Millennial League Baseball, est. 2001

[Questdog]

September 12, 2005

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Keith Meyer, 3B, Memphis (30-L .285/.366/.417) Had 12 hits with 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 BB, 3 SO, 0 SB, 1 CS, 3 R and 8 RBI in 7 G (6 GS) (9th career PoW, 2nd this season)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

September 5 - Melvin Brisita (24-R) of Louisville pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Indianapolis. He walked 1, hit a batter and struck out 5. It is the 5th shutout of his career. He is now 7-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 17 starts. The Colonels won, 1 to 0, and only had 4 hits themselves.
September 7 - 1B Mike Sammon (26-R) of Richmond went 4 for 4 with a double and a walk, scored a run and had 4 RBI at Hartford. The Robins won, 10 to 8.
September 8 - 2B Buddy Hendricks (26-R) of Rochester had 3 hits with a double and a walk, scored a run and had 5 RBI at home versus Memphis. The Roosters won, 11 to 4.
September 9 - Larry Bowling (27-R) of Providence pitched a 5 hit shutout at Buffalo. He walked 1 and struck out 5. At bat, he had 4 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. It is his 5th shutout of the season and 15th of his career. He is now 17-8 with a 1.86 ERA in 32 starts.
September 10 - CF Sergio Acevedo (31-R) of Birmingham hit his 38th home run of the season, but pulled a muscle and is out for the rest of the season. He finished at .199/.291/.453 in 523 AB with 38 HR, 107 RBI and 18 SB.

[Questdog]

Monday, September 12, 2005

We are in Richmond to play the Robins a 3 game series. They won 2 of 3 at New Orleans over the weekend. We are 7-4 against them on the season and split 4 games here in our first visit, June 16-19. They are 2nd in scoring with 4.57 runs per game (Jacksonville is up to #3 with 4.45!). We are also up to 2nd in BA at .265, but have no chance of catching the Robins, who are at .288. They are 9th in fewest runs allowed with 3.99 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.43). Their run differential is +83, 4th best in the MLB, and ours is +147, the best.

Jacksonville Jays (94-50 .653 11 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Richmond Robins (79-64 .552 14.5 GB in 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (13-14 4.05 ERA 202 IP, 203 H, 24 HR, 51 BB, 120 SO) Gold Glove(02)
RICH: Billy Warner (27-R) (9-5 3.85 ERA 154.1 IP, 155 H, 18 HR, 59 BB, 93 SO) All-Star(2: 03-04)

Warwick gave up 5 runs on 8 hits, 2 home runs and 4 walks with 1 strikeout in 7.1 innings last time out in a loss to Syracuse. That ended a personal 5 game winning streak.

Warner is their #1 starter. He is 1-1 in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a CG win and a 4.80 ERA. 15 IP, 16 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 7 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .302-557-6-67-.765-17 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .352-122-3-18-.898-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .302-477-12-58-.812-18 C+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .319-548-14-95-.855-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Fernando Tello (23-L .276-373-8-64-.723-2 C+)
6: 3B Tom McDowell (28-R .252-507-19-68-.733-21 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .210-248-2-36-.616-14 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .254-335-7-46-.715-0 B) Rookie
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .262-65-0-7-.585-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

RICHMOND
1: SS Skip Dunkin (26-S .309-583-2-63-.706-39 B+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
2: CF Pete Dyche (34-L .281-196-3-27-.776-9 C+) Shoulder tendinitis
3: 3B Vince Depew (25-L .341-411-10-59-.895-22 C) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Dave Brooks (27-L .311-466-15-80-.884-26 D) Silver Slugger(LF)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: LF Andres Borges (37-S .257-470-12-63-.741-3 C+) All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: 1B Ray Holloway (31-R .284-507-16-69-.784-12 B) All-Star(01)
7: 2B Carlos Frias (24-R .266-222-2-21-.697-3 A)
8: C Sandy Sanchez (28-S .238-231-2-31-.660-0 C)
9: P Billy Warner (27-R .208-53-1-9-.491-0 F) All-Star(2: 03-04)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Griffith Stadium
Weather: 75 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 10,170

Top of the First
Tony Weninger swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Tommy Adams lines a 1-2 pitch to right for a hit! Cal Doty grounds out to 1st, 3-1, and Adams goes to 2nd. Ray McDonald lines a home run over the left field fence!! 2 to 0, Jays! Fernando Tello grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the First
Skip Dunkin swings at the first pitch and drills one to deep center, but Cal Doty runs it down at the warning track! Pete Dyche grounds out to short. Vince Depew grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Top of the Fourth
Cal Doty lines a hit to left. Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Fernando Tello grounds a hit to right and McDonald beats the throw to 3rd! Tom McDowell lines a hit to center and McDonald scores! 3 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Bob Hutson swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right and 2 runs score!! 5 to 0, Jays! The next two make outs.

Top of the Fifth
New Pitcher: Guy Goodman (21-R), a rookie, who is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 46 IP. Tommy Adams and Cal Doty lead off with back to back walks! Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Adams goes to 3rd. Fernando Tello lines a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit and Adams scores and McDonald beats the throw to 3rd! 6 to 0, Jays! Tello gets picked off at 1st and Tom McDowell strikes out....

Bottom of the Sixth
PH Juan Vizcaino (28-L) and Skip Duncan lead off with back to back hits. After a pair of infield pop outs, Dave Brooks lines a hit to center and Vizcaino scores... 6 to 1, Jays. Andres Borges grounds a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and Duncan scores... 6 to 2, Jays.

Top of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Mickey Steger (35-R), who is 2-1 with a 1.58 ERA in 79.2 IP. 1.06 WHIP. Tony Weninger pokes a little hit to left center and Tommy Adams grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. With 2 outs, Ray McDonald hits his 2nd home run of the game, this one to right!! 8 to 2, Jays!

Won - 8 to 2

We had 11 hits and made no errors
Richmond had 9 hits and made no errors

Del Warwick (W 14-14) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 2 runs, 9 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. 140 pitches.

Billy Warner (L 9-6) went 4 innings, gave us 5 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 1.

LF Tommy Adams had 1 hit and 2 walks and scored 3 runs. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits and a walk. RF Ray McDonald hit 2 home runs, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI. 1B Fernando Tello had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. C Bob Hutson had a hit and a walk and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (95-50 .655 11 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Richmond Robins (79-65 .549 15.5 GB in 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Tommy Keyser (26-L) (11-4 2.37 ERA 121.1 IP, 100 H, 7 HR, 35 BB, 78 SO) Rookie
RICH: Geunhye Yeun (29-R) (7-2 1.75 ERA 103 IP, 77 H, 8 HR, 34 BB, 65 SO)

Keyser gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in 5 innings last time out in a no decision to Syracuse that we lost.

Yeun is 2-1 in 3 starts against the Jays in his career with a 5.09 ERA. 23 IP, 25 H, 5 HR, 7 BB, 14 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Tony Weninger (24-R .301-562-6-67-.762-17 B+)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .352-125-3-18-.901-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .304-481-12-58-.814-18 C+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .320-553-16-99-.865-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Fernando Tello (23-L .278-378-8-65-.723-2 C+)
6: 3B Russ Baker (26-S .250-12-1-1-.857-0 B)
7: 2B Charlie Faber (34-R .237-190-0-8-.603-3 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .254-338-7-48-.717-0 B) Rookie
9: P Tommy Keyser (26-L .184-38-0-4-.389-0 B) Rookie

RICHMOND
1: CF Pete Dyche (34-L .276-199-3-27-.768-9 C+) Shoulder tendinitis
2: SS Hank Widger (22-R .167-24-0-3-.494-0 B+) Rookie #21 prospect
3: 3B Vince Depew (25-L .337-415-10-59-.887-22 C) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Dave Brooks (27-L .311-470-15-81-.881-26 D) Silver Slugger(LF)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Mike Sammon (26-R .326-530-6-80-.798-5 B) All-Star
6: LF Andres Borges (37-S .257-474-12-64-.739-3 C+) All-Star(2: 02-03)
7: 2B Carlos Frias (24-R .270-226-2-21-.702-3 A)
8: C Larry Slattery (29-R .230-257-5-35-.663-0 C)
9: P Geunhye Yeun (29-S .212-33-1-3-.560-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Griffith Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 10,222

Top of the First
Tony Weninger lines an 0-2 pitch to left center for a double! Tommy Adams lines the first pitch to left for a hit and Weninger scores! 1 to 0, Jays! Cal Doty lines a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit and Adams beats the throw to 3rd! Ray McDonald flies out to left and Adams stays put. Doty tries to steal 2nd, but they have a pitchout on and he is out by a mile.... Fernando Tello takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... 1st and 3rd with 2 outs, instead of bases loaded with 1 out thanks to the running... Russ Baker pops out to short...

Bottom of the First
Pete Dyche strikes out looking! Hank Widger flies out to the warning track in right. Vince Depew flies out to deep right! 1-2-3!

Top of the Third
Tony Weninger and Tommy Adams lead off with back to back hits! Cal Doty hits a home run to right!!! 4 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald reaches when CF Pete Dyche misplays his fly ball into an error. Fernando Tello lines a hit to center. With 1 out, Charlie Faber takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up. Bob Hutson grounds into a force at home, 4-2... P Tommy Keyser swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short...

Bottom of the Fourth
Vince Depew and Dave Brooks lead off with back to back singles. With 1 out, Andres Borges clears the bases with a double to left... 4 to 2, Jays. The next two make outs, with CF Cal Doty saving a run with a great catch to end the inning!

Top of the Sixth
Bob Hutson leads off with a home run to right! 5 to 2, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh
Andres Borges leads off with his second double of the game. The Bullpen gets up. Carlos Frias grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Borges beats the throw home... 5 to 3, Jays. Larry Slattery grounds a double over the 3rd base bag.... PH Ray Holloway (31-R), who was 1 for 4 with a double yesterday, is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: Bob Craig (27-R). Holloway swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd and both runners advance. 5 to 4, Jays. Pete Dyche pops out to left and Slattery holds at 3rd. PH Ray Montgomery (35-L), who had a pinch-hit yesterday, is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L). Tom McDowell (28-R) is in to play 3rd in a double switch. Montgomery flies out to left!

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Guy Goodman (21-R), the rookie who gave us a run in 2 innings yesterday. Bob Hutson doubles to left! They walk Tom McDowell intentionally. Tony Weninger bunts the runners up. Tommy Adams swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1, and the runners hold... Cal Doty draws a walk to load the bases up with 2 outs. Ray McDonald lines a hit to left center and 2 runs score!! 7 to 4, Jays!

Bottom of the Eighth
Vince Depew draws a walk and Dave Brooks doubles to right center... The Bullpen hops up. Mike Sammon flies out to deep center and Depew tags up and scores. 7 to 5, Jays. Andres Borges lines a hit to center and Brooks heads home and Cal Doty throws the ball to the backstop.... 7 to 6, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (35-L). Dave Thompson (29-R) is in to play 1st in a double switch. With 2 outs, Larry Slattery lines a 3-2 pitch to left center for a hit and Borges scores.... Tie Game: 7 to 7.

Top of the Ninth
6-7-8 up for us. Dave Thompson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Charlie Faber bunts him to 2nd. Bob Hutson gives one a ride to deep center, but it is caught and Thompson tags up and moves to 3rd. They walk Tom McDowell intentionally for the second time today. Tony Weninger swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short....

Bottom of the Ninth
Top of their order up. Pete Dyche strikes out for the third time today! PH Skip Dunkin (26-S), the Silver Slugger and 2-time All-Star, who was 2 for 4, stole a base and scored a run yesterday, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short! Vince Depew grounds out to 1st, 3-1! 1-2-3!

