Millennial League Baseball, est. 2001

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Trudy has cleared IF Bart Daw (33-R) to play, so he was activated from the DL and 3B Russ Baker (27-S) was sent back to Portland (AAA). Baker is has not done much since the All-Star break. I would rather send T.R. Hunter down, but he won't go and I do not want to cut him outright.

New Orleans Pelicans (64-81 .441 32 GB in 7th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (95-48 .664 18 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

NO: Dennis Farmer (29-R) (5-8 5.57 ERA 119.2 IP, 142 H, 9 HR, 52 BB, 54 SO in AAA)
JAX: Al Calice (25-R) (12-8 2.55 ERA 201.1 IP, 172 H, 9 HR, 57 BB, 135 SO) All-Star

Farmer is making his MLB season debut today. He was 8-5 with a 3.26 in 20 starts last year. He is 5-2 in 8 starts against the Jays in his career with a 4.00 ERA. 54 IP, 54 H, 6 HR, 19 BB, 19 SO.

Calice gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 7.2 IP last time out in a no decision at Buffalo that we won in 11 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
NEW ORLEANS
1: LF Ron Cummings (24-L .295-363-4-42-.737-23 A)
2: CF Len Walker (23-L .300-233-0-19-.748-5 B) Sore shoulder
3: 3B Larry Davis (31-S .374-551-1-84-.846-13 C+) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(2: 01,06)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (37-L .286-346-14-66-.873-4 C)
5: 2B Tom Van Diest (32-R .238-505-11-69-.676-11 B+) All-Star(05)/Gold Glove
6: SS Fred Ferraro (24-R .226-265-12-41-.660-4 D) Rookie
7: RF Tom Spiess (29-L .247-186-5-16-.728-2 C+)
8: C Al Loughin (28-L .251-171-4-25-.701-0 C)
9: P Dennis Farmer (29-S Season debut F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Tommy Adams (24-L .301-146-0-17-.745-2 B)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .291-488-9-53-.751-24 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .300-507-14-79-.809-22 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .259-424-24-85-.857-21 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .271-483-30-93-.857-22 C+) All-Star
6: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .308-474-4-49-.766-31 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .279-154-5-19-.764-8 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .215-181-0-18-.636-0 B) RoY
9: P Al Calice (25-L .089-56-0-2-.195-0 F) All-Star

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 74 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,588

Top of the First
Ron Cummings grounds out to 2nd. Len Walker walks on 4 pitches... Larry Davis beats out an infield hit... With the runners off, Jay Kegler swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses, but both runners are safe. Tom Van Diest strikes out on 3 pitches!

Bottom of the First
Tommy Adams swings at the first pitch and plunks it and is out, 2-3.... If we do not finally score more than 4 runs off a pitcher who had a 5.57 ERA in AAA this year, I will be apoplectic..... Cal Doty takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Ray McDonald flies out to deep center and Doty tags up and beats the throw to 2nd. Jack Washburn walks on 4 pitches. Tom McDowell grounds out to 3rd....

Bottom of the Second
Brian Bowden walks on 4 pitches and Bart Daw, in his first at bat in a month to the day, pokes the first pitch to left center for our first hit! Bob Hutson grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Bowden goes to 3rd. P Al Calice swings away and strikes out....... Now, if that was a pitcher that could hit, like Tommy Corris, Manny would have had him bunt..... Tommy Adams lines out to left...........

Top of the Fourth
Jay Kegler takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... Tom Van Diest hits a fly ball to deep right and Ray McDonald makes error #11 for two bases......... Fred Ferraro strikes out! With the infield in, Tom Spiess grounds the first pitch to right for a hit and both runners score and Spiess takes 2nd........ 2 to 0, Pelicans. The next two strike out.

Bottom of the Fifth
Bob Hutson grounds one to 2nd, but Tom Van Diest makes a bad throw for an error and P Al Calice bunts Hutson to 2nd and then he goes to 3rd on a ground out. Cal Doty beats out an infield hit for our second hit of the game and Hutson scores! 2 to 1, Pelicans.

This bum pitcher of theirs gave up a .293 BA to AAA hitters this season and we can only manage 2 hits off him through 6 innings........... A poke job and an infield hit.....

Top of the Seventh
Al Loughin lines the first pitch to left for a hit. The Bullpen gets up. P Dennis Farmer bunts him to 2nd. We walk Ron Cummings intentionally and Pia has to restrain me from going at Manny........... Len Walker beats out an infield hit and the bases are loaded...... Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (36-L). Larry Davis grounds his third hit of the game up the middle and Loughin scores and Cummings, the intentional walk, heads home, but Cal Doty throws him out! 3 to 1, Pelicans. Jay Kegler clears the bases with a double over the 3rd base bag.......... 5 to 1, Pelicans.

Bottom of the Seventh
With 1 out, Bob Hutson lines our third hit of the game to right! PH Greg Walker (24-R) lines a double to right! Tommy Adams swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to 2nd.... Cal Doty grounds out to the pitcher........................................... .....

Our 3-4-5 hitters go down in order in the 8th...........

And the 6-7-8 hitters go down in order in the 9th............................................... ....

Lost - 5 to 1

Where has our offense gone?
2 straight bum right-handers have held us in check...

We had 4 whole hits and made 1 error
New Orleans had 9 hits and made 1 error

Al Calice (L 12-9) went 6.1 innings, allowed 4 runs (2 earned), 7 hits, 4 walks and struck out 8.
LHP Bill Grant got 2 outs, allowed 1 run and 2 hits.
LHP Norm Crone went 2 scoreless innings and hit a batter.

Dennis Farmer (W 1-0) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 1 unearned run, 4 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3. 118 pitches. He has now allowed a .293 BA to AAA hitters on the season and a .129 BA to MLB hitters.......

CF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk and our only RBI and threw a runner out at home. C Bob Hutson hit a double and scored our only run. PH Greg Walker hit a double.

For New Orleans, 3B Larry Davis had 3 hits, stole 2 bases, scored a run and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

We can clinch the division today with a win or an Orlando loss. It would be a lot nicer to do it with a win and not be swept by the Pelicans...

New Orleans Pelicans (65-81 .445 31 GB in 7th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (95-49 .660 18 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

NO: Doug Jones (29-R) (8-5 3.70 ERA 99.2 IP, 93 H, 11 HR, 39 BB, 47 SO)
JAX: Tommy Corris (26-R) (13-6 2.73 ERA 210.2 IP, 187 H, 17 HR, 27 BB, 134 SO) All-Star(3: 04-06)

We beat Jones in June, scoring 5 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 1 strikeout in 3 innings. But that was back when we had an offense.......... He is suffering from Asthma today, but they say it should not affect his pitching.

