[pauwoo]

Los Angeles Lakers (16-27, .372) @ Phoenix Suns (26-18, .591)
When I decided to follow the Suns for the 2074 season after Donny signed with the team, I figured that the club would finish 4th in the NL West at best – and while there is still time for them to prove me right, I think that the Lakers’ (who I pegged for 3rd in the NL West at worst) ship has sailed. Owners of the 4th worst record in the league, Los Angeles has a sturdy collection of talent, but with 3 significant bullpen contributors on the 60-day DL, it’s hard to see the route they can take to dig themselves out of this mess. They are still hitting homers at a league-leading clip but are in the bottom half of the bottom half in every other offensive category and are as close to last in runs against and defensive efficiency as you can get without being last. The Lakers haven’t finished higher than 3rd in the last 3 years, but with some of their off-season moves and the continued development of their core players, 2074 felt like a good year to make a playoff appearance. The only thing the Lakers have going for them is that they have the #2 prospect in their system getting in some reps with their AAA Compton Raiders franchise. SP Newton Weiser has been in their farm system for two full seasons already and has shown a lot of potential but has yet to make any demonstratable rating improvements – so even that call out was a bit of a stretch.

45 of 162: Benjamin Pogan (3-3, 2.29 ERA) @ Keiki Kaneko (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
Keiki gave up 5 runs in 4 innings in his last outing but gave us a lot better effort today going 8 innings with 8 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk and 9 K’s – unfortunately – it wasn’t enough to secure the win as the Los Angeles Lakers found a way to eke out a 4-3 win over the Suns. Kaneko walked four straight before being pulled from the game and RP Paul Williams let the runners he left stranded get across the plate. Donny Jeter went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI for the Suns – we had 5 hits on the day. Keiki gets his first decision of the season and it’ll go in the L column – Suns lose to the Lakers, 4-3.

46 of 162: Dalbert Anhalt (1-0, 2.45 ERA) @ Del Miller (5-0, 4.62 ERA)
It took 15 innings to decide this one – Donny decided it for us when he brought in one on an RBI single. He finished 3 for 8 with 2 RBI and only 1 K – he’s in a good way right now, it’s been a stretch since he’s been in such good form. Derek was 1 for 1 in a PH appearance with 1 RBI while Pepper went 0 for 7 with a walk and 3 K’s – he fielded well though. Del Miller put up 7.2 innings of work for us – he was serviceable, not good… 6 earned on 7 hits with 3 walks and 7 K’s. Los Angeles got 2 HR’s from their DH Dave Pinchak – probably his best game of the season for the Lakers – 3 for 6, 3 runs, 2 RBI. The 8-7 win comes at a critical time with OKC surging - hopefully, we’re starting to put a little something together.

Bonus Game (Round 2 – NCAA Tourney): Ridgemont CC Tasty Waves @ Villanova Wildcats
Villanova finished 2nd in the Big East behind Pennsylvania and won their first-round matchup against Purdue, 5-3. Their RF King Disney (you can’t make this stuff up) had a huge 2-HR game for the Wildcats. The Tasty Waves won their first-round matchup with UC Santa Barbara by a score of 3-2, and their RF Adley Workman was the difference maker with a 3-5, HR, and 2 RBI day. Both would have big games in the 2nd round – but, while Adley went 3 for 4 with a R, King Disney went 5 for 5 with a double, 2 homers, 7 RBI and 3 runs to lead the Wildcats to a 13-4 victory. Dominant win for ‘Nova.

47 of 162: John Aivazian (1-6, 5.22 ERA) @ Isaiah Zuno (3-4, 3.71 ERA)
In addition to being a poor starting pitcher, Aivazian has a last name that sounds like it’s an experimental drug manufactured to treat restless eyelid syndrome – or something equally ridiculous. He went 7 innings for LA and was serviceable – 8 hits, 3 earned runs, 6 K’s – not terrible, but it certainly won’t cure what ails the Lakers. Zuno wasn’t much better giving up 5 earned in 7.2 innings of work – but Luca Milbrandt made sure it was enough with his 3 for 4, 3 RBI performance as Phoenix made it 2 in a row with the 8-6 victory. Derek made the most of his reappearance in the lineup with a 2 for 4, 2 run performance and Pepper, well, it’s not worth talking about – let’s just say, on the brightside, he didn’t make any fielding errors today.