Extras!

We are 7-2 and have have won 4 in a row.

Top of the Tenth
New Pitcher: Jack Barber (31-R), their 5-time All-Star and reigning Fireman Trophy and Rolaids Relief Man Award winning closer, who has not signed a contract for next season yet. I sure would not mind him joining the Jays! 2-3-4 up for us. Tommy Adams grounds one to 2nd, but Carlos Frias boots it! But the next three all make outs....

Bottom of the Tenth
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (31-R). 4-5-6 up for the Robins. With 1 out, Mike Sammon lines a hit to right. Andres Borges grounds out to 3rd and Sammon goes to 2nd. And Tom McDowell calls out Trudy the Trainer.... Bart Daw (33-R) goes in to play short, Tony Weninger movers to 2nd and Charlie Faber moves to 3rd. There are no more infielders left on the bench. It does not matter, though, because Carlos Frias pokes a hit over Charlie Faber's head and Sammon scores....

Lost - 8 to 7

Out 5th straight game of scoring 7 or more runs.

We had 12 hits and made 2 errors
Richmond had 12 hits and made 2 errors

Tommy Keyser went 6+ innings, allowed 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4.
RHP Bob Craig (H 8) faced 2 batters and got 2 outs.
LHP Albert Davies (H 6) got 2 outs, allowed 3 runs, 2 hits and 1 walk.
LHP Bill Grant (BS 4) went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Robbie Hopley (L 3-3) got 2 outs, allowed 1 run and 2 hits.

Geunhye Yeun went 5.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 8 hits, 2 home runs, 3 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Jack Barber (W 9-4) pitched a scoreless inning.

SS/2B Tony Weninger had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. LF Tommy Adams had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. CF Cal Doty had 3 hits with his 13th home run of the season, drew a walk and had 3 RBI. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and 2 RBI. He now has 101 RBI on the season, 2nd in the MLB to Sergio Acevedo of Birmingham, who has 107, but is finished for the season. I sure hope McDonald catches him, not only so that a Jay can lead the League, but also so that a .199 hitter does not lead.... 1B Fernando Tello had a hit and a walk. 1B Dave Thompson drew a walk in his only trip to the plate. C Bob Hutson hit a double and his 8th home run and scored 2 runs. 3B Tom McDowell was walked intentionally in both of his plate appearances.

For Richmond, LF Andres Borges had 3 hits with 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. C Larry Slattery had 3 hits and an RBI.

Trudy's report on Tom McDowell is a sore elbow that she expect to bother his throwing for about a month.... Third base is not a great place to play with a sore elbow....

Beating the Bushes: The Oklahoma City 89ers beat the Chattanooga Lookouts, 2 to 1, to win the Dixie Cup (B), 4 games to 1. P Ken Smith (23-R) picked up the win, his 2nd of the series, and was named the MVP. He had a 1.29 ERA, 14 IP, 12 H, 1 HR, 4 BB and 11 SO.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (95-51 .651 11 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Richmond Robins (80-65 .552 14.5 GB in 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Ernesto Noyola (26-R) (13-5 3.63 ERA 139 IP, 135 H, 10 HR, 37 BB, 95 SO)
RICH: Bill Miller (28-L) (6-10 4.64 ERA 118.1 IP, 131 H, 10 HR, 34 BB, 55 SO) Rookie

Noyola gave up 5 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, 1 home run and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5 innings last time out in a win at Charlotte. We scored 15 runs for him.

We have faced Miller once this season and he beat us with a CG, giving us 3 runs on 10 hits and 1 walk with 1 strikeout. He is pitching with back spasms today.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 3B Charlie Faber (34-R .233-193-0-8-.597-3 B+)
2: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .303-567-6-67-.768-17 A)
3: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .318-559-16-101-.860-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: 1B Tom McDowell (28-R .254-511-19-69-.737-21 B) Sore elbow
5: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .251-195-2-12-.647-0 B)
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .277-382-8-65-.723-2 C)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .207-251-2-36-.612-14 B+)
8: C Don Kern (28-R .164-128-4-15-.574-0 B+)
9: P Ernesto Noyola (26-R .224-49-0-4-.494-0 F)

RICHMOND
1: SS Skip Dunkin (26-S .310-588-2-63-.707-40 B+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
2: RF Andres Borges (37-S .261-479-12-67-.748-3 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
3: LF Dave Brooks (27-L .312-475-15-81-.882-26 D+) Silver Slugger(LF)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: 1B Mike Sammon (26-R .326-533-6-81-.798-5 B) All-Star
5: CF Pete Dyche (34-L .270-204-3-27-.750-9 C+) Shoulder tendinitis
6: 2B Carlos Frias (24-R .273-231-2-23-.704-3 A)
7: 3B Ray Montgomery (35-L .247-73-2-11-.773-0 B+)
8: C Sandy Sanchez (28-S .234-235-2-31-.650-0 C)
9: P Bill Miller (28-L .135-37-0-0-.297-0 F) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Griffith Stadium
Weather: 75 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 9,142

Top of the First
Charlie Faber grounds out to 2nd. Tony Weninger grounds a triple over the 1st base bag! Ray McDonald lines out to center and Weninger trots home. 1 to 0, Jays! Tom McDowell doubles to right center! Dickie Stemen lines an 0-2 pitch to center and McDowell scores! 2 to 0, Jays! Fernando Tello swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep right.

Bottom of the First
Skip Dunkin lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit... Andres Borges lines a 1-2 pitch to left for a hit... Dave Brooks lines a 2-2 pitch to center for a hit and the bases are loaded with no outs.... Mike Sammon grounds a hit up the middle and Dunkin scores.... 2 to 1, Jays. Pete Dyche grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Borges scores and Brooks goes to 3rd. Tie Game: 2 to 2. Carlos Frias grounds a hit up the middle and Brooks scores... 3 to 2, Robins. Ray Montgomery lines a hit to right and Frias beats the throw to 3rd.... 6 hits... The Bullpen is up. C Don Kern picks Montgomery off at 1st!

Bottom of the Third
Andres Borges and Bucky Johnston (33-R), in his first AB of the season, lead off with back to back hits. Johnston is playing left because Dave Brooks was hurt in the 2nd inning making a catch. The Bullpen is back up. Mike Sammon clears the bases with a triple to right center... 5 to 2, Robins. Pete Dyche lines the first pitch to left for a hit and Sammon scores... 6 to 2, Robins. Call to the Bullpen: Roger Wallace (30-R). Tommy Adams (23-L) is in to play left in a double switch. Fernando Tello moves to right and Ray McDonald moves to center. Carlos Frias hits a home run to left.... 8 to 2, Robins. The next three all make outs.

Top of the Fifth
Charlie Faber and Tony Weninger lead off with back to back hits. Ray McDonald grounds a hit to center and the bases are loaded with no outs. Tom McDowell flies out to deep center and Faber scores and Weninger goes to 3rd. 8 to 3, Robins. PH Dave Thompson (29-R) strikes out looking... Fernando Tello flies out to right...

Top of the Sixth
With 1 out, Don Kern triples off the wall in right! His first career triple! Tommy Adams swings at a 3-2 pitch and beats out an infield hit and Kern scores! 8 to 4, Robins. Charlie Faber grounds into a 4-6-3 double play...

Lost - 8 to 4

We finish the season series with Richmond 8-6.
It is the first time we have won a season series with them.
We were 5-9 last year.

We had 11 hits and made no errors
Richmond had 16 hits and made 1 error

Ernesto Noyola (L 13-6) went 2+ innings, allowed 7 runs, 10 hits, no walks and struck out 1.
RHP Roger Wallace went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 1 home run and struck out 4.
RHP Bob Craig went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Robbie Hopley went 2 scoreless innings and allowed 2 hits.

Bill Miller (W 7-10) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 11 hits, no walks and struck out 5.

3B Charlie Faber had 2 hits and scored a run. 2B Tony Weninger had 2 hits with a triple and scored a run and struck out 3 times. 1B Tom McDowell hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. C Don Kern had 2 hits with a triple and scored a run.

For Richmond, RF Andres Borges had 3 hits and scored 2 runs. 1B Mike Sammon had 3 hits with a triple, scored a run and had 3 RBI. 2B Carlos Frias had 3 hits with his 3rd home run of the season and 3 RBI.

The Robins announce that LF Dave Brooks had a sprained thumb that they figured to bother him for about 2 weeks, He will try to play through it. P Bill Miller, also injured during the game, had a blister that they think will take about a week to heal up.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 16, 2005

Trudy the Trainer has cleared 1B Jack Washburn (23-L) to play, so he was activated from the DL and 1B Dave Thompson (29-R) was sent back to the Daytona Beach (A) roster.

We are in Orlando to play a 3 game series with the Juice. They just won 2 out of 3 in Memphis. We are 6-5 against them on the season and split a pair of games in our last visit, June 21-22. They are 9th in scoring with 4.05 runs per game (Jacksonville is #3 with 4.49). The Juice are 12th in fewest runs allowed with 4.19 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.48). Their run differential is -20, 8th in the MLB, and ours is +148, still the best.

Jacksonville Jays (95-52 .646 9.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (73-73 .500 21.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (17-7 3.28 ERA 205.2 IP, 194 H, 15 HR, 55 BB, 145 SO)
ORL: Clark Davis (28-R) (10-7 3.32 ERA 149 IP, 148 H, 12 HR, 46 BB, 103 SO) All-Star(04)

Calice gave up 6 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits and no walks with 2 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a win at Charlotte. We scored 9 runs for him. He is 11-0 in his last 12 starts.

Davis is their #1 starter. He is 1-1 with a CG in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a 6.17 ERA. 11.2 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 8 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .304-572-6-67-.771-17 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .353-133-3-20-.896-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .306-487-13-61-.824-18 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .319-562-16-102-.858-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .251-354-13-40-.822-20 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .275-386-8-65-.716-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .208-255-2-36-.610-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .257-343-8-49-.730-0 B) Rookie
9: P Al Calice (24-L .078-64-0-4-.200-0 F)

ORLANDO
1: 2B Tom Howard (29-R .245-560-18-60-.699-22 B+) All-Star(04)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (26-R .306-523-3-58-.722-13 B+) All-Star(02)
3: RF Gil Weaver (27-L .311-498-20-60-.891-4 C) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(4: 01-03,05)
4: 1B Herman Chance (35-R .237-409-20-64-.714-2 C+) All-Star(2: 03-04)
5: LF Ted Mason (27-R .230-217-6-27-.709-6 B)
6: CF Barry Magee (33-L .230-265-8-35-.699-4 C)
7: 3B Joe Jones (29-R .208-288-8-30-.661-3 B+)
8: C Mike Day (34-S .248-262-7-26-.716-0 C+)
9: P Clark Davis (28-R .170-47-0-4-.426-0 C) All-Star(04)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 90 F, Clear Skies, with a 10 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,062

Top of the First
Tony Weninger beats out an infield hit! He steals 2nd! Tommy Adams flies out to deep right and Weninger tags up and goes to 3rd. Cal Doty grounds out to 2nd and Weninger scores. 1 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald bloops a 1-2 pitch to left for a hit. Jack Washburn, in his first at bat in over 3 weeks, pokes a hit to right and McDonald goes to 3rd. Fernando Tell blasts one 490 ft. to dead center for a home run!!! 4 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw bloops a hit to right. Bob Hutson takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three.

Bottom of the First
Tom Howard swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Danny Hutchinson grounds out to 3rd. Gil Weaver grounds a hit up the middle. Herman Chance fouls out to 1st!

We had 4 runs and 5 hits in the 1st inning. Through 6 innings, we have 4 runs and 6 hits....

The Juice had a hit in the 1st inning and through 6 innings they still have just one hit.