Corris gave up 4 runs on 8 hits and no walks with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings last time out in a loss at Memphis. He has lost 3 of his last 4 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
NEW ORLEANS
1: RF Franklin Sanchez (25-R .274-583-5-38-.687-40 A+) All-Star(04)/Gold Glove(2: 04-05)
2: CF Ron Cummings (24-L .295-366-4-42-.740-24 C+)
3: 3B Larry Davis (31-S .376-556-1-85-.849-15 C+) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(2: 01,06)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (38-L .287-349-14-68-.876-4 C)
5: 2B Tom Van Diest (32-R .236-509-11-69-.671-11 B+) All-Star(05)/Gold Glove
6: C Tsuyoshi Kotani (25-R .254-343-2-47-.679-0 B) Rookie
7: LF Tom Spiess (29-L .247-190-5-18-.724-2 B)
8: SS Dave Behm (29-R .212-406-7-32-.612-5 B+) All-Star(2: 05-06)
9: P Doug Jones (29-R .226-31-0-5-.468-0 F) Asthma

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Tommy Adams (24-L .293-150-0-17-.726-2 B)
2: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .306-477-4-49-.762-31 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
3: CF Cal Doty (29-L .291-491-9-54-.752-24 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .258-427-24-85-.853-21 B)
5: RF Fernando Tello (24-L .313-345-8-43-.780-2 C)
6: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .278-158-5-19-.758-8 A+)
7: 3B Ken Yockey (27-R .276-228-1-9-.676-15 A)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .228-254-6-32-.653-3 B+)
9: P Tommy Corris (26-R .292-65-0-8-.642-0 F) All-Star(3: 04-06)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 74 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,771

Top of the First
Franklin Sanchez flies out to left. Ron Cummings doubles to left center... He tries to steal 3rd with a .376 hitter at the plate and C Don Kern throws him out! Larry Davis lines out to right!

Bottom of the First
Tommy Adams doubles to left center! Brian Bowden grounds one up the middle, but Dave Behm flags it down and throws him out, 6-3, and Adams goes to 3rd. Cal Doty grounds out slowly to short and Adams scores. 1 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn draws a walk. Fernando Tello pops out to right...

Bottom of the Third
With 1 out, Brian Bowden lines a hit to left and steals 2nd. Cal Doty hits a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right center for a home run!! 3 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Fourth
With 2 outs, P Tommy Corris grounds a hit up the middle. Tommy Adams doubles to center and P Corris scores! 4 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Seventh
Jay Kegler, the birthday boy, who is now 38, triples to left center.... The Bullpen gets up. Tom Van Diest pops out to right and Kegler holds. Tsuyoshi Kotani takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three! Tom Spiess bloops a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and Kegler scores.... 4 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Seventh
Cal Doty doubles to left center! They walk Jack Washburn intentionally. Fernando Tello grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6, and Doty goes to 3rd. Bart Daw swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit, but Doty holds at 3rd and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Ken Yockey grounds into a force at home, 1-2..... Don Kern swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses............

Won - 4 to 1

The Jacksonville Jays are the 2006 Southern Division Champions!

We finish the season series with New Orleans 8-6.
The 3rd straight year we have won it.

We had 8 hits (and 7 walks) and made no errors
New Orleans had 6 hits and made no errors

Tommy Corris (W 14-6) went 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.
LHP Ron Thurgood (SV 8) pitched a scoreless 9th and allowed 1 hit.

Doug Jones (L 8-6) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 7 walks (1 INT) and struck out 3. 131 pitches.

LF Tommy Adams had 3 hits with a 2 doubles, scored a run and had an RBI. CF Cal Doty hit a double and his 10th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. 1B Jack Washburn drew 3 walks (1 INT). 2B Bart Daw had a hit and a walk. C Don Kern drew 2 walks.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Down on the Farm: The Shreveport Sports (TEX) won at the Mobile BayBears (SL), 4 to 2, to win the Dixie Cup, the AA Championship between the Southern League and the Texas League, in 6 games. SS Greg Hunt (30-R) was named the series MVP. He was 6 for 12 (.500) with a double and a home run, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI. Obviously, he is no prospect playing in AA at age 30...

[Questdog]

Friday, September 15, 2006

We are in Louisville to play the Colonels a 3 game series over the weekend. They just won 3 of 4 in Orlando. We are 7-4 against them on the season and won a pair of games here in our last visit, June 5-6. They are 13th in scoring with 3.86 runs per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 4.59). We are barely ahead of Indianapolis now. The Arrows are at 4.57. They have scored 1 more run than us, but have also played 1 more game. The Colonels are 5th in fewest runs allowed with 3.82 per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 3.23). Their run differential is +7, 6th in the MLB, and ours is +198, still the best.

Jacksonville Jays (96-49 .662 18.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Louisville Colonels (76-70 .521 20.5 GB tied for 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (31-L) (15-7 2.82 ERA 204.1 IP, 189 H, 17 HR, 55 BB, 121 SO) Gold Glove(02)
LOU: John Wilson (31-R) (11-17 4.20 ERA 199.1 IP, 192 H, 18 HR, 79 BB, 145 SO)

Warwick gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits, 1 home run and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts last time out in a win at Memphis. He is 6-1 in his last 8 starts.

Wilson lost his last start, but had won 4 in a row before that. He leads the MLB in losses. He is 0-1 in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a 4.50 ERA. 14 IP, 12 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 13 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Buddy Hendricks (27-R .251-195-0-12-.606-14 A)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .293-495-10-57-.762-24 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .297-512-14-79-.801-22 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .257-428-24-85-.855-21 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .269-487-30-93-.850-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .310-348-8-43-.775-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .280-161-5-19-.760-8 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .216-185-0-18-.634-0 B) RoY
9: P Del Warwick (31-L .243-70-0-7-.543-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

LOUISVILLE
1: 2B Tony Weninger (25-R .198-197-1-13-.552-8 A) ex-Jay
2: LF Rudy Purcell (27-L .320-341-5-31-.783-10 B+) Rookie
3: 3B Mike Hughes (32-R .225-422-20-71-.733-1 B) Silver Slugger/(All-Star(3: 01,04-05)
4: 1B Jim Montgomery (35-R .279-111-5-9-.825-0 B+) All-Star(03)
5: CF Mike Breiding (23-R .233-30-0-2-.548-0 C+) Rookie #68 prospect
6: SS Ken DeMinico (24-L .250-432-7-46-.694-8 A)
7: C Niel Williams (30-R .230-392-6-35-.641-0 B)
8: RF Robin Massey (26-R .198-202-4-17-.566-0 D+)
9: P John Wilson (31-R .200-60-0-4-.450-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Colonels Field
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from left
Attendance: 8,558

Top of the First
Buddy Hendricks swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... Cal Doty grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Ray McDonald strikes out.........

Bottom of the First
Tony Weninger, the ex-Jay, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Rudy Purcell, hitting .385 against the Jays this season, strikes out! Mike Hughes lines a hit to left... Jim Montgomery grounds one to short, but Buddy Hendricks makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error..... A wild pitch moves the runners up... Mike Breiding lines a hit to right and both runners score.... 2 to 0, Colonels. Ken DeMinico grounds a hit to left... Niel Williams flies out to center.

Top of the Second
With 2 outs, Fernando Tello doubles to left center! Bart Daw lines a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit and Tello scores! 2 to 1, Colonels.

Bottom of the Second
Robin Massey leads off with a walk and P John Wilson bunts him to 2nd. Tony Weninger grounds a hit to right and Massey beats the throw home... 3 to 1, Colonels. With 2 outs, Mike Hughes lines a hit to left.... Jim Montgomery takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three!

Top of the Third
With 1 out, Cal Doty hits a home run to right! 3 to 2, Colonels.

