep.

Hall went 7 with 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Londono and Laranjeira both got a strikeout in perfect frames.

Damian Salcido was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jesse Chesley was 1-for-3 with 2 walks and a run scored. Jesus Camargo was 2-for-4.

We finish out our nice home stand with three against the first place Mustangs. Milwaukee is 12-1, and 5 games ahead of us. We'd see Derrick Fullerton (1-1, 7.11 ERA), Yeong-shin Kim (3-0, 4.09 ERA), and Sean Donald (3-0, 3.24 ERA).