Bottom of the Seventh
Ted Mason leads off with and infield hit. Barry Magee grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Joe Jones lines hit to left. The Bullpen gets up. Mike Day plunks into a force at 2nd, 2-4, and Magee goes to 3rd. P Al Calice balks home the run... 4 to 1, Jays.

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Hal Bradford (29-L), the ex-Jay, who is 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 67 IP with only 7 BB and 1 HR allowed. With 1 out, Cal Doty lines a hit to center. With 2 outs, PH Tom McDowell (28-R), who will stay in to play 1st, pokes the first pitch to right for a hit and Doty goes to 3rd. PH Charlie Faber (35-R), who will stay in to play 3rd, grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Doty scores! 5 to 1, Jays! Bart Daw hits a home run to left!!! 8 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Eighth
Tom Howard leads off with a 4 pitch walk... The Bullpen gets up. Danny Hutchinson beats out an infield hit. But the next three all make outs!

Won - 8 to 1

We had 15 hits and made no errors
Orlando had 4 hits (all singles) and made no errors

It is our 7th straight game with double digit hits, a new team record.

Al Calice (W 18-7) went 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 4. He balked home the only run. 124 pitches.
LHP Albert Davies pitched a perfect inning and struck out 2.

Clark Davis (L 10-8) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 5.

2B Tony Weninger had 2 hits, stole a base and scored a run. CF Cal Doty had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Ray McDonald had 3 hits and scored a run. PH/1B Tom McDowell went 2 for 2 and scored a run. 3B Fernando Tello hit his 9th hoe run of the season and had 3 RBI. PH/3B Charlie Faber had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had 3 hits with his 3rd home run and had 3 RBI.

Around the League: The Syracuse Sycamores announced yesterday that they had signed SS/2B Frank Bates (33-R) to a 5 year contract extension for $370,000 per season. He is a 5-time All-Star and 2-time Silver Slugger at shortstop. They moved him to 2nd base after he made 18 errors at short in the first half of this season. He is 4th on the all-time HR list with 154. This season, he is batting .261 with 28 HR and 87 RBI in 545 AB with a .787 OPS.

Down on the Farm: The Durham Bulls beat the Pawtucket PawSox. 3 to 2, at home to win the American Association Championship, 4 games to 2. 1B Danny Welch (26-S) was named the MVP of the series. He went 9 for 20 (.450) with 2 doubles, a triple and 2 home runs, drew 5 walks, scored 8 runs and had 6 RBI. He even stole a base.

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 17, 2005

We signed 3B Tom McDowell to a 5 year extension this morning for $125,000 per season with the 5th year being a player option. The local sports talk radio shows have been inundated with callers happy about the deal. Editor's Note: The option year was by accident....

Jacksonville Jays (96-52 .649 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (73-74 .497 22.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (14-14 3.97 ERA 211 IP, 212 H, 24 HR, 52 BB, 122 SO) Gold Glove(02)
ORL: Joe Hoehn (30-R) (0-4 5.40 ERA 50 IP, 65 H, 6 HR, 18 BB, 16 SO) Rookie

Warwick had a CG win last time out, allowing 2 runs on 9 hits and 1 walk with 2 strikeouts. He is 6-1 in his last 8 starts.

We have never faced Hoehn, the 30 year old rookie, before.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .305-577-6-67-.771-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .341-138-3-20-.866-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .305-492-13-62-.820-18 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .252-357-13-40-.821-20 B)
5: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .275-389-9-68-.723-2 C+)
6: C Bob Hutson (23-L .256-347-8-49-.727-0 B) Rookie
7: RF Danny Rosas (26-L .222-99-2-10-.655-4 B+)
8: SS Bart Daw (33-R .216-259-3-39-.634-15 B+)
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .246-69-0-7-.551-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

ORLANDO
1: 3B Ernie Patterson (24-R .248-513-1-39-.580-27 A+) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(4: 01-04)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (26-R .306-526-3-58-.723-13 B+) All-Star(02)
3: RF Gil Weaver (27-L .312-500-20-60-.893-4 C) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(4: 01-03,05)
4: 2B Tom Howard (29-R .243-563-18-60-.697-22 B+) All-Star(04)
5: 1B Herman Chance (35-R .235-413-20-64-.707-2 C+) All-Star(2: 03-04)
6: LF Ted Mason (27-R .231-221-6-27-.706-6 B)
7: CF Chuck Sieker (31-R .125-8-0-0-.250-0 C+) Rookie
8: C Dennis Blaser (27-L .243-214-8-37-.749-0 B) Rookie
9: P Joe Hoehn (30-R .000-14-0-0-.000-0 F) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 84 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 7,947

Top of the First
Tony Weninger swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to 2nd. Tommy Adams pokes a hit to center. Cal Doty strikes out... Jack Washburn gets beaned. Fernando Tello flies out to right...

Bottom of the First
Ernie Patterson flies out to right. Danny Hutchinson swings at the first pitch and pops out to the pitcher. Gil Weaver flies out to deep center! 1-2-3!

The Juice go 9 up, 9 down!

Bottom of the Fourth
Ernie Patterson grounds an 0-2 pitch to left for a hit and steals 2nd... With 2 outs, Tom Howard beats out an infield hit. Herman Chance grounds a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Patterson scores and Howard goes to 3rd. 1 to 0, Juice. Ted Mason clears the bases with a double to center... 3 to 0, Juice. Chuck Sieker doubles to center and Mason scores... 4 to 0, Juice. The Bullpen gets up. We walk Dennis Blaser intentionally..... P Joe Hoehn grounds out to 3rd.

Through 6 innings, we are getting shut out by a bum....

And RF Danny Rosas has played his last game as a Jay. He failed to run out a ground ball.... Editor's Note: He now has a low Work Ethic rating...

Top of the Eighth
Tommy Adams takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and beats out an infield hit. With 1 out, Fernando Tello grounds into a 5-4-3 double play....

After striking out Ted Mason to end the 8th inning, P Bob Craig (28-R) goes to see Trudy the Trainer....

Lost - 4 to 0

Shut out by a 30 year old bum rookie for his first MLB win....

We had 7 hits (all singles) and made 1 error
Orlando had 8 hits and made 1 error

We end our team record streak of 10 or more hits in a game at 7.

Del Warwick (L 14-15) went 6 innings, allowed 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5.
RHP Bob Craig went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Joe Hoehn (W 1-4) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 4. 111 pitches.

LF Tommy Adams had a hit and a walk. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits and stole a base.

Trudy's report on Bob Craig is back tightness and she recommends 2 weeks of complete rest.... So he is out until the Millennial Cup.

Around the League: The Birmingham Barons announced that they have signed 2B Rick Halverson (29-L) to a 4 year contract extension for $948,000. He will make $222,000 next season and $242,000 each of the three season after that. He was an All-Star in 2001. This season, he is batting .279 with 14 HR and 75 RBI in 481 AB with a .759 OPS.

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 18, 2005

P Bob Craig (28-R) was placed on the Disabled List and RF Danny Rosas (26-L) was shipped to the Daytona Beach (A) roster. We recalled RP Mickel Cannady (24-R) and called up CF Norm Mayer (29-L).

Jacksonville Jays (96-53 .644 9.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (74-74 .500 21.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Tommy Keyser (26-L) (11-4 2.54 ERA 127.1 IP, 107 H, 7 HR, 37 BB, 82 SO) Rookie
ORL: Larry Hemmerling (29-R) (11-13 3.76 ERA 205.2 IP, 181 H, 17 HR, 76 BB, 142 SO) Silver Slugger(01)

Keyser gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a no decision at Richmond that we lost.

We faced Hemmerling once this season and he gave us 4 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 5 innings in a no decision that we won.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .305-581-6-67-.770-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .340-141-3-20-.865-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .304-496-13-62-.817-18 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .320-569-16-102-.858-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .256-360-13-40-.826-21 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .272-393-9-68-.716-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .218-262-3-39-.635-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .256-351-8-49-.725-0 B) Rookie
9: P Tommy Keyser (26-R .171-41-0-4-.361-0 B) Rookie

ORLANDO
1: 3B Ernie Patterson (24-R .250-517-1-39-.584-28 A+) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(4: 01-04)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (26-R .304-530-3-58-.717-13 B+) All-Star(02)
3: RF Gil Weaver (27-L .312-504-20-60-.890-4 C) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(4: 01-03,05)
4: 2B Tom Howard (29-R .243-567-18-60-.695-22 B+) All-Star(04)
5: 1B Herman Chance (35-R .237-417-20-65-.710-2 C+) All-Star(2: 03-04)
6: C Mike Day (34-S .244-266-7-26-.706-0 C+)
7: LF Barry Magee (33-L .227-269-8-35-.689-4 B+)
8: CF Norm Jones (20-L .333-18-0-0-.722-0 C) Rookie #28 prospect
9: P Larry Hemmerling (29-R .226-62-0-2-.524-0 F) Silver Slugger(01)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 86 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 8,194

Top of the First
Tony Weninger strikes out looking on 3 pitches... Tommy Adams strikes out on 3 pitches.... Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the First
Ernie Patterson swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Danny Hutchinson lines out to center. Gil Weaver grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Third
With 2 outs, P Larry Hemmerling grounds a hit to left. Ernie Patterson triples to center... 1 to 0, Juice. Danny Hutchinson swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit and Patterson scores... 2 to 0, Juice.

Top of the Fourth
Tommy Adams and Cal Doty lead off with back to back hits. Ray McDonald hits a monster home run to right center!!! 3 to 2, Jays. 455 ft! Jack Washburn walks on 4 pitches. Fernando Tello bloops a hit to left. Bart Daw doubles to left center and Washburn scores! 4 to 2, Jays! They walk Bob Hutson intentionally to load the bases up with no outs. A wild pitch scores Tello! 5 to 2, Jays! With the infield in, P Tommy Keyser makes a bid for a hit with a grounder to the left side, but 3B Ernie Patterson, the 4-time Gold Glover, makes a diving stop and looks Daw back to 3rd and throws Keyser out at 1st. Tony Weninger grounds out to 3rd and the runners hold.... Tommy Adams grounds out to 1st, unassisted.

Bottom of the Fourth
With 1 out, Herman Chance hits one 490 ft. to left center.... 5 to 3, Jays.

Top of the Fifth
New Pitcher: Bob Carroll (29-R), who gave us 4 hits, but no runs in 1.1 innings on Friday. With 1 out, Ray McDonald grounds the first pitch to right for a hit. Jack Washburn grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Fernando Tello lines a hit to left. Bart Daw swings at the first pitch and pokes a hit to center and Washburn scores! 6 to 3, Jays! Bob Hutson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. P Tommy Keyser strikes out on 3 pitches...

Top of the Seventh
Ray McDonald lines a hit to left. Jack Washburn doubles to left! They walk Fernando Tello intentionally to load the bases up with no outs. That does it for P Bob Carroll. New Pitcher: Rick Delaney (26-R), a rookie, who is 0-2 with 2 SV and a 4.36 ERA in 44 IP. Bart Daw grounds into a 4-2-3 double play.... Bob Hutson lines out to left... Bases loaded with no outs and no runs....

Bottom of the Seventh
Mike Day leads off with a home run to center... 6 to 4, Jays.

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (31-R). Ernie Patterson swings at the first pitch and pokes a hit to left. With 1 out, Gil Weaver lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit. The Bullpen gets up. Tom Howard walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up... Herman Chance takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in a run... 6 to 5, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (35-L), who blew a Save in his last appearance and will have a tough time not blowing this one... Mike Day flies out to left and Weaver tags up and scores... Blown Save... Tie Game: 6 to 6. Barry Magee flies out to left... Not a very fair Blown Save...