Top of the Eighth
With 1 out, Tom McDowell grounds a hit to left. Fernando Tello grounds a hit to center and McDowell beats the throw to 3rd and Tello takes 2nd! A wild pitch scores McDowell! Tie Game: 3 to 3! Bart Daw lines a 1-2 pitch to right for a hit and Tello scores! 4 to 3, Jays! Daw steals 2nd! Bob Hutson doubles to left center and Daw scores! 5 to 3, Jays! First time we have scored 5 runs in 9 games! They walk PH Greg Walker (24-S) intentionally and that does it for P John Wilson. New Pitcher: John Werner (31-R), a rookie, who is 0-0 with a 12.38 ERA in 8 IP with 14 H and 2 HR and 6 BB allowed. Buddy Hendricks swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses...... Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd.......

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (30-R), after a perfect 8th. Dickie Stemen (31-R) is in to play center and Cal Doty moves to left. Ken Yockey (27-R) is in to play 3rd. 7-8-9 up for Louisville and our Bullpen is ready. Niel Williams lines out hard to deep center! Robin Massey draws a walk..... PH Jamie Hawley (27-L), batting .252/.355/.423 in 286 AB with 11 HR and 39 RBI, is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (36-L). Hawley takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4................. Tony Weninger grounds a hit to right and the bases are loaded with 1 out.... PH John Adkins (23-R), a rookie batting .262/.303/.384 in 172 AB with 3 HR and 26 RBI, plunks one and C Bob Hutson just manages to get back and step on the plate to get the force! Mike Hughes strikes out and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 3

We had 13 hits and made 1 error
Louisville had 9 hits and made no errors

Del Warwick went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs (1 earned), 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. He threw a WP.
RHP Mickel Cannady (W 2-1) pitched 1 scoreless inning and allowed 1 hit.
RHP Roger Wallace (H 3) went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 17) got 2 outs, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 1.

John Wilson (L 11-18) went 7.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 12 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 7. He threw a WP. 133 pitches.

SS Buddy Hendricks had 2 hits. CF/LF Cal Doty hit his 11th home run of the season. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk. LF Fernando Tello had 4 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. 2B Bart Daw had 2 hits, stole 2 bases, scored a run and had 2 RBI. C Bob Hutson hit a double, drew a walk and had an RBI. PH Greg Walker was walked intentionally.

Down on the Farm: The Portland Beavers, our AAA affiliate, won at home over the Toledo Mud Hens, 4 to 2, to win the American Association Championship in 7 games. The Beavers were down 2-0 and 3-1 in the series. C Alex Martinez (32-R), who hit .146 for the Jays this season as an injury replacement, was named the MVP of the series. He went 11 for 22 (.500) with 2 2B and a HR, scored 8 runs and had 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Jacksonville Jays (97-49 .664 18.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Louisville Colonels (76-71 .517 21.5 GB tied for 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Jim Baucom (25-L) (20-7 1.67 ERA 248 IP, 145 H, 13 HR, 52 BB, 272 SO) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)
LOU: Yui Ogawa (31-L) (13-9 3.39 ERA 215 IP, 218 H, 12 HR, 69 BB, 144 SO)

Baucom gave up 5 runs on 8 hits, 1 home run and 3 walks with 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings last time out in a loss to New Orleans. He has lost his last 3 starts.

Ogawa is 7-1 in his last 9 starts. He is 0-2 in 2 starts against the Jays this season, but pitched well both times and has a 1.80 ERA. 15 IP, 14 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 10 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .305-482-4-49-.758-32 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: 3B Ken Yockey (27-R .272-232-1-9-.665-15 A)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .297-516-14-79-.800-22 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Tom McDowell (29-R .268-492-30-93-.845-22 B) All-Star
5: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .283-166-5-21-.761-10 A+)
6: CF Dickie Stemen (31-R .206-141-4-22-.555-0 C+)
7: LF Cal Doty (29-L .292-500-11-58-.764-24 A) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .227-256-6-32-.653-3 B+)
9: P Jim Baucom (25-L .171-82-0-7-.398-0 C) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)

LOUISVILLE
1: RF Rudy Purcell (27-L .322-345-5-31-.791-10 B+) Rookie
2: 2B Kim Byrne (30-R .183-378-2-25-.518-7 A)
3: LF Jose Castillo (24-S .319-405-15-56-.868-14 B)
4: 3B Mike Hughes (32-R .227-427-20-71-.734-1 B) Silver Slugger/(All-Star(3: 01,04-05)
5: CF Mike Breiding (23-R .265-34-0-4-.600-0 C+) Rookie
6: SS Ken DeMinico (24-L .250-436-7-46-.692-8 A)
7: 1B Tony Weninger (25-R .203-202-1-14-.558-9 B+)
8: C Vic Stiles (28-R .285-123-1-18-.746-0 C+)
9: P Yui Ogawa (31-L .246-61-2-7-.615-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Colonels Field
Weather: 82 F, Clear Skies, with a 5 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 9,754

Top of the First
Brian Bowden grounds one to short, but Ken DeMinico throws the ball away for a 2 base error! Ken Yockey flies out to left. Ray McDonald lines out to short and they double Bowden off at 2nd........

Bottom of the First
Rudy Purcell doubles to center....... Kim Byrne swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses! Jose Castillo flies out to deep right and Purcell goes to 3rd. Mike Hughes lines one hard to deep center, but Dickie Stemen runs it down!

Top of the Third
Don Kern grounds a hit to right, gets bunted to 2nd by P Jim Baucom and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Ken Yockey grounds a hit to left and Kern scores! 1 to 0, Jays!

Meanwhile, the Colonels have 4 hits, 3 of them doubles through 3 innings, but no runs!

Top of the Fourth
Tom McDowell and Bart Daw lead off with back to back walks! With 1 out, Cal Doty grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.........

Through 5 innings, we have only 2 hits.... They have 6....

Bottom of the Seventh
P Jim Baucom strikes out the side in order!!!

Bottom of the Ninth
P Jim Baucom is at 99 pitches. Tommy Adams (24-L), an unsuccessful pinch-hitter last inning, stays in to play left and Cal Doty moves to center. 5-6-7 up for Louisville. Mike Breiding pops out to right! PH Jim Montgomery (35-R), 0 for 4 with a run scored yesterday, grounds one hard up the middle, but SS Brian Bowden snags it and throws him out in a great play! Tony Weninger, the ex-Jay, flies out to deep center and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 1 to 0

We had 4 whole hits (all singles) and made no errors
Louisville had 8 hits and made 1 error

Jim Baucom (W 21-7) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 8. 111 pitches. His 9th shutout of the season, tying his own MLB record from 2004, and the 28th of his career, extending his own MLB record!

Yui Ogawa (L 13-10) went 7 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 4 walks and struck out 2. He is now 0-3 with a 1.64 ERA against the Jays this season.

2B Bart Daw walked twice and stole a base. C Don Kern had 2 hits and scored the only run of the game.

For Louisville, RF Rudy Purcell had 3 hits with a double.

Around the League: Syracuse won at Rochester for the 2nd straight day to tie the Roosters atop the Northern Division standings.

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Jacksonville Jays (98-49 .667 18.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Louisville Colonels (76-72 .514 22.5 GB tied for 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Al Calice (25-R) (12-9 2.56 ERA 207.2 IP, 179 H, 9 HR, 61 BB, 143 SO) All-Star
LOU: David Fortier (23-R) (11-9 3.92 ERA 165.1 IP, 152 H, 12 HR, 79 BB, 117 SO) Rookie

Calice gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks with 8 strikeouts in 6.1 innings last time out in a loss to New Orleans. He has only won once in his last 7 starts, though he has only lost once, too.

