[ayaghmour2]

August 22nd, 1904: Washington SS Manuel Contreras and Newark LF Jordan Mondragon picked up Player of the Week awards.

In St. Joseph, RF Jackson Drake was Midwest League Player of the Week. He went 12-for-24 with a homer and 2 RBI's.

Baltimore will be without RHP John Coleman for the rest of the season with a torn labrum. In 21 relief appearances, he had a 5.52 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.

We moved up a spot to 5th in the Power Rankings. At 67-56, we are 16 behind our current opponent, the Lightning, and 5.5 behind out next opponent, the Rebels.

Nate McCue (7-6, 4.18 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) welcomed Ron Howard (10-2, 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) and the first place Lightning to Detroit. They absolutely humiliated us, and shut us out 12-0...

McCue went just 4 with 8 hits, 8 runs (3 earned...), 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Cody Hall went 2 with 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Matt Macias went 3 with 2 hits and 3 strikeouts.

Ben Etienne was 2-for-4 with a double against one of his former teams. Seth Bland was 2-for-3 with a walk. Zack Lawrence was 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch.

August 23rd, 1904: We looked to forget about yesterday, and get back on track with Eric Thomas (10-9, 4.15 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) taking on Matt Nesgoda (11-5, 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP). A big four run sixth propelled us in a 6-4 bounce back win.

Both Thomas and Macias left with injuries, with Thomas' diagnosis pending and Macias just a strained back. He won't need a DL stint, but I won't let him pitch till he's healthy.

Thomas went just 3.2 with a hit, run, walk, and 2 strikeouts. Macias, after 3 innings yesterday, tossed 2 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 strikeouts. Simon Ellingson got the win, finishing the 6th with a hit and strikeout. Yu-wei Li got a hold, 2 innings with 4 hits, a run, and 2 strikeouts. Tobias Laranjeira picked up the save, 2 walks, a hit, and 2 strikeouts, in a stressful 9th.

Giobbe Capuana was 2-for-4 with a double, sac-fly, and 2 RBI's. Zack Lawrence was 2-for-5 with a homer, 2 runs, 2 RBI's, and a steal. Omar Atillio was 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Jonathan Simmons was 2-for-3 with 2 walks. Jorge Rancier was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Jesus Camargo came off the bench and was 1-for-2 with a two run homer. Mike Legg was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

August 24th, 1904: We looked to take the rubber match in a high octane lefty battle between D.J. Ruhnke (17-9, 4.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) and Jim McNiff (14-5, 2.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP). Down 2-1 in the 9th, Jonathan Simmons walked it off with a 2-run single off Mike Wilson.

Ruhnke went the whole game, 9 innings with 8 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 8 strikeouts. The numbers don't really stand out, but against a team like the Lightning, it's really impressive.

Simmons was the entirety of the offense today, 3-for-4 with the game winning single as well as a solo homer in the 7th. Justin Arrington was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

We get tomorrow off!

August 25th, 1904: Jorge Montalvo had a great performance, striking out 16 in a 3-1 win over Syracuse for Grand Rapids.

Off to New York for three with the red hot New York Rebels. At 75-52, they have a comfortable 5.5 game lead that I'd love to cut down to 3. We'd face Antonio Gonzalez (6-1, 2.70 ERA), Mike Stebner (11-8, 4.40 ERA), and Chris Brown (12-8, 4.17 ERA).

August 26th, 1904: Eric Thomas was diagnosed with a torn meniscus, and he'd miss the rest of the year. That means Jorge Montalvo would get the call in the rotation. The impressive 23-year-old was 16-7 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 270 strikeouts in 27 starts with the Grand Rapids Bulls.

We had a tough road series in New York with Matt Puckett (10-7, 4.82 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) facing southpaw Mike Stebner (11-8, 4.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) who jumped Gonzalez in the rotation. We picked up our 70th win on the season with a nice 6-1 opening victory.

It wasn't all good news, as C Jeremy Bell left with an injury when legging out a double in the second.

Puckett was solid, 7 innings with 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, and an unearned run. The Gold Glover Seth Bland was charged with 2 errors, likely a first in his career.

Ben Etienne made it his game, 3-for-4 with a a solo homer and two run homer. Jonathan Simmons was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Giobbe Capauna was 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Justin Arrington was 1-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and walk.

Brooklyn SP Nick Jones tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Baltimore. Boston SP and former Charger Justin Davies tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over the Cyclones.

August 27th, 1904: More bad news with injuries, as Bell fractured his fibula, and will also miss the remainder of the year. Danny Sanchez, who was hitting .240/.358/.344 with 4 homers and 27 RBI's in 66 games with the Bulls was recalled.

We looked to win our 4th straight with Nate McCue (7-7, 4.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) facing the red hot Chris Brown (12-8, 4.17 ERA, 1.45 WHIP). The pitching was abused, and we were crushed 13-4...

McCue allowed 8 in 6 with 13 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Simon Ellingson allowed 5 unearned runs off 3 hits, a walk, and a strikeout in 0.2 innings.

Justin Arrington was 1-for-3 with 2 walks, a run scored, and RBI. Jorge Rancier hit a pinch hit homer in the 7th. Omar Atillio was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

August 28th, 1904: We needed to win the finale with Josh Fisher (4-8, 4.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) taking on Antonio Gonzalez (6-1, 2.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP). The offense was missing in action, and the Rebels knocked us off 6-1.

Man...

Fisher went 6 with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 2 strikeouts. Ellingson allowed 3 hits, a run, and strikeout in 2 innings.

Justin Arrington was 1-for-4 with a steal. Giobbe Capuana and Ben Etienne were 1-for-4 with a double. Fisher was 1-for-2.

Another former Charger, Brooklyn's Ernie Morris, tossed a 6-hit shutout with 11 punchouts in a 6-0 win over Baltimore.

We're off tomorrow!