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (30-R), their closer, who made the All-Star team this year over Bill Grant and is 5-6 with 33 SV and a 2.83 ERA in 89 IP. 3-4-5 up for us. Cal Doty grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Ray McDonald grounds out to 1st, unassisted... Jack Washburn draws a walk. He steals 2nd! Fernando Tello lines a hit to center and Washburn heads home. Norm Jones throws the ball to the backstop! 7 to 6, Jays! Bart Daw pops out to center.

Bottom of the Ninth
8-9-1 up for Orlando. PH Ted Mason (27-R), 2 for 8 with a double, a run scored and 2 RBI this series, flies out to right. PH Walt Schnitzler (24-R), yet another Juice rookie, who is batting .167 with no HR and 6 RBI in 78 AB, swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds one to 2nd, but Tony Weninger boots it.... Ernie Patterson grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Danny Hutchinson grounds out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 7 to 6

We finish the season series with Orlando 8-6.
We have never lost a season series to our in state rivals.
Last year, we were 10-4.

We had 12 hits and made 1 error
Orlando had 8 hits and made 1 error

Tommy Keyser went 7 innings, allowed 4 runs, 6 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Robbie Hopley (H 4) got 1 out, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 walks. Not very fair that he gets a Hold with his crappy pitching and Bill Grant gets a Blown Save by getting batters out...
LHP Bill Grant (W 5-1, BS 5) went 1.2 scoreless innings and only allowed a runner to reach on an error.

Larry Hemmerling went 4 innings, gave us 5 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.
RHP Ray Hayes (L 5-7) went 1 inning, gave us 1 run, 1 hit and 1 walk. His 2nd loss to the Jays this season.

RF Ray McDonald had 3 hits with his 17th home run of the season and 3 RBI. 1B Jack Washburn hit a double, drew 2 walks, stole a base and scored 3 runs. 3B Fernando Tello had 3 hits and an intentional walk, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits with a double and 2 RBI. C Bob Hutson hit a double and drew 2 walks (1 INT).

For Orlando, Herman Chance hit his 21st home run, drew a walk and had 2 RBI. C Mike Day hit his 8th home run and had 2 RBI.

The Juice announced that RP Charlie Flora (24-L), who left the game with an injury, had a blister and should be fine in a day or two.

[Questdog]

September 19, 2005

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Terry Graham, RF, Charlotte (26-L .294/.366/.502) Had 11 hits with 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 SB, 1 CS, 6 R and 6 RBI in 6 G (2nd career PoW)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

September 13 - 3B Mike Hughes (31-R) of Ottawa had 3 hits with 2 home runs and a walk, scored 4 runs and had 5 RBI at Syracuse. The Otters won, 10 to 4.
September 13 - Rookie RF Jose Castillo (23-S) of Louisville hit for the Cycle at Birmingham. He scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. The Colonels won, 8 to 7, in 11 innings. It is the 4th Cycle in MLB history and the 1st this season.
September 15 - Antonio Perez (30-L) of Orlando pitched a 4 hit shutout at Memphis. He walked 1 and struck out 2. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and 5th of his career. He is now 13-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 31 starts. The Juice won, 6 to 0.
September 16 - 1B Gabriel Beltran (35-S) of Columbus hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 5 RBI at home versus Hartford. The Explorers won, 7 to 5.
September 16 - 3B Mike Hughes (31-R) of Ottawa hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 5 RBI at home versus Rochester. The Otters won, 6 to 4. He has hit 6 home runs in the last 4 games.
September 16 - Arturo Flores (28-L) of Indianapolis pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Buffalo. He walked 5 and struck out 4. It is the 6th shutout of his career. He is now 9-12 with a 5.06 ERA in 31 starts. The Arrows won, 3 to 0.
September 16 - Brian Ragazzo (23-L) of New Orleans pitched a 4 hit shutout at Memphis. He walked 2, hit a batter and struck out 10. It is his 5th shutout of the season and 7th of his career. He is now 18-7 with a 2.44 ERA in 32 starts. The Pelicans won, 3 to 0. It is the 3rd time Memphis has been shutout in the last 5 games.
September 17 - Carlos Santiago (27-L) of Louisville pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Richmond. He walked 2, hit a batter and struck out 4. It is his 4th shutout of the season and 12th of his career. He is now 17-19 with a 2.63 ERA in 33 starts. The Colonels won, 8 to 0.
September 17 - Tom Peterson (34-R) of Syracuse pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Providence. He did not walk a batter and struck out 5. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. It is his 3rd shutout of the season and 20th of his career, moving him into 1st place on the all-time list, 1 ahead of Jim Baucom. He is now 16-13 with a 3.00 ERA in 33 starts. The Sycamores won, 7 to 0.
September 18 - Terry Luckett (30-L) of Columbus pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Hartford. He did not walk a batter and struck out 10. It is his 3rd shutout of the season and 16th of his career. He is now 11-13 with a 3.18 ERA in 33 starts. The Explorers won, 1 to 0, with a run in the bottom of the 8th.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

We are back home for the final home stand of the season. The Louisville Colonels are here to play a short 2 game set. They won 2 of 3 at home against Richmond over the weekend. We are 6-6 against them on the season and lost a pair of games the last time they visited, May 2-3. In fact, we are 0-5 at home against them. They are tied for 10th in scoring with 3.91 runs per game (Jacksonville is #3 with 4.50). The Colonels are 7th in fewest runs allowed with 3.97 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.49). Their run differential is -9, 7th best in the MLB, and ours is +152, still #1.

Louisville Colonels (73-76 .490 23.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (97-53 .647 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

LOU: Eli Kyzar (33-R) (8-12 4.31 ERA 194.1 IP, 224 H, 15 HR, 40 BB, 46 SO) All-Star(3: 01,03-04)
JAX: Ernesto Noyola (26-R) (13-6 4.02 ERA 141 IP, 145 H, 10 HR, 37 BB, 96 SO)

Kyzar is 2-1 with a CG and a 3.34 ERA in 4 starts against the Jays this season. 29.2 IP, 25 H, 3 HR, 4 BB, 5 SO.

Noyola gave up 7 runs on 10 hits and no walks with 1 strikeout in 2 innings last time out in a loss at Richmond. He has lost 2 of his last 3 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
LOUISVILLE
1: CF Al Graves (28-L .239-464-7-35-.670-23 C)
2: RF Jose Castillo (23-S .299-462-7-48-.750-17 B) Rookie #29 prospect
3: LF Jamie Hawley (26-L .273-388-17-52-.834-2 D+)
4: 2B Ron Lerche (27-R .278-407-17-74-.792-3 B+) All-Star(04)
5: 1B Alan Douglas (29-S .181-227-7-20-.556-6 A)
6: C Dick Pavlov (37-L .241-461-3-41-.607-0 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(5: 01-05)
7: SS Ken DeMinico (23-L .252-492-7-46-.696-8 A)
8: 3B Robin Massey (25-R .265-325-1-32-.656-3 A)
9: P Eli Kyzar (33-R .158-57-0-2-.341-0 F) All-Star(3: 01,03-04)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .302-586-6-67-.763-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .336-146-3-20-.851-3 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .303-501-13-62-.813-18 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .322-574-17-105-.866-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .256-363-13-40-.831-22 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .277-397-9-69-.725-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .221-267-3-41-.641-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .258-353-8-49-.732-0 B) Rookie
9: P Ernesto Noyola (26-R .224-49-0-4-.494-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 85 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 11,426

Top of the First
Al Graves grounds one to 2nd, but Tony Weninger throws it away for a 2 base error.... Jose Castillo, who hit for the Cycle last week, lines out hard to right and Graves tags up and goes to 3rd. Jamie Hawley swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to right and Graves tags up and scores. 1 to 0, Colonels. Ron Lerche strikes out.

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger pops out to right. Tommy Adams draws a walk. Cal Doty walks on 4 pitches. P Eli Kyzar's one asset is his pinpoint control. We pull off a double steal! And Ray McDonald walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up with 1 out. Jack Washburn grounds into a 3-6-1 double play...........

Top of the Third
Robin Massey leads off with a walk and P Eli Kyzar bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, Jose Castillo gets the first Colonel hit, a double to left center and Massey scores... 2 to 0, Colonels. Jamie Hawley lines a 3-2 pitch to left center for a hit and Castillo scores... 3 to 0, Colonels.

Through 5 innings, we have only 1 hit....

Top of the Sixth
Dick Pavlov lines a hit to right. The Bullpen gets up. With 1 out, Robin Massey doubles to right center and Pavlov scores... 4 to 0, Colonels. Call to the Bullpen: Danny Coreano (26-L). He gets the next two out.

Bottom of the Sixth
Tommy Adams and Cal Doty lead off with back to back hits. Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with no outs. Jack Washburn lines a hit to left and 2 runs score!! 4 to 2, Colonels. With 1 out, Bart Daw beats out an infield hit to load the bases back up. Bob Hutson draws our 6th walk of the game to force in a run! 4 to 3, Colonels. P Eli Kyzar has averaged 1.7 walks per 9 innings in his career and in his previous 7 starts against the Jays, he had only walked a total of 10 batters. PH Mike Volkman (37-L) swings at the first pitch and flies out to center and Washburn tags up and scores. Tie Game: 4 to 4! Tony Weninger lines one hard, but right to the right fielder...

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Jim Dooley (22-R), a rookie, who is 4-5 with 2 SV and a 5.55 ERA in 48.2 IP. Jack Washburn triples to left center! They walk Fernando Tello intentionally. Bart Daw lines an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit and Washburn scores and Tello heads to 3rd, but Jose Castillo throws him out... 5 to 4, Jays! Bob Hutson grounds into a 4-6-3 double play...

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (35-L). Charlie Faber (34-R) is in to play 3rd, but not in a double switch. Top of the order up for Louisville. PH Barry Ward (26-R), batting .263 with 5 HR and 34 RBI in 251 AB, grounds out to 2nd! Jose Castillo strikes out! Jamie Hawley grounds a hit to right... Ron Lerche swings at the first pitch and lines out to short and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 4

We had 7 hits and made 2 errors
Louisville had 10 hits and made no errors

Ernesto Noyola went 5.1 innings, allowed 4 runs (3 earned), 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5. 113 pitches.
LHP Danny Coreano faced 2 batters and got them both out with 1 strikeout.
LHP Albert Davies (W 6-2) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 3.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 38) pitched a scoreless 9th, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Eli Kyzar went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 5 hits, 6 walks and struck out no one.
RHP Jim Dooley (L 4-6) went 1 inning, gave us 1 run, 2 hits and 1 walk (INT).

LF Tommy Adams had a hit and a walk, stole a base and scored a run. CF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk, stole a base and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and 2 walks and scored a run. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a triple, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits and an RBI. PH Mike Volkman hit a SF.

For Louisville, LF Jamie Hawley had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Louisville Colonels (73-77 .487 24.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (98-53 .649 11.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

LOU: Tommy Corris (25-R) (11-13 3.09 ERA 233.1 IP, 229 H, 12 HR, 40 BB, 132 SO) All-Star(2: 04-05)
JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (18-7 3.20 ERA 213.2 IP, 198 H, 15 HR, 58 BB, 149 SO)

Corris is 1-1 with a 3 hit shutout and a 3.14 ERA in 2 starts against the Jays this season. 14.1 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO. He has lost 4 of his last 5 starts.