We beat Fortier two weeks ago, scoring 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 1 strikeout in 1+ innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .303-485-4-49-.755-32 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .292-504-11-58-.762-24 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .294-520-14-79-.794-22 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .256-434-24-85-.848-22 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .267-495-30-93-.842-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .317-353-8-43-.789-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .280-168-5-21-.760-11 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .218-188-0-19-.643-0 B) RoY
9: P Al Calice (25-L .088-57-0-2-.191-0 F) All-Star

LOUISVILLE
1: SS Ken DeMinico (24-L .251-439-7-46-.694-8 A)
2: 2B Kim Byrne (30-R .183-382-2-25-.521-7 A)
3: LF Jose Castillo (24-S .318-409-15-56-.864-14 B)
4: 1B Ron Lerche (28-R .243-470-13-62-.676-10 B+) All-Star(04)
5: RF John Adkins (23-R .259-174-3-26-.679-0 C) Rookie
6: CF Mike Breiding (23-R .243-37-0-4-.570-0 C+) Rookie
7: C Niel Williams (30-R .227-396-6-35-.635-0 B)
8: 3B Robin Massey (26-R .196-204-4-17-.567-0 A)
9: P David Fortier (23-R .208-53-0-5-.434-0 D+) Rookie #32 prospect

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Colonels Field
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 7,615

Top of the First
Brian Bowden pokes a 1-2 pitch to center for a hit! Cal Doty grounds into a 4-6-3 double play........ His 8th GDP of the season, which is not terrible, but his career high before this season was 4.... Ray McDonald lines out to short...

Bottom of the First
Ken DeMinico grounds out to short. Kim Byrne takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Jose Castillo draws a walk... Ron Lerche grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Byrne goes to 3rd. John Adkins grounds out to short!

Top of the Third
With 1 out, Brian Bowden beats out an infield hit and steals 2nd. With 2 outs, Ray McDonald lines a hit to left and Bowden beats the throw home! 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Fifth
Cal Doty lines the first pitch to right center for a hit! With 1 out, Jack Washburn pokes a hit to right. Tom McDowell swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines our tenth hit of the game to right and Doty scores! 2 to 0, Jays! 10 hits in 4.1 innings and only 2 runs.... But it is better than having 1 hit and no runs! (what the Colonels have) Fernando Tello takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Bart Daw grounds into a 4-2-3 double play...........

Bottom of the Sixth
Ken DeMinico walks on 4 pitches..... With 1 out, he tries to steal 2nd, but C Bob Hutson throws him out! Jose Castillo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch... Ron Lerche lines a hit to right center and Castillo scores... 2 to 1, Jays. We lead, 10 to 2, in the hit column, but only 2 to 1 in the run column....

Bottom of the Seventh
Niel Williams lines a double to right... The Bullpen scrambles. PH Jamie Hawley (27-L), who has drawn a walk in his only plate appearance this series, grounds out to 2nd and Williams goes to 3rd. PH Mike Hughes (32-R), 3 for 9 with a run scored this series, flies out to deep left and Williams tags up and scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2.

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Bob Carroll (30-R), who has an ERA under 2 and who pitched a perfect inning yesterday. Mike Hughes stays in to play 3rd in a double switch. Fernando Tello walks on 4 pitches! Pinch-Runner: Buddy Hendricks (27-R). He steals 2nd as Bart Daw strikes out. He then steals 3rd! Bob Hutson strikes out........ PH Greg Walker (24-S) is walked intentionally. Brian Bowden strikes out...........................

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Mickel Cannady (24-R). Tommy Adams (24-L) is in to play left. With 2 outs, Ron Lerche gets beaned with the first pitch and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch.... We walk John Adkins intentionally for some reason know only to Manny the Moron.... Mike Breiding lines a hit to right and Lerche scores, but we throw Adkins out at 3rd, 9-3-5....... 3 to 2, Colonels. 11 to 5 in the hit column............

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Jim Dooley (23-R), their promising young closer, who pitched a perfect inning yesterday. 2-3-4 up for us, our best 3 hitters. Cal Doty smashes the first pitch up the middle, but it hits off the pitcher and caroms right to the shortstop, who throws Doty out....... Ray McDonald flies out to deep center.... Jack Washburn pokes a hit to right center! Tom McDowell strikes out looking............

Lost - 3 to 2

We finish the season series with Louisville 9-5
We split with them last year.

49 runs scored in our last 17 games...
2.88 per game..........

We had 12 hits (all singles) and made no errors
Louisville had 5 hits and made no errors

Al Calice went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Mickel Cannady (L 2-2) went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk (INT) and 1 HBP. He threw a WP.

David Fortier went 7 innings, gave us 2 runs, 11 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5. He threw a WP.
RHP Bob Carroll (W 7-3) pitched 1 scoreless inning, gave us 2 walks and struck out 3. His 2nd win against the Jays this season.
RHP Jim Dooley (SV 31) pitched a scoreless 9th, gave us 1 hit and struck out 1.

SS Brian Bowden had 2 hits, stole a base and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits, stole a base and had an RBI and an outfield assist. 1B Jack Washburn had 3 hits and a walk. LF Fernando Tello drew 2 walks. PR Buddy Hendricks stole 2 bases. 2B Bart Daw had 2 hits. PH Greg Walker was walked intentionally.

Around the League: Rochester salvaged the final game of their series with Syracuse, 5 to 4, to retake the lead in the North, even though the Sycamores outhit them 14 to 6.

[Questdog]

September 18, 2006

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Robert Rodriguez, 1B, Orlando (25-R .332/.389/.471) Had 14 hits (!) with 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB (!), 2 SO, 9 R and 9 RBI in 7 G

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

September 12 - 3B Marty Derringer (28-R) of Providence went 5 for 5 with a double and scored 2 runs at Hartford. The Steamrollers won, 10 to 8.
September 12 - Buford Nolan (30-R) of Ottawa pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Syracuse. He walked 1 and struck out 7. It is his 4th shutout of the season and 9th of his career. He is now 16-10 with a 2.67 ERA in 33 starts. The Otters won, 3 to 0.
September 13 - David Lucero (27-L) of Syracuse pitched a 4 hit shutout at Ottawa. He walked 2 and struck out 8. It is his 6th shutout of the season and 13th of his career. He is now 15-8 with a 2.05 ERA in 31 starts. The Sycamores won, 3 to 0.
September 14 - 3B Vince Depew (26-L) went 0 for 4 at home versus Memphis, ending his hitting streak after 28 games. He cam up 2 short of Brian Bowden's recently set record and ends up with the 3rd longest streak of all-time.
September 16 - Rookie 1B Robert Rodriguez (25-R) of Orlando went 4 for 4 with a double and a walk, scored 4 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Richmond. The Juice won, 11 to 4.
September 16 - SS Scott Damon (27-R) of Charlotte had 3 his with a double and a triple, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Memphis. The Hornets won, 8 to 4.
September 17 - Clark Davis (29-R) of Providence pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Buffalo. He walked 1 and struck out 3. It is his 4th shutout of the season and 10th of his career. He is now 9-11 with a 2.88 ERA in 33 starts. The Steamrollers won, 3 to 0, and only had 4 hits themselves.
September 17 - CF Bob Cline (28-R) of Orlando had 2 hits with a Grand Slam and a walk and 6 RBI at home versus Richmond. The Juice won, 6 to 2. Cline played for the Robins, 2001-04.