Calice gave up 1 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings last time out in a win at Orlando. He is 12-0 in his last 13 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
LOUISVILLE
1: CF Al Graves (28-L .237-468-7-35-.665-23 C)
2: RF Jose Castillo (23-S .300-467-7-49-.753-18 B) Rookie
3: LF Jamie Hawley (26-L .278-392-17-54-.839-2 D+)
4: 2B Ron Lerche (27-R .277-411-17-74-.791-3 B+) All-Star(04)
5: C Dick Pavlov (37-L .243-465-3-41-.610-0 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(5: 01-05)
6: 1B Ken DeMinico (23-L .252-496-7-46-.695-8 A++)
7: 3B Barry Ward (26-R .262-252-5-34-.730-2 A)
8: SS Graham Carr (33-R .280-175-0-25-.643-0 B+)
9: P Tommy Corris (25-R .167-66-0-5-.358-0 F) All-Star(2: 04-05)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .301-589-6-67-.761-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .336-149-3-20-.850-4 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .304-504-13-62-.814-19 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .323-576-17-105-.868-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .259-367-13-42-.838-23 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .275-400-9-69-.721-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .225-271-3-42-.646-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .256-356-8-50-.728-0 B) Rookie
9: P Al Calice (24-L .074-68-0-4-.188-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 80 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,593

Top of the First
Al Graves grounds a 1-2 pitch over the 1st base bag for a double.... Jose Castillo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Jamie Hawley swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses! Ron Lerche clears the bases with a double over the 1st base bag and ends up on 3rd... 2 to 0, Colonels. Dick Pavlov grounds a hit up the middle and Lerche scores... 3 to 0, Jays. The Bullpen gets up. Ken DeMinico takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Barry Ward strikes out. Graham Carr strikes out. P Al Calice struck out the side...

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger pops out to 1st. Tommy Adams pops out to 1st... Cal Doty strikes out....

Top of the Second
P Tommy Corris leads off with a walk... The Bullpen is back up. With 1 out, Jose Castillo grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Jamie Hawley lines a hit to right and Castillo beats the throw to 3rd... Ron Lerche again clears the bases with a double... 5 to 0, Colonels. P Al Calice's wining streak is coming to an end... Call to the Bullpen: Mickel Cannady (24-R). Dick Pavlov grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Lerche scores... 6 to 0, Colonels.

Meanwhile, we go 9 up, 9 down....

Through 5 innings, we have 1 hit....

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Tony Weninger reaches on a 2 base throwing error by 3B Barry Ward and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Cal Doty beats out an infield hit and Weninger scores. 6 to 1, Colonels.

Top of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Roger Wallace (30-R). Ken DeMinico doubles to right center... The Bullpen is back up. With 1 out, Graham Carr lines an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit and DeMinico scores... 7 to 1, Colonels. P Tommy Corris, who we have not retired today, lays down a bunt and P Roger Wallace goes to 2nd for the force, but his throw is late... Al Graves grounds into a 5-4-3 double play!!

Lost - 7 to 1

We finish our season series with Louisville 7-7.
We were 11-3 last year.

We had 2 whole hits and made no errors
Louisville had 12 hits and made 1 error

Al Calice (L 18-8) went 1.2 innings, allowed 6 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3. 71 pitches.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 4.1 scoreless innings, allowed 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4.
RHP Roger Wallace went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 2 hits and struck out 2.
RHP Robbie Hopley pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.

Tommy Corris (W 12-13) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 1 unearned run, 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. 121 pitches. At bat, he was 2 for 2 with a walk.

CF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk and our only RBI.

For Louisville, 2B Ron Lerche hit 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI. C Dick Pavlov had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 22, 2005

The 2nd place Birmingham Barons are here to play a 4 game series. If we can manage a win, we will clinch the division. They just split a pair of games at New Orleans. We are 5-5 against them on the season and lost 2 of 3 in their first visit, June 3-5. They lead the MLB in scoring with 4.77 runs per game (Jacksonville is #3 with 4.49). The Barons are 9th in fewest runs allowed with 4.05 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.51). Their run differential is +110, 3rd best in the MLB, and ours is +147, still best.

Birmingham Barons (87-64 .576 10.5 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (98-54 .645 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

BIRM: Paul Gaughan (36-R) (11-10 3.46 ERA 234 IP, 225 H, 22 HR, 51 BB, 141 SO) All-Star(2: 01-02)
JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (14-15 4.02 ERA 217 IP, 219 H, 24 HR, 53 BB, 127 SO) Gold Glove(02)

Gaughan is 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in 2 starts against the Jays this season. 13.2 IP, 18 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 9 SO. He has only won 1 of his last 11 starts. However, he has lost none of them! 10 no decisions!

Warwick gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a loss at Orlando.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
BIRMINGHAM
1: 1B Stan Stephens (27-R .324-627-4-43-.786-42 B+) All-Star(3: 01,03,05)
2: CF Bob Marks (27-R .279-458-15-61-.822-24 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
3: 2B Wilson Partida (29-R .286-444-22-93-.852-21 C)
4: LF Ken Johnson (28-L .290-138-14-35-1.059-0 F)
5: RF Ken Kelly (27-S .218-551-10-35-.614-19 B) All-Star(02)
6: SS Rick Halverson (29-L .276-496-15-79-.756-4 C) All-Star(01)
7: 3B Turner Morache (26-R .260-258-2-23-.703-2 A)
8: C Shigeru Nagata (28-R .211-194-4-25-.553-0 B)
9: P Paul Gaughan (36-R .276-76-0-6-.602-0 F) All-Star(2: 01-02)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .298-593-6-67-.756-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .327-153-3-20-.830-4 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .304-507-13-63-.814-19 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .321-580-17-105-.863-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .257-370-13-42-.831-23 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .273-403-9-69-.716-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .226-274-3-42-.650-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .253-359-8-50-.722-0 B) Rookie
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .239-71-0-7-.535-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 82 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,094

Top of the First
Stan Stephens swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center... Bob Marks lines one hard to left, but Tommy Adams makes a diving catch! Wilson Partida grounds into a 1-6-3 double play!!

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left! Tommy Adams grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. Cal Doty grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. He steals 2nd! Ray McDonald hits a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right!! 2 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn pops out to short.

Top of the Third
With 1 out, P Paul Gaughan bloops a hit to right. Stan Stephens grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Bob Marks hits a home run to left center... Tie Game: 2 to 2.

Bottom of the Third
P Del Warwick leads off with a double to left center and goes to 3rd on a ground out. With the infield in, Tommy Adams grounds a hit up the middle and P Warwick scores! 3 to 2, Jays! Adams steals 2nd, but Cal Doty and Ray McDonald both make outs.

Bottom of the Fourth
Jack Washburn grounds a hit up the middle and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch and to 3rd on a ground out. Bart Daw pops out to 1st.... They walk Bob Hutson intentionally. P Del Warwick, who doubled his first time up, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted...

Top of the Fifth
With 1 out, Shigeru Nagata gets beaned and P Paul Gaughan bunts him to 2nd. Stan Stephens hits his 15th triple of the season... Tie Game: 3 to 3.

Top of the Sixth
With 2 outs, Ken Kelly draws a walk. Rick Halverson doubles to center and Kelly scores... 4 to 3, Barons. The Bullpen gets up. Turner Morache beats out an infield hit. Shigeru Nagata lines one to right and Ray McDonald drops the ball for a 2 base error and Halverson scores... 5 to 3, Barons.

Bottom of the Sixth
Jack Washburn doubles to left! Fernando Tello doubles to right and Washburn scores! 5 to 4, Barons. Bart Daw grounds out to 2nd and Tello goes to 3rd. Bob Hutson lines the first pitch to center for a hit and Tello scores! Tie Game: 5 to 5! PH Mike Volkman (37-L) is sent up and they pull P Paul Gaughan. New Pitcher: Tony Horch (34-R), who is 5-2 with 3 SV and a 4.00 ERA in 74.1 IP. Stats look better than a 4.00 ERA. 1.26 WHIP. Volkman grounds out to short and Hutson moves to 2nd. Tony Weninger plunks one and is out, 2-3....

Bottom of the Seventh
Tommy Adams swings at the first pitch and lines one off the wall in left center for a double! Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and Adams goes to 3rd. Ray McDonald hits a home run to right!! 7 to 5, Jays! His 2nd home run of the game and he now leads the MLB with 109 RBI!

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L). Ken Johnson hits a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right center... 7 to 6, Jays. Johnson now has 15 HR in 142 AB... With 2 outs, Turner Morache hits a home run to left... Tie Game: 7 to 7.

Bottom of the Eighth
Bart Daw lines a 2-2 pitch to right for a hit! Bob Hutson grounds one to 1st, but Stan Stephens boots it! PH Tom McDowell (28-R) grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Daw goes to 3rd.... Tony Weninger grounds out to 1st, 3-1....

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (35-L). 9-1-2 up for the Barons. PH Ward Benoit (30-R), a rookie, who is batting .286 with 1 HR and 2 RBI in 14 AB and has 6 walks, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Stan Stephens swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep center! Bob Marks grounds a 2-2 pitch to right for a hit... Wilson Partida lines a hit to center and Marks goes to 3rd... Partida steals 2nd. We walk Ken Johnson intentionally to load the bases up... Ken Kelly strikes out on 3 pitches!

Bottom of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Arvel Ivey (36-L), who is 6-2 with 1 SV and a 2.06 ERA in 39.1 IP. He has been a good pitcher in his career when he has not been on the DL. 2-3-4 up for us. Tommy Adams swings at the first pitch and flies out to right. Cal Doty pops out to 3rd... Ray McDonald beats out an infield hit. Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and lines out to center....

Extras!

We are 7-3 on the season, but lost our last one.

Top of the Tenth
6-7-8 up for the Barons. They go down in order with 2 strikeouts!

Bottom of the Tenth
New Pitcher: Wayne Hagan (30-R), their closer, who is 9-7 with 23 SV and a 5.17 ERA in 87 IP. 1.86 WHIP and 11 HR. 6-7-8 up for us. Fernando Tello beats out an infield hit! I expected Bart Daw to lay down a bunt, but he swings away and hits a home run to left center and THIS Ball Game and Division Championship Belong to the Jays!!

Won - 9 to 7

We had 14 hits and made 1 error
Birmingham had 11 hits and made 2 errors

Del Warwick went 6 innings, allowed 5 runs (4 earned), 7 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 2. At bat, he hit a double and scored a run.
RHP Robbie Hopley pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
LHP Albert Davies (BS 4) went 1 innings, allowed 2 runs and 2 hits, both home runs.
LHP Bill Grant (W 6-1) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 3.

Paul Gaughan went 5.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Wayne Hagan (L 9-8) did not retire a batter and gave us 2 runs on 2 hits and a home run.

LF Tommy Adams had 2 hits with a double, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Ray McDonald had 3 hits with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. 3B Fernando Tello had 2 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits with his 4th home run of the season and 2 RBI. C Bob Hutson had a hit and a walk (INT) and an RBI.

For Birmingham, CF Bob Marks had 2 hits with his 16th home run of the season and 2 RBI. LF Ken Johnson had 2 hits with his 15th home run and drew an intentional walk. 3B Turner Morache had 2 hits with his 3rd home run.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 23, 2005

Birmingham Barons (87-65 .572 11.5 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (99-54 .647 11.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

BIRM: Herman Varey (27-R) (8-10 3.81 ERA 160.2 IP, 167 H, 12 HR, 65 BB, 76 SO)
JAX: Tommy Keyser (26-L) (11-4 2.68 ERA 134.1 IP, 113 H, 9 HR, 38 BB, 85 SO) Rookie

Varey is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 2 starts against the Jays this season. 12.2 IP, 15 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 7 SO.

Keyser gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 home runs and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a no decision at Orlando that we won with a run in the top of the 9th.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
BIRMINGHAM
1: 1B Stan Stephens (27-R .324-632-4-44-.789-42 B+) All-Star(3: 01,03,05)
2: CF Bob Marks (27-R .281-463-16-63-.828-24 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
3: 2B Wilson Partida (29-R .285-449-22-93-.847-22 C)
4: LF Ken Johnson (28-L .296-142-15-36-1.082-0 F)
5: RF Ken Kelly (27-S .216-555-10-35-.610-19 B) All-Star(02)
6: SS Rick Halverson (29-L .275-501-15-80-.755-4 C) All-Star(01)
7: 3B Gerald Young (32-R .208-96-3-20-.702-0 B)
8: C Antonio Barajas (27-R .261-303-7-50-.710-0 B)
9: P Herman Varey (27-R .176-51-0-1-.388-0 D+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .298-598-6-67-.753-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .329-158-3-21-.835-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .301-512-13-63-.806-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .323-585-19-109-.876-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .259-375-13-42-.834-23 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .275-408-9-70-.720-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .229-279-4-44-.663-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .254-362-8-51-.723-0 B) Rookie
9: P Tommy Keyser (26-L .159-44-0-4-.337-0 B) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 81 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 14,312

Top of the First
Stan Stephens flies out to center. Bob Marks lines a hit to right. Wilson Partida swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to left. Marks steals 2nd. Ken Johnson pops out to right!

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to right center! Tommy Adams takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Cal Doty grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and the runners move up. Ray McDonald lines out to left and Weninger tags up and scores. 1 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn strikes out.

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Rick Halverson lines a 3-2 pitch to left center for a double, but is hurt. Pinch-runner: Jim Montgomery (34-R). Gerald Young grounds a double over the 1st base bag and Montgomery scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Third
With 1 out, Cal Doty grounds a hit up the middle. Ray McDonald grounds a 3-2 pitch over the 1st base bag for a double and Doty scores! 2 to 1, Jays! Jack Washburn flies out to deep center and McDonald tags up and goes to 3rd. Fernando Tello grounds one to 2nd, but Wilson Partida boots it and McDonald scores! 3 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Seventh
1B Jim Montgomery leads off with a walk. The Bullpen gets up. Gerald Young hits one 521 ft. to center.... Tie Game: 3 to 3.

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L), the only fresh arm left in the Pen. 7-8-9 up for the Barons. Gerald Young, who hit one 521 ft. last time up, gets beaned... This is not the time for that... PH Ward Benoit (30-R), the rookie who was 0 for 1 yesterday, grounds a hit to center... PH Turner Morache (26-R), who was 2 for 5 with a home run yesterday, fails to lay down a bunt and ends up striking out! Stan Stephens lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Bob Marks strikes out! Wilson Partida grounds out to 3rd!!!

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Mound: Wayne Hagan (30-R), their beleaguered closer, who took the loss yesterday. He pitched a scoreless 8th. Top of our order up. Tony Weninger pops out to center. Tommy Adams pops out to left... Cal Doty lines a hit to right. Ray McDonald pops out to 2nd....

Extras!
For the second day in a row!

Top of the Tenth
4-5-6 up for Birmingham. Ken Johnson hits a 3-2 pitch to left center for a home run.... 4 to 3, Barons. He now has 16 HR in 147 AB... The next three all make outs.

Bottom of the Tenth
New Pitcher: Arvel Ivey (36-L), who pitched a scoreless inning yesterday. Jack Washburn lines one hard to right, but Ken Kelly catches it on the warning track. PH Tom McDowell (28-R) pops out to 2nd... Bart Daw flies out to right...

Lost - 4 to 3

We had 11 hits and made 1 error
Birmingham had 11 hits and made 1 error

Tommy Keyser went 7.2 innings, allowed 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 6. He threw a WP.
RHP Roger Wallace faced 1 batter and struck him out.
LHP Albert Davies (L 6-3) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 1 home run, 2 HBP and struck out 2.

Herman Varey went 5.2 innings, gave us 3 runs (2 earned), 9 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Wayne Hagan (W 10-8) went 2 scoreless innings, gave us 1 hit and 1 walk.
LHP Arvel Ivey (SV 2) pitched a perfect inning.

2B Tony Weninger had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had 3 hits with a double, scored a run, had 2 RBI and doubled a runner off 2nd. SS Bart Daw had a hit and a walk. C Bob Hutson had 2 hits.

For Birmingham, 3B Gerald Young hit a double and his 4th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. LF Ken Johnson hit his 16th home run.

The Barons announced that SS Rick Halverson had a stiff back that they figured to bother him for 2 or 3 days. RP Mike Rizzo (37-L), also injured during the game, had a strained elbow and hos season was done.

Around the League: Ottawa won at home, 4 to 0, over Columbus, behind the 2 hit pitching of Bill Cortright (38-R), to clinch the Northern Division Championship. This is the first season it was not won by the Syracuse Sycamores.

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Birmingham Barons (88-65 .575 10.5 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (99-55 .643 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

BIRM: Leo Place (25-R) (3-3 4.07 ERA 59.2 IP, 57 H, 9 HR, 22 BB, 41 SO)
JAX: Danny Coreano (26-L) (8-7 4.46 ERA 117 IP, 116 H, 11 HR, 47 BB, 66 SO)

We faced Place twice last season when he was a rookie and beat him both times. 15.00 ERA, 6 IP, 11 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 3 SO.

Coreano gave up 6 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits, 2 home runs and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts in 6 innings in his last start, two weeks ago, in a win at Charlotte. We scored 9 runs. In his last outing, he faced 2 batters in relief against Louisville and retired them both with 1 strikeout.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
BIRMINGHAM
1: SS Stan Stephens (27-R .325-636-4-44-.791-42 D+) All-Star(3: 01,03,05)
2: CF Bob Marks (27-R .282-468-16-63-.828-25 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
3: 2B Wilson Partida (29-R .282-454-22-93-.839-22 C)
4: LF Ken Johnson (28-L .293-147-16-37-1.080-0 F)
5: RF Ken Kelly (27-S .216-560-10-35-.609-19 B) All-Star(02)
6: 1B Jim Montgomery (34-R .202-119-3-17-.640-0 A) All-Star(03)
7: 3B Turner Morache (26-R .261-264-3-24-.713-2 A)
8: C Shigeru Nagata (28-R .207-198-4-25-.546-0 B)
9: P Leo Place (25-R .188-16-0-1-.438-0 C)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .299-603-6-67-.755-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .321-162-3-21-.819-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .302-517-13-63-.806-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .326-589-19-111-.881-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .258-380-13-42-.828-23 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .272-412-9-70-.713-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .230-283-4-44-.663-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .257-366-8-51-.726-0 B) Rookie
9: P Danny Coreano (26-L .256-43-0-5-.535-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 76 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 14,768

Top of the First
Stan Stephens lines out to 3rd. Bob Marks grounds out to short. Wilson Partida swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to deep right! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger swings at the first pitch and pops out to right. Tommy Adams lines out to center. Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right. He tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out...

Top of the Fifth
With 1 out, Ken Kelly walks on 4 pitches and steals 2nd. He goes to 3rd on a ground out and then Turner Morache lines a 2-out hit to left to score him... 1 to 0, Barons.

Once again, we are being shut down by a bum pitcher.... 3 hits through 5 innings...

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Tommy Adams swings at the first pitch and bloops a hit to left center. Cal Doty lines a double down the right field line and Adams scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1. Ray McDonald beats out an infield hit. Jack Washburn flies out to deep right and Doty tags up and trots home. 2 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Seventh
Ken Johnson swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left. The Bullpen gets up. PH Ward Benoit (30-R), the rookie who is 1 for 2 this series, lines a double to left center, but he is hurt. Pinch-runner: Gerald Young (32-R). Jim Montgomery fouls out to the catcher. Call to the Bullpen: Robbie Hopley (31-R). Turner Morache clears the bases with a double to right... 3 to 2, Barons. With 2 outs, P Leo Place grounds one to 3rd, but Fernando Tello throws it away for a 2 base error and Morache scores... 4 to 2, Barons.

Bottom of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Tony Horch (34-R), pitching in his third straight game. He has given us 2 runs in 3 innings, including a home run. 7-8-9 up for us. Bart Daw grounds out to short. Bob Hutson pops out to left. PH Tom McDowell (28-R) flies out to right...

Lost - 4 to 2

We had 9 hits and made 2 errors
Birmingham had 6 hits and made no errors

Danny Coreano (L 8-8) went 6.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4.
RHP Robbie Hopley (BS 2) got 2 outs, allowed 1 unearned run and 1 hit.
RHP Roger Wallace went 2 scoreless innings and struck out 1. He threw a WP.

Leo Place (W 4-3) went 8 innings, gave us 2 runs, 9 hits, 2 walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP.
RHP Tony Horch (SV 4) pitched a perfect 9th.

LF Tommy Adams had 2 hits and scored a run. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits with a double and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI, but was caught stealing twice. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits. 3B Fernando Tello had 2 hits with a double.

For Birmingham, 3B Turner Morache had 3 hits with a double, scored a run and had 3 RBI.

The Barons announced that PH Ward Benoit had a mild hip strain that should bother him for 4 or 5 days.

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Birmingham Barons (89-65 .578 9.5 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (99-56 .639 9.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

BIRM: Cesar Rodriguez (31-R) (10-8 4.25 ERA 173.2 IP, 181 H, 19 HR, 41 BB, 93 SO) All-Star(01)
JAX: Ernesto Noyola (26-R) (13-6 4.06 ERA 146.1 IP, 153 H, 10 HR, 38 BB, 101 SO)

Rodriguez beat us in April, giving us 2 runs on 4 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk with 7 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

Noyola gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 5.1 innings last time out in a no decision versus Louisville that we won.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
BIRMINGHAM
1: SS Stan Stephens (27-R .325-640-4-44-.789-42 D+) All-Star(3: 01,03,05)
2: CF Bob Marks (27-R .280-472-16-63-.821-25 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
3: 2B Wilson Partida (29-R .279-458-22-93-.832-22 C)
4: LF Ken Johnson (28-L .291-151-16-37-1.066-0 F)
5: RF Ken Kelly (27-S .216-561-10-35-.609-20 B) All-Star(02)
6: 1B Gerald Young (32-R .220-100-4-23-.758-0 B+)
7: 3B Turner Morache (26-R .269-268-3-27-.728-2 A)
8: C Antonio Barajas (27-R .258-306-7-50-.704-0 B)
9: P Cesar Rodriguez (31-R .151-53-1-8-.442-0 F) All-Star(01)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .298-607-6-67-.754-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .325-166-3-21-.823-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .304-520-13-64-.812-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .327-593-19-111-.881-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .257-382-13-43-.825-24 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .274-416-9-70-.718-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .226-287-4-44-.655-15 B+)
8: C Don Kern (28-R .174-132-4-15-.601-0 B+)
9: P Ernesto Noyola (26-R .216-51-0-4-.475-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 77 F, Overcast, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 13,442

Top of the First
Stan Stephens flies out to deep center. Bob Marks lines out to right. Wilson Partida swings at the first pitch and lines a home run to left... 1 to 0, Barons. Ken Johnson grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger strikes out... Tommy Adams pops one to shallow center and no one takes charge and he has a hit! P Cesar Rodriguez tries to pick Adams off at 1st, but throws the ball away for an error! Cal Doty grounds one to 2nd and Wilson Partida boots it! Ray McDonald pops out to 2nd... Jack Washburn strikes out looking....