We go to Birmingham this week for 3 games in 2 days and then come back home to play Charlotte a 4 game series. The penultimate week of the season!

We have quite the race for the Batting Crown going! With Sergio Acevedo out, Tom McDowell would seem to have the HR Crown locked up, but the RBI Crown is still very much up for grabs. Jim Baucom certainly seems to have a lock (knock on wood) on the Triple Crown of pitching for the 2nd time in his career. Benny Martineau of Richmond leads with 36 SV and Jim Dooley of Louisville is 2nd with 31.

[Westheim]

Just lift Jimmyboy before he can give up 32 runs in his next start and we should be fine on the triple crown front

[Questdog]

Monday, September 18, 2006

We are in Birmingham to play the Barons 3 games in 2 days, starting with a doubleheader today. We will be the home team in one of the games, because the game was rained out in Jacksonville. And I dunno why we have to play a doubleheader today when both teams have Wednesday as an off day. But no one would listen to me.... Birmingham lost 2 of 3 games here to New Orleans over the weekend. We are 9-2 against them on the season and won a pair of games in our last visit, May 1-2, and have not lost a game here on the season. They are last in scoring with 3.51 runs per game (Jacksonville is down to #2 with 4.55). And if we keep scoring less than 3 runs a game like we have for the last 3 weeks, we'll drop even further. The Barons are 11th in fewest run allowed with 4.32 per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 3.20). Their run differential is -119, the worst in the MLB, and ours is +200, the best.

Jacksonville Jays (98-50 .662 17.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (60-88 .405 38 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

Game 1 (we are the home team in their park)
BIRM: Jim Slack (25-R) (9-12 3.85 ERA 163.2 IP, 170 H, 21 HR, 62 BB, 95 SO) Rookie
JAX: Tommy Corris (26-R) (14-6 2.68 ERA 218.2 IP, 192 H, 17 HR, 29 BB, 139 SO) All-Star(3: 04-06)

Slack has pitched well against the Jays this season, but is 1-2 with a 2.05 ERA. 22 IP, 20 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 15 SO.

Corris gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 innings last time out in a win over New Orleans.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
BIRMINGHAM
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (30-R .246-545-3-27-.651-22 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: LF Benny Dreher (28-R .246-491-7-36-.648-20 B+) Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
3: 1B Wilson Partida (30-R .238-462-13-56-.711-21 B)
4: RF Lee Brand (31-L .251-171-11-29-.832-0 D+)
5: CF Bob Marks (28-R .255-483-17-60-.771-14 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
6: 2B Rick Halverson (30-L .283-269-4-40-.729-4 B) All-Star(01)
7: SS Turner Morache (27-R .232-371-4-34-.615-6 B)
8: C Antonio Barajas (28-R .194-191-3-17-.563-0 B)
9: P Jim Slack (25-R .188-48-0-3-.417-0 D+) Rookie

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .304-490-4-49-.756-33 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .291-509-11-58-.759-24 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .295-525-14-80-.794-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .260-438-24-85-.855-22 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .266-500-30-94-.837-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .315-355-8-43-.788-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .285-172-5-21-.765-11 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .215-191-0-19-.636-0 B) RoY
9: P Tommy Corris (26-R .294-68-0-8-.643-0 F) All-Star(3: 04-06)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 70 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from left
Attendance: 3,161

Top of the First
Wes Fitzgibbons swings at the first pitch and lines out hard to center. Benny Dreher swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Wilson Partida swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left... Lee Brand lines a 3-1 pitch to right for a hit and Partida beats the throw to 3rd... Bob Marks swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to short!

Bottom of the First
Brian Bowden draws a walk! Cal Doty grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. He steals 2nd! Ray McDonald strikes out....... Jack Washburn strikes out.........

Bottom of the Fourth
Cal Doty grounds our first hit of the game up the middle and then steals 2nd! Ray McDonald lines a hit to center! Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and clears the bases with a triple to right!! 2 to 0, Jays! Tom McDowell draws a walk. Fernando Tello swings at the first pitch and plunks into a force at 2nd, 2-6, and Washburn holds at 3rd. Bart Daw flies out to right and Washburn tags up and beats the throw home! 3 to 0, Jays! Bob Hutson swings at the first pitch and doubles to right and Tello scores, but they throw Hutson out at 3rd, 9-3-5. 4 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Fifth
Rick Halverson lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Turner Morache takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4..... With 1 out, P Jim Slack bunts the runners up. Wes Fitzgibbons takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs... With a 1-2 count on the batter, P Tommy Corris balks home a run..... 4 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Fernando Tello hits an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a home run! 5 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh
On the Hill: Graham Bloor (34-R), in his season debut, after getting the last 2 outs of the 6th. PH Greg Walker (24-S) pops out to 2nd... Brian Bowden grounds a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit! But then gets picked off by P Bloor...... Cal Doty grounds one to 2nd, but Rick Halverson boots it! Ray McDonald hits a home run to left!! 7 to 1, Jays! The most runs we have scored in 3 weeks!

Won - 7 to 1

We had 10 hits and made no errors
Birmingham had 5 hits (all singles) and made 1 error

Tommy Corris (W 15-6) went 7 innings, allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 5. He balked. 109 pitches.
LHP Norm Crone pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 2.

Jim Slack (L 9-13) went 5.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 6.

SS Brian Bowden had a hit and a walk. CF/LF Cal Doty had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. RF Ray McDonald had 3 hits with his 15th home run, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI and threw a runner out at 2nd. 1B Jack Washburn hit a triple, scored a run and had 2 RBI. LF Fernando Tello had 2 hits with his 9th home run and scored 2 runs. C Bob Hutson hit a double and had an RBI.

Game 2 (Birmingham is the home team)
JAX: Tommy Keyser (27-L) (6-1 4.01 ERA 67.1 IP, 61 H, 11 HR, 13 BB, 34 SO)
BIRM: Leo Place (26-R) (8-16 4.43 ERA 207 IP, 202 H, 22 HR, 84 BB, 108 SO)

Keyser pitched a CG win last time out with 2 runs allowed on 5 hits, 2 home runs and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. This is the easiest Park in the MLB to hit home runs at and Keyser is about the easiest pitcher to hit home runs off of, so this could get ugly....... Thankfully, Sergio Acevedo is on the shelf!

This will be the 5th time we have faced Place this season! So far, he is 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA. 29 IP, 31 H, 3 HR, 6 BB, 15 SO. He is pitching on short rest today, but only threw 77 pitches in his last start.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .304-493-4-49-.756-33 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .292-513-11-58-.761-26 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .299-529-15-82-.805-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .260-442-24-87-.856-22 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .264-503-30-94-.834-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .318-359-9-44-.799-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .280-175-5-22-.750-11 A+)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .232-259-6-32-.661-3 B+)
9: P Tommy Keyser (27-R .364-22-0-5-.727-0 B)

BIRMINGHAM
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (30-R .245-548-3-27-.648-22 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: SS Hal LaPorte (28-R .237-177-0-8-.525-9 A) Rookie
3: 1B Wilson Partida (30-R .240-466-13-56-.713-21 B)
4: LF Ken Johnson (29-L .217-161-9-29-.727-0 F-)
5: CF Bob Marks (28-R .253-487-17-60-.765-14 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
6: 2B Rick Halverson (30-L .283-272-4-40-.729-4 B) All-Star(01)
7: RF Lee Brand (31-L .251-175-11-29-.825-0 D+)
8: C Fred Hines (36-R .313-115-0-13-.700-0 C+) ex-Jay
9: P Leo Place (26-R .182-66-1-10-.406-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 70 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 6 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 5,315

Top of the First
Brian Bowden lines an 0-2 pitch to center for a hit! Cal Doty grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Bowden beats the throw to 3rd! Ray McDonald swings at a 3-0 pitch and flies out to deep left and Bowden trots home. 1 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. He steals 2nd, which, to me, does not make a lot of sense with a home run hitter at bat, but at least he was safe. Tom McDowell, right on cue, hits a home run to left!! 3 to 0, Jays! Fernando Tello lines one to right that takes about half a second to reach the seats! 4 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw swings at the first pitch and pops out to center.

Bottom of the First
Wes Fitzgibbons grounds out to 3rd. Hal LaPorte strikes out! They have 5 home run threats in the lineup, not counting P Leo Place, who has hit one this season, and the first one is up now... Wilson Partida takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Ken Johnson, who has 26 HR in 336 AB over the last two years, grounds out to 2nd!

Top of the Sixth
Tom McDowell beats out an infield hit! Fernando Tello grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Bart Daw beats out an infield hit! Don Kern takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out! P Tommy Keyser grounds into a force at home, 6-2. Brian Bowden swings at a 3-2 pitch a foot over his head and misses.......

Bottom of the Ninth
P Tommy Keyser is at 86 pitches. PH Benny Dreher (28-R), 0 for 4 in the first game lines a 3-2 pitch to center for their fourth hit of the game..... The Bullpen gets up. Wes Fitzgibbons doubles to right....... Hal LaPorte pops out to short. Wilson Partida flies out to deep right and Dreher trots home.... 4 to 1, Jays. Ken Johnson swings at a 3-0 pitch and grounds out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 4 to 1

Our 100th win!
For the 3rd straight season!

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Birmingham had 5 hits and made no errors

Tommy Keyser (W 7-1) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. No HR! 102 pitches.

Leo Place (L 8-17) went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs (all in the 1st), 9 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk and struck out 6.

SS Brian Bowden had 2 hits, stole a base and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald hit a double and had an RBI. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits with his MLB leading 31st HR of the season and had 2 RBI. He leads in RBI with 96. LF Fernando Tello had 2 hits with his 10th home run.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

We need a spot starter to pitch today to avoid sending someone out there on short rest, so we called up P Mike Hollenbeck (24-R) and sent PH Greg Walker (24-S) to Portland's (AAA) roster.

Jacksonville Jays (100-50 .667 18.5 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (60-90 .400 40 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Mike Hollenbeck (24-R) (1-1 3.53 ERA 1 SV, 51 IP, 51 H, 5 HR, 19 BB, 25 SO) Rookie
BIRM: Henry Penaloza (23-L) (13-11 3.94 ERA 217 IP, 216 H, 24 HR, 74 BB, 166 SO)

The last time Hollenbeck started a game for the Jays was on August 8 and he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks with no strikeouts in 4 innings in a loss at Richmond.

Penaloza was 5-2 with a 3.14 ERA in 12 starts for Buffalo last year as a rookie. He was the 3rd round pick of the Bombers in the 2005 B Leagues Draft. Birmingham traded for him over the Winter. We have never faced him, but he looks like a decent lefty, so he should not have much problem with our lineup.... He is going on short rest today and threw 124 pitches in his last start.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .305-498-4-49-.757-34 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: 3B Ken Yockey (27-R .272-235-1-10-.665-15 A)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .299-532-15-83-.805-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Tom McDowell (29-R .266-507-31-96-.841-22 B) All-Star
5: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .279-179-5-22-.745-11 A+)
6: CF Dickie Stemen (31-R .201-144-4-22-.544-0 C+)
7: LF Cal Doty (29-L .292-517-11-58-.759-26 A) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .229-262-6-32-.656-3 B+)
9: P Mike Hollenbeck (24-R .125-8-0-0-.250-0 B) Rookie

BIRMINGHAM
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (30-R .246-552-3-27-.653-22 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: LF Mike Glantz (35-R .189-122-3-8-.592-1 C+) Waiver claim from New Orleans July 3
3: 1B Wilson Partida (30-R .239-468-13-57-.711-21 B)
4: RF Lee Brand (31-L .247-178-11-29-.812-0 D+)
5: CF Bob Marks (28-R .251-490-17-60-.761-14 C+) RoY(03)/All-Star(2: 04-05)
6: 2B Rick Halverson (30-L .280-275-4-40-.721-4 B) All-Star(01)
7: SS Turner Morache (27-R .231-373-4-34-.614-6 B)
8: C Antonio Barajas (28-R .196-194-3-17-.565-0 B)
9: P Henry Penaloza (23-L .235-68-0-8-.543-0 C)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 78 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 3,373

Top of the First
Brian Bowden lines an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit! He steals 2nd while Ken Yockey takes an 0-2 pitch for strike three... Ray McDonald strikes out.... Tom McDowell swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.............

Bottom of the First
Wes Fitzgibbons pops out to center. Mike Glantz lines a hit to left... Wilson Partida triples to right center and Glantz scores.... 1 to 0, Barons. Lee Brand pops out to 3rd! Bob Marks doubles to left center and Partida scores... 2 to 0, Barons. Rick Halverson lines one to left and Cal Doty makes a diving catch!

Top of the Third
With 1 out, Brian Bowden grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit. Ken Yockey grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Ray McDonald bloops a hit to left. Tom McDowell swings at the first pitch and clears the bases with a double to center and ends up on 3rd!! Tie Game: 2 to 2! Bart Daw hits a home run to left!! 4 to 2, Jays!

Top of the Seventh
On the Hill: Graham Bloor (34-R), after a scoreless 6th. Brian Bowden swings at the first pitch and doubles to left center! PH Jack Washburn (24-L), who will stay in to play 1st and send Tom McDowell to 3rd, flies out to left. They walk Ray McDonald intentionally. Tom McDowell hits a home run to left!!! 7 to 2, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh
Rick Halverson and Turner Morache lead off with back to back hits. The Bullpen got up after the first one. With 1 out, PH Jorge Ramos (33-L), a waiver claim from Columbus on July 8, who is batting .226/.339/.434 in 106 AB with 6 HR and 12 RBI is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (36-L). Ramos lines one hard to right, but right to Ray McDonald and he does NOT flub the catch! Wes Fitzgibbons grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Hill: Mickel Cannady (24-R). He strikes out the side in order!!!

Won - 7 to 2

Sweep!

We finish the season series with Birmingham 12-2!
3rd time we have won the series in the last 4 seasons.
We split last year.

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Birmingham had 8 hits and made no errors

Mike Hollenbeck (W 2-1) went 6.1 innings, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP Bill Grant faced 2 batter and retired them both.
RHP Mickel Cannady pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 3.