Bottom of the Sixth
Tommy Adams grounds a hit up the middle. We now have 4 hits as a team and Adams has 3 of them. Cal Doty grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. Ray McDonald hits a home run to right!! 2 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh
With 1 out, Tony Weninger beats out an infield hit. Tommy Adams grounds his fourth hit of the day to right and Weninger goes to 3rd! Cal Doty beats out an infield hit, but Weninger holds at 3rd and the bases are loaded. Ray McDonald lines a hit to center and 2 runs score!! 4 to 1, Jays! With 2 outs, Fernando Tello pokes a hit to right center and Doty scores! 5 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Eighth
With 1 out, Antonio Barajas draws a walk. The Bullpen gets up. With 2 outs, Stan Stephens triples to right center... 5 to 2, Jays.

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Les Miller (34-R), who faced 1 batter on Friday and got 2 outs. Don Kern takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. PH Mike Volkman (37-L) lines a hit to right center and Kern beats the throw to 3rd! Tony Weninger beats out an infield hit and Kern scores! 6 to 2, Jays! Tommy Adams swings at a 3-2 pitch and knocks one high off the 50-ft. wall in center for a double and Volkman scores! 7 to 2, Jays. 5 hits for Adams! Cal Doty flies out to deep center and Weninger trots home. 8 to 2, Jays! The next two make outs.

Won - 8 to 2

We finish the season series with Birmingham 7-7.
We were 11-3 last year.

We had 14 hits and made 1 error
Birmingham had 5 hits and made 2 errors

Ernesto Noyola (W 14-6) went 8 innings, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 5.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 1 scoreless inning and allowed 1 hit.

Cesar Rodriguez (L 10-9) went 6.2 innings, gave us 5 runs, 11 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 6.

2B Tony Weninger had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. LF Tommy Adams went 5 for 5 with a double, scored a run and had an RBI. It is his 2nd 5 hit game this season! CF Cal Doty had a hit, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits with his 20th home run of the season and 4 RBI. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a double and stole a base. 3B Fernando Tello had a hit and a walk (INT) and an RBI. PH Mike Volkman had a hit and scored a run.

For Birmingham, 2B Wilson Partida hit his 23rd home run. 5 of them have been against the Jays, the most by any opponent this season.

[Questdog]

September 26, 2005

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Len Walker, SS, New Orleans (22-L .281/.322/.359) Had 11 hits (16 AB) with 1 3B, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2 SB, 2 CS, 2 R and 6 RBI in 4 G

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

September 19 - Jerry Doherty (27-L) of Charlotte pitched a 5 hit shutout at Memphis. He walked 1 and struck out 6. It is his 4th shutout of the season and 10th of his career. He is now 13-15 with a 3.88 ERA in 33 starts. The Hornets won, 4 to 0.
September 20 - Larry Bowling (27-R) of Providence pitched a 3 hit shutout at Hartford. He walked 1 and struck out 8. At bat, he had a hit. It is his 6th shutout of the season and 17th of his career. He is now 18-8 with an MLB leading 1.82 ERA in 34 starts. The Steamrollers won, 11 to 0.
September 21 - With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, 1 out from completing a 1 hit shutout over Buffalo, P Tim Hill (27-L) of Ottawa tore his labrum and is out for the rest of the season and the Millennial Cup. He finished the year 23-3 with a 2.20 ERA.
September 22 - Ron Wisham (35-L) of Buffalo pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Syracuse, his old team. He walked 1 and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. It is his 3rd shutout of the season and 13th of his career. He is now 4-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 8 starts. The Bombers won, 6 to 0.
September 22 - 1B Nestor Gonzalez (31-L) of Memphis went 4 for 4 with 4 doubles at Richmond, tying the MLB record, but did not have a run or an RBI. The Mules lost, 6 to 3.
September 23 - Bill Cortright (38-R) of Ottawa pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Columbus. He walked 1 and struck out 10. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and 16th of his career. He is now 8-19 with a 4.53 ERA in 30 starts. The Otters won, 4 to 0.
September 23 - Richmond lost their closer, Jack Barber (31-R), for the rest of the season and all of next year with a torn elbow ligament. We has 9-4 with 32 SV and a 1.90 ERA in 71 IP. He was a 5-time All-Star and the reigning Fireman trophy and Rolaids Relief Man Award winner.
September 24 - Jerry Doherty (27-L) of Charlotte pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Orlando. He walked 1 and struck out 9. It is his 5th shutout of the season, 2nd in a row and 11th of his career. He is now 14-15 with a 3.72 ERA in 34 starts. The Hornets won, 6 to 0.
September 24 - New Orleans scored 12 runs in the 8th inning to beat Louisville at home, 13 to 8. The had 11 hits in the inning.
September 24 - CF Tom Walker (26-R) of Rochester hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 5 RBI at Hartford. The Roosters won, 11 to 5.
September 24 - RF Tom Fogle (22-R) of Providence hit a 2-out walk-odd Grand Slam versus Indianapolis. He had 3 hits and a walk in the game. The Steamrollers won, 5 to 1.
September 25 - C Joe Tomlinson (30-R) of Ottawa went 3 for 3 with a Grand Slams and 2 walks and scored 5 runs, tying the MLB record at home versus Columbus. It is his 8th career Grand Slam, double the number anyone else has hit. The Otters won, 14 to 3.

[Westheim]

Here's to some otter skinning!

[Questdog]

Monday, September 26, 2005

The Memphis Mules are here to play a 3 game series and close out our home schedule. They lost 3 of 4 at Richmond over the weekend. We are 11-0 against them on the season and swept them in 4 games in their first visit, August 23-25. They are 13th in scoring with 3.72 runs per game (Jacksonville is #3 with 4.51). The Mules are 13th in fewest runs allowed with 4.24 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.53). Their run differential is -82, 14th in the MLB, and ours is +152, now 2nd behind Ottawa's +155.

Memphis Mules (62-94 .397 38 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (100-56 .641 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

MEM: Marcos Gallegos (31-R) (2-5 4.26 ERA 69.2 IP, 71 H, 7 HR, 23 BB, 36 SO)
JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (18-8 3.43 ERA 215.1 IP, 203 H, 15 HR, 61 BB, 152 SO)

Gallegos is 0-1 in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a 3.48 ERA. 10.1 IP, 9 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 SO.

Calice gave up 6 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in 1.2 innings last time out in a loss versus Louisville. If he wins today, he will get one more start to try for 20. If he does not pick up the win today, this will be his last start of the season, so that he can start Game One of the Millennial Cup.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: CF Steve Gress (34-L .240-538-9-51-.649-19 B) All-Star(01)
2: LF Rafael Jimenez (31-L .260-354-8-40-.698-3 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
3: 3B Keith Meyer (30-L .279-545-11-62-.767-17 C+) MVP(2: 01,03)/Silver Slugger(4: 01-2B, 02-04-3B)/All-Star(5: 01-05)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (31-L .257-600-27-88-.756-2 A) Silver Slugger(2: 01,04)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: 2B Larry Devaney (23-R .217-318-2-21-.558-6 B+)
6: C Steve Steele (21-R .285-284-0-24-.678-0 B) Rookie #20 prospect
7: RF Ron Alario (35-R .249-354-4-33-.665-3 A+) Gold Glove(2: 02-03)
8: SS Benito Abonza (33-R .137-102-0-5-.395-0 B+)
9: P Marcos Gallegos (31-R .235-17-0-2-.513-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .299-612-6-68-.754-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .345-171-3-22-.861-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .303-524-13-65-.809-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .328-598-20-115-.886-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .258-387-13-43-.827-25 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .274-419-9-71-.719-2 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .223-291-4-44-.646-15 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .254-370-8-51-.719-0 B) Rookie
9: P Al Calice (24-L .074-68-0-4-.188-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Overcast, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 11,079

Top of the First
Steve Gress lines a hit to right... Rafael Jimenez pops out to center. Keith Meyer grounds a hit up the middle and Gress heads to 3rd, but Cal Doty throws him out! Nestor Gonzalez swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted!

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger walks on 4 pitches! Tommy Adams pops out to left. Cal Doty grounds out to 2nd and Weninger moves up. Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the Second
Jack Washburn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Fernando Tello beats out an infield hit. With 1 out, Washburn steals 3rd! Bob Hutson grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Washburn scores and Tello beats the throw to 3rd and Hutson takes 2nd! 1 to 0, Jays! P Al Calice strikes out... Tony Weninger grounds a hit to right and Tello scores and Hutson heads home, but Ron Alario throws him out... 2 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Third
Tommy Adams bloops a hit to left center. Cal Doty doubles to left! Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with no outs! Jack Washburn lines a 2-2 pitch to center for a double and 2 runs score!! 4 to 0, Jays! P Marcos Gallegos balks home a run! 5 to 0, Jays! That does it for P Gallegos. New Pitcher: Jim Sutton (35-L), who is 1-2 with 1 SV and a 3.91 ERA in 71.1 IP. A wild pitch scores Washburn! 6 to 0, Jays! Fernando Tello hits a home run to left center! 7 to 0, Jays! The next three all make outs.

Bottom of the Fifth
With 1 out, Bob Hutson hits a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right! 8 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Eighth
With 1 out, Steve Gress takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 2 outs, Danny Bautista lines a hit to left. Nestor Gonzalez doubles to left center and Gress scores... 8 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Dennis Boone (24-R), a rookie, who is 5-4 with 2 SV and a 5.66 ERA in 70 IP. In his Jay debut, Norm Mayer beats out an infield hit. Dickie Stemen grounds into a 6-4-3 double play....

Won - 8 to 1

We had 16 hits and made 1 error
Memphis had 8 hits and made no errors

Al Calice (W 19-8) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 8 hits, 2 walks and struck out 6. 127 pitches.

Marcos Gallegos (L 2-6) went 2+ innings, gave us 6 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 1. He balked.

2B Tony Weninger had 3 hits and a walk and an RBI. LF Norm Mayer, in his Jay debut, had a hit in his only at bat. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and threw a runner out at 3rd. 1B Jack Washburn went 2 for 2 with a double and a walk, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 3B Fernando Tello had 2 hits with his 10th home run of the season and scored 2 runs. 3B Charlie Faber has a hit in his only at bat. C Bob Hutson had 3 hits with his 9th home run and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Trudy has cleared SS T.R. Hunter (28-R) to play, so he was activated from the DL and 3B Russ Baker (26-S) was sent back to the Daytona Beach (A) roster.

Memphis Mules (62-95 .395 39 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (101-56 .643 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

MEM: Mike Marsh (24-R) (14-12 3.00 ERA 216.1 IP, 192 H, 11 HR, 72 BB, 137 SO) All-Star(2: 04-05)
JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (14-15 4.08 ERA 223 IP, 226 H, 25 HR, 54 BB, 129 SO) Gold Glove(02)

This is the first time we have faced Marsh, the ex-Jay. He is 0-4 in his last 5 starts. The Mules were shut out in 3 of the losses.

Warwick gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk with 2 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a no decision versus Birmingham that we won in 10 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: LF Fred Heff (24-R .303-218-0-13-.701-7 C+)
2: CF Steve Gress (34-L .243-540-9-51-.656-19 B) All-Star(01)
3: C Roger Beaudin (33-R .251-311-6-35-.665-2 D+) All-Star(3: 03-05)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (31-L .258-604-27-89-.759-2 A) Silver Slugger(2: 01,04)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: 3B Keith Meyer (30-L .279-548-11-62-.766-17 C+) MVP(2: 01,03)/Silver Slugger(4: 01-2B, 02-04-3B)/All-Star(5: 01-05)
6: RF Rafael Jimenez (31-L .257-358-8-40-.690-3 D+) All-Star(2: 02-03)
7: 2B Bill Weydert (27-S .238-21-0-1-.606-0 A)
8: SS Benito Abonza (33-R .132-106-0-5-.381-0 B+)
9: P Mike Marsh (24-R .310-71-1-10-.686-0 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .302-616-6-69-.759-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .343-175-3-22-.854-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .306-527-13-65-.814-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .326-602-20-115-.881-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .262-389-13-45-.836-26 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .277-422-10-72-.730-2 C+)
7: SS T.R. Hunter (28-R .288-458-7-51-.715-6 B+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .259-374-9-53-.735-0 B) Rookie
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .247-73-0-7-.562-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 69 F, Overcast, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,083

Top of the First
Fred Heff grounds out to 3rd. Steve Gress swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Roger Beaudin strikes out! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger grounds the first pitch to right for a hit! He tries to steal 2nd, but they have a pitchout on and he is out by a mile.... Tommy Adams grounds out to 2nd. Cal Doty strikes out looking on 3 pitches.... I wish I would not have traded P Mike Marsh, injury prone or not...