Henry Penaloza (L 13-12) went 5 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 5.

SS Brian Bowden had 4 hits with a double, stole a base and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk and scored 2 runs. 1B/3B Tom McDowell hit a double and his 32nd home run of the season, scored 2 runs and had 5 RBI. 101 RBI on the season! 2B Bart Daw hit his 6th home run and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 21, 2006

P Mike Hollenbeck (24-R) was sent back to the Portland (AAA) roster and C Dave Estey (24-L) was recalled.

We are back home to play the Charlotte Hornets a 4 game series through the weekend, our final home games of the regular season. They lost a pair of games at home to Richmond on Monday and Tuesday. We are 5-5 against them on the season and were swept in 3 games, only scoring 4 total runs, in their first visit, June 2-4. They are 4th in scoring with 4.48 runs per game (Jacksonville is back to #1 with 4.58). They lead the MLB with 154 HR hit (We are 5th with 123, which, by the way, is a Jay record! Our previous high was 113 last year.). The Hornets are 12th in fewest runs allowed with 4.43 per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 3.17). Their run differential is +7, 6th in the MLB, and ours is +214, the best and only one in triple digits!

Charlotte Hornets (74-78 .487 27.5 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (101-50 .669 19 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Mike Rossini (23-R) (13-9 3.35 ERA 212.1 IP, 189 H, 18 HR, 60 BB, 131 SO) Rookie
JAX: Jim Baucom (25-L) (21-7 1.61 ERA 257 IP, 153 H, 13 HR, 53 BB, 280 SO) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)

We beat Rossini in April, scoring 8 runs on 9 hits, 2 home runs and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 2.1 innings. It was only his 2nd career start.

Baucom pitched an 8 hit shutout with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts at Louisville last time out, ending a personal 3 game losing streak. We have a bit of a dilemma with Baucom: Barring injury, we can give him 2 more starts this season after today, but the 2nd start would be the final game of the regular season, which means he would not be able to start Game One of the Millennial Cup. Normally, I would be all for him skipping that final start in deference to the Cup, but there are two records I would really like him to be able to set before the season is over: 300 strikeouts and 10 shutouts. Hopefully, he can reach both marks in 2 more starts and we will not need to start him on the final day of the season, but if it comes down to it, I think I will give him that 3rd start. I really do not have much hope of winning the Cup, anyway.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: CF Jimmy Allen (21-L .354-65-0-13-.958-1 B+) Rookie #30 prospect
2: 2B Leo Toruno (32-L .264-550-16-87-.789-21 B) MVP(04)/Silver Slugger(3: 01-SS,02,04)/All-Star(4: 01-02,04-05)
3: 1B Mickey Lynn (33-L .215-512-13-63-.651-1 B+) Silver Slugger(3: 01-03,LF)/All-Star(2: 01,03) Previous low in HR was 31
4: SS Scott Damon (27-R .256-281-10-47-.761-2 A)
5: LF Terry Graham (27-L .272-158-7-25-.796-0 A) All-Star(04)/Gold Glove
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (30-R .295-237-0-20-.721-0 A)
7: RF Dave Bess (30-R .282-386-13-46-.805-3 B+) All-Star
8: C Pat Kennedy (25-R .224-415-14-54-.683-0 C+)
9: P Mike Rossini (23-R .266-64-2-4-.689-0 C) Rookie

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .310-503-4-49-.767-35 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .290-521-11-58-.753-26 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .299-536-15-83-.804-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .257-448-24-87-.845-23 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .268-511-32-101-.850-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .320-363-10-45-.809-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .279-183-6-24-.756-11 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .215-195-0-20-.639-0 B) RoY
9: P Jim Baucom (25-L .169-83-0-7-.393-0 C) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 88 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 13,599

Top of the First
Jimmy Allen strikes out on 3 pitches! Leo Toruno doubles high off the wall in right center... Mickey Lynn strikes out! Scott Damon hits a home run to left center......... 2 to 0, Hornets. Terry Graham strikes out looking!

Bottom of the First
Brian Bowden flies out to center. Cal Doty grounds out to 2nd. Ray McDonald flies out to right.......

Top of the Second
Chuck Corrigan and Dave Bess lead off with back to back hits....... Pat Kennedy flies out to deep center and Corrigan goes to 3rd. P Mike Rossini swings away and flies out to right and Corrigan tags up, but Ray McDonald throws him out!

Bottom of the Second
Jack Washburn doubles off the wall in left! But the next three all make outs with 2 strikeouts...........

Top of the Third
With 2 outs, Mickey Lynn strikes out for the 1000th K of P Jim Baucom's career!

Bottom of the Fourth
Cal Doty lines the first pitch to center for a hit! With 1 out, he steals 2nd. Jack Washburn lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit, but it was almost caught and Doty only makes it to 3rd. Washburn steals 2nd! Tom McDowell strikes out............... Fernando Tello pokes the first pitch to right for a hit and both runners score!! Tie Game: 2 to 2!

Top of the Fifth
Dave Bess leads off with a home run to right center.... 3 to 2, Hornets.

Bottom of the Fifth
Bob Hutson lines the first pitch to right for a double! P Jim Baucom bunts him to 3rd. With the infield in, Brian Bowden grounds a hit through the left side and Hutson scores! Tie Game: 3 to 3! Bowden steals 2nd and goes to 3rd when C Pat Kennedy throws the ball into center field! With the infield back in, Cal Doty grounds a hit up the middle and Bowden scores! 4 to 3, Jays! The next two make outs.

Top of the Sixth
Leo Toruno grounds out to 2nd and P Jim Baucom calls out Trudy the Trainer........................................... .... Oh, Pia! I did say, "barring injury", didn't I? You heard me!

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Miguel Tejeda (28-R), their closer, who is 5-8 with 21 SV and a 3.68 ERA in 110 IP. With 1 out, Jack Washburn hits a home run to right center! 5 to 3, Jays!

Top of the Ninth
On the Hill: Ron Thurgood (22-L0, after a scoreless 8th. Ken Yockey (27-R) is in to play 3rd. 4-5-6 up for Charlotte. The Bullpen is ready. Scott Damon, who hit a home run off Jim Baucom, strikes out looking! Terry Graham hits a home run to left........ 5 to 4, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: Mickel Cannady (24-R). PH Octavio Garcia (30-S), batting .236/.311/.400 in 110 AB with 6 HR and 17 RBI, strikes out! Dave Bess grounds out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 4

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 7 hits and made 1 error

Jim Baucom (W 22-7) went 5.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 2 home runs, no walks and struck out 7.
LHP Bill Grant (H 4) went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
LHP Ron Thurgood (H 4) went 1.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run, 1 walk and struck out 2.
RHP Mickel Cannady (SV 4) faced 2 batters and got them both out with 1 strikeout.

Mike Rossini (L 13-10) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 8 hits, no walks and struck out 6.

SS Brian Bowden had a hit, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn had 3 hits with a double and his 25th home run of the season, stole a base and scored 2 runs. LF Fernando Tello had a hit and 2 RBI. C Bob Hutson hit a double and scored a run.

For Charlotte, SS Scott Damon hit his 11th home run and had 2 RBI. LF Terry Graham hit his 8th home run. RF Dave Bess had 3 hits with his 14th home run.