Bottom of the Second
Ray McDonald hits a home run to left! 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Seventh
With 1 out, Nestor Gonzalez beats out an infield hit... Keith Meyer grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. PH Dave Stacy (30-R), batting .167 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in 60 AB, doubles to right center and Meyer scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Seventh
Cal Doty lines the first pitch to left for a double! Ray McDonald beats out an infield hit! P Mike Marsh tries to pick McDonald off at 1st, but throws the ball away for an error and Doty scores! 2 to 1, Jays! They walk Jack Washburn intentionally. Double steal, anyone? No... Fernando Tello strikes out... T.R. Hunter grounds into a 4-6-3 double play....

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (35-L). Don Kern (28-R) is in to catch because we pinch-ran for Bob Hutson last inning. 4-5-6 up for the Mules. Nestor Gonzalez strikes out on 3 pitches! Keith Meyer grounds out to 1st, unassisted! 2B Larry Devaney (23-R), who was 0 for 4 yesterday, grounds out to short and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 2 to 1

We had 6 hits and made no errors
Memphis had 5 hits and made 1 error'

Del Warwick (W 15-15) went 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 5.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 39) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

Mike Marsh (L 14-13) went 7 innings, gave us 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 3.

CF Cal Doty hit a double and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits with his 21st home run of the season. 1B Jack Washburn had a hit and a walk (INT). C Bob Hutson had a hit and a walk.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Fan Appreciation Day!

The final regular season home game of 2005.
I would sure like to end the home stand with a win and go 14-0 against the Mules on the season.

Memphis Mules (62-96 .392 40 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (102-56 .646 10.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

MEM: Rick Potts (26-R) (1-0 3.32 ERA 21.2 IP, 15 H, 4 HR, 2 BB, 23 SO) All-Star(3: 02,04-05)
JAX: Tommy Keyser (26-L) (11-4 2.73 ERA 142 IP, 121 H, 10 HR, 40 BB, 91 SO) Rookie

This will Potts' first start since May. He has pitched no rehab assignment. He is 5-1 with a shutout in 11 career starts against the Jays with a 2.77 ERA. 74.2 IP, 60 H, 6 HR, 19 BB, 64 SO. We can only hope he is rusty.

Keyser gave up 3 runs on 8 hits, 1 home run and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts in 7.2 innings last time out in a no decision versus Birmingham that we lost in 10 innings. He has had 4 straight no decisions.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: LF Fred Heff (24-R .297-222-0-13-.689-7 C+)
2: CF Steve Gress (34-L .241-544-9-51-.652-19 B) All-Star(01)
3: C Roger Beaudin (33-R .248-315-6-35-.657-2 D+) All-Star(3: 03-05)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (31-L .258-608-27-89-.757-2 A) Silver Slugger(2: 01,04)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: 3B Keith Meyer (30-L .277-552-11-62-.761-17 C+) MVP(2: 01,03)/Silver Slugger(4: 01-2B, 02-04-3B)/All-Star(5: 01-05)
6: 2B Larry Devaney (23-R .214-323-2-21-.549-6 B+)
7: RF Ron Alario (35-R .246-358-4-33-.658-3 A+) Gold Glove(2: 02-03)
8: SS Benito Abonza (34-R .138-109-0-5-.389-0 B+)
9: P Rick Potts (26-R .200-5-0-0-.400-0 C+) All-Star(3: 02,04-05)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .302-620-6-69-.758-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .337-178-3-22-.843-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .306-530-13-65-.815-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .327-605-21-116-.888-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .263-391-13-45-.839-26 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .276-424-10-72-.728-2 C+)
7: SS T.R. Hunter (28-R .286-461-7-51-.710-6 B+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .261-376-9-53-.737-0 B) Rookie
9: P Tommy Keyser (26-L .152-46-0-4-.322-0 B) Rookie

Game Start: 12:35 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 73 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 11 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 11,972

We finish the season with an attendance of 985,694, a new team record.
More than double what we drew in our first season!
We are 5th in attendance in the MLB.
Richmond, Buffalo, Ottawa and Syracuse all drew over a million.

Top of the First
Fred Heff lines a triple to right... Steve Gress grounds out to 2nd and Heff scores. 1 to 0, Mules. Roger Beaudin grounds out to the pitcher. Nestor Gonzalez swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger flies out to deep center. Tommy Adams swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.... Cal Doty draws a walk. Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd...

Top of the Second
Keith Meyer beats out an infield hit. Larry Devaney doubles to left center... Ron Alario hits a home run to left... 4 to 0, Mules. No 14-0...

Top of the Fourth
On the Hill: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L), after a scoreless 3rd. Ron Alario grounds one to 3rd, but Fernando Tello boots it... With 2 outs, Fred Heff pokes a hit to left. Steve Gress grounds a hit to right and Alario scores... 5 to 0, Mules.

Lost - 5 to 0

We finish the season series with Memphis 13-1.
It is, of course, our best record against any team in a season.
We were 9-5 against the Mules last year.

We had 5 whole hits (all singles) and made 1 error
Memphis had 8 hits and made no errors

Tommy Keyser (L 11-5) went 2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out no one.
LHP Albert Davies went 3 innings, allowed 1 unearned run, 3 hits and struck out 3.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Roger Wallace went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 3.

Rick Potts (W 2-0) went 6 scoreless innings, gave us 4 hits, 3 walks and struck out 1. He was rusty, but not rusty enough...

CF/LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits and a walk.

For Memphis, LF Fred Heff had 3 hits and a walk and scored a run. RF Ron Alario hit his 5th home run of the season, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 30, 2005

We are in New Orleans to finish up the regular season with a 3 game series over the weekend. The Pelicans just split 4 games in Orlando. We are 8-3 against them on the season and split a pair of games the last time we were here, June 29-30. They are 12th in scoring with 3.77 runs per game (Jacksonville is #3 with 4.48). The Pelicans are 10th in fewest runs allowed with 4.09 per game (Jacksonville is #2 with 3.51). There is little chance of us moving from those spots. Their run differential is -51, 11th in the MLB, and ours is +155, 2nd to Ottawa's +170.

Jacksonville Jays (102-57 .642 11 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
New Orleans Pelicans (70-89 .440 32 GB in 7th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Ernesto Noyola (26-R) (14-6 3.97 ERA 154.1 IP, 157 H, 11 HR, 41 BB, 106 SO)
NO: Dennis Farmer (28-R) (7-5 3.25 ERA 119 IP, 116 H, 16 HR, 46 BB, 61 SO)

Noyola gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, 1 home run and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 innings last time out in a win versus Birmingham. We have had some pleasant surprises in our rotation this season, but none more surprising than Noyola. He was 3-12 with a 6.60 ERA for Daytona (A) last year and now he is going for his 15th win of the season in the MLB!

Farmer is 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA in 2 starts against the Jays this season. 11.1 IP, 16 H, 3 HR, 6 BB, 4 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (24-R .301-624-6-69-.756-18 A)
2: LF Tommy Adams (23-L .331-181-3-22-.830-5 B) Rookie
3: CF Cal Doty (28-L .306-533-13-65-.815-20 C+) Silver Slugger/All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: RF Ray McDonald (25-L .326-608-21-116-.885-30 B+) All-Star(2: 04-05)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .266-394-13-45-.843-26 B)
6: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .273-428-10-72-.722-2 C+)
7: SS T.R. Hunter (28-R .286-465-7-51-.708-6 B+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
8: C Bob Hutson (23-L .260-377-9-53-.737-0 B) Rookie
9: P Ernesto Noyola (26-R .204-54-0-4-.449-0 F)

NEW ORLEANS
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (29-R .266-567-7-50-.698-26 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: SS Len Walker (22-L .283-205-2-26-.692-9 B) Rookie #34 prospect
3: RF Tim Dawson (29-R .274-552-9-65-.700-7 B+)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (37-L .292-448-24-73-.893-2 C+)
5: CF Victor Ocasio (29-R .228-429-12-60-.657-17 B+)
6: 2B Chuck Corrigan (29-R .288-546-5-55-.703-2 B+)
7: LF Jerry Rafanello (34-S .317-218-3-18-.756-0 D-) All-Star(2: 01,03)
8: C Niel Williams (29-R .225-315-5-49-.668-0 B)
9: P Dennis Farmer (28-S .135-37-0-0-.270-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Crosley Field
Weather: 79 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 5,383

Top of the First
Tony Weninger grounds a hit to right! Tommy Adams flies out to left. Weninger steals 2nd! Cal Doty lines a hit to left and Weninger heads home and Jerry Rafanello throws the ball to the backstop for an error! 1 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald doubles to left and Doty scores! 2 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn doubles to right center and McDonald scores! 3 to 0, Jays! Since coming off the DL two weeks ago, Washburn is hitting .415! Fernando Tello grounds out to the pitcher and Washburn goes to 3rd. T.R. Hunter pops out to center.

Bottom of the First
Wes Fitzgibbons lines a hit to right center. Len Walker, the reigning Player of the Week, beats out an infield hit... Tim Dawson grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Fitzgibbons goes to 3rd. Jay Kegler flies out to center and Fitzgibbons tags up and scores. 3 to 1, Jays. Victor Ocasio takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Chuck Corrigan grounds the first pitch up the middle for a hit and Dawson scores... 3 to 2, Jays. Jerry Rafanello pops out to the pitcher!

Bottom of the Fourth
With 1 out, Jerry Rafanello grounds the first pitch up the middle for a hit. Niel Williams doubles to right and Rafanello scores... Tie Game: 3 to 3. With 2 outs, Wes Fitzgibbons takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Len Walker hits a home run to right.... 6 to 3, Pelicans.

Top of the Sixth
With 1 out, T.R. Hunter beats out an infield hit. Bob Hutson lines one to center and it hits off the heel of Victor Ocasio's glove for a 2 base error! PH Mike Volkman (37-L) pops out to short... Tony Weninger swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Sixth
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (31-R). Jerry Rafanello hits a home run to right center... 7 to 3, Pelicans. All of a sudden, our Bullpen stinks, except for Bill Grant....

Top of the Eighth
Fernando Tello beats out an infield hit. T.R. Hunter bloops a hit to right and Tello beats the throw to 3rd! Bob Hutson flies out to right and Tello holds... PH Norm Mayer (30-L) strikes out on 3 pitches... Tony Weninger swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short....

Lost - 7 to 3

We had 12 hits and made no errors
New Orleans had 8 hits and made 2 errors

Ernesto Noyola (L 14-7) went 5 innings, allowed 6 runs, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Robbie Hopley went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 2.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Dennis Farmer (W 8-5) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs, 11 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3.

LF Tommy Adams had 2 hits. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Ray McDonald hit a double, drew a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn hit a double and had an RBI. SS T.R. Hunter had 2 hits.

For New Orleans, SS Len Walker had 2 hits with his 3rd home run of the season and 3 RBI. LF Jerry Rafanello had 2 hits with his 4th home run and scored 2 runs.