Trudy's report on Jim Baucom is a mild hamstring strain that will bother him for 5 or 6 days..... She says it should not affect his pitching and if we want to get him 2 more starts before the season is over, he will have to pitch with it once..... I'll have to think about that one.......

[Questdog]

Friday, September 22, 2006

Charlotte Hornets (74-79 .484 28.5 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (102-50 .671 19 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Angel Gomez (26-R) (13-9 3.99 ERA 210 IP, 211 H, 22 HR, 63 BB, 108 SO)
JAX: Al Calice (25-R) (12-9 2.56 ERA 214.2 IP, 183 H, 9 HR, 65 BB, 145 SO) All-Star

Gomez is 1-0 in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a 2 hit shutout and a 2.51 ERA. 14.1 IP, 12 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 SO.

Calice gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 2 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a no decision at Louisville that we lost. He is 0-1 in his last 5 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: CF Jimmy Allen (21-L .338-68-0-13-.926-1 B+) Rookie
2: 3B Chuck Corrigan (30-R .296-240-0-20-.721-0 A)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (32-L .264-553-16-87-.790-21 B) MVP(04)/Silver Slugger(3: 01-SS,02,04)/All-Star(4: 01-02,04-05)
4: LF Mike Cram (34-R .237-278-24-47-.885-8 B+) 22 HR in his last 200 AB
5: 1B Mickey Lynn (33-L .214-515-13-63-.647-1 B+) Silver Slugger(3: 01-03,LF)/All-Star(2: 01,03)
6: RF Terry Graham (27-L .272-162-8-26-.807-0 A) All-Star(04)/Gold Glove(LF)
7: SS Scott Damon (27-R .256-285-11-49-.768-2 A)
8: C Pat Kennedy (25-R .222-418-14-54-.679-0 C+)
9: P Angel Gomez (26-R .304-69-1-10-.696-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .310-507-4-50-.765-36 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .291-525-11-59-.755-27 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .296-540-15-83-.799-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .261-452-25-88-.860-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .266-515-32-101-.843-22 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .320-366-10-47-.808-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .280-186-6-24-.755-12 A+)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .217-198-0-20-.644-0 B) RoY
9: P Al Calice (25-L .100-60-0-2-.215-0 F) All-Star

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 84 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 15,485

Top of the First
Jimmy Allen pops out to left. Chuck Corrigan swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right... Leo Toruno draws a walk... Mike Cram strikes out! Mickey Lynn swings at the first pitch and flies out to right!

Bottom of the First
Brian Bowden swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Cal Doty grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Ray McDonald swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to deep right....

We send 9 batters to the plate in the first three innings.... We did get a walk by Bart Daw, but he was thrown out stealing....

Top of the Fourth
With 2 outs, Mickey Lynn hits a home run to right.... 1 to 0, Hornets.

Bottom of the Fourth
Brian Bowden grounds a hit to right! Cal Doty grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. Ray McDonald lines the first pitch to right for a hit and Doty goes to 3rd! Jack Washburn swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses........... Tom McDowell grounds out to 3rd....

Top of the Fifth
With 2 outs, P Angel Gomez grounds one to short, but Brian Bowden makes a bad throw for an error... Jimmy Allen grounds a double over the 3rd base bag and P Gomez scores from 1st and Allen ends up on 3rd....... 2 to 0 Hornets. Chuck Corrigan grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Allen scores... 3 to 0, Hornets.

Bottom of the Fifth
With 2 outs, Bob Hutson lines a 3-2 pitch to right center for a double, but is hurt...... Pinch-runner: Don Kern (29-R), who will stay in to catch. PH Tommy Adams (24-L) flies out to left....

Bottom of the Sixth
Brian Bowden doubles to left center! But the next three all make outs.....

Top of the Seventh
On the Hill: Norm Crone (22-L), after a scoreless 6th. With 1 out, Jimmy Allen, a lefty, doubles off the wall in center... The Bullpen gets up. We walk Chuck Corrigan intentionally...... Leo Toruno, another lefty, hits a home run to left....... 6 to 0, Hornets. Pia! A plane ticket! Oh, right... Their season is over, so just get me one of those forms to make a roster move....

Top of the Eighth
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (30-R), after getting the last two outs of the 7th. Terry Graham plunks one, but Don Kern cannot find the handle for an error.... Scott Damon pops one up to shallow center that everyone stands around and watches drop for a hit... So, instead of having 2 outs and the bases empty, as he should, P Wallace has 2 on and no outs.... The Bullpen gets up. Pat Kennedy walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up..... P Angel Gomez flies out to center and the runners hold. Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (36-L). Kevin Yockey (27-R) is in to play 2nd in a double switch. Jimmy Allen pops one out to right that looks like it will drop for a hit, but Ray McDonald races in and snares it and fires to 3rd to double off Graham!!

Top of the Ninth
With 1 out, Leo Toruno doubles to right... The Bullpen gets up. With 2 outs, Mickey Lynn grounds one to 2nd, but Ken Yockey boots it... His 1st error at 2nd in 30 games (21 starts). Terry Graham clears the bases with a double to left center... 8 to 0, Hornets. Scott Damon lines a hit to center and Graham scores... 9 to 0, Hornets.

Lost - 9 to 0

We had 5 whole hits and made 3 errors
Charlotte had 10 hits and made no errors

Al Calice (L 12-10) went 5 innings, allowed 3 runs (1 earned), 4 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 4. He has lowered his ERA from 3.20 last year to 2.54 this year, but his record was 20-8 last year...
LHP Norm Crone went 1.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 home run and 2 walks (1 INT).
RHP Roger Wallace went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk.
LHP Bill Grant went 1.2 innings, allowed 3 unearned runs and 3 hits.

Angel Gomez (W 14-9) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 4. He threw a WP. 139 pitches. He is the first pitcher to toss 2 shutouts against the Jays this season. He is now 2-8 lifetime against the Jays.

SS Brian Bowden had 2 hits with a double. C Bob Hutson hit a double.

For Charlotte, 2B Leo Toruno hit a double and his 17th home run of the season, drew a walk, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. 1B Mickey Lynn hit his 14th home run, drew a walk and scored 2 runs.

Trudy's report on Bob Hutson is a hip flexor strain that will bother his running for about a week....

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 23, 2006

RP Norm Crone (22-L) was sent back to the Portland (AAA) roster and RP Tim Hiler (28-R) was recalled.

Charlotte Hornets (75-79 .487 27.5 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (102-51 .667 18 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Jerry Doherty (28-L) (10-14 3.75 ERA 223 IP, 216 H, 19 HR, 81 BB, 115 SO) All-Star(04)
JAX: Tommy Corris (26-R) (15-6 2.63 ERA 225.2 IP, 197 H, 17 HR, 31 BB, 144 SO) All-Star(3: 04-06)

Doherty is 1-2 in 3 starts against the Jays this season with a CG win and a 2.86 ERA. 22 IP, 21 H, 2 HR, 6 BB, 12 SO. For a team that was 12th in fewest runs allowed coming into this series, they have an awful lot of solid starting pitchers....

Corris gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a win over Birmingham.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: CF Jimmy Allen (21-L .342-73-0-14-.944-1 B+) Rookie
2: 3B Chuck Corrigan (30-R .299-244-0-21-.727-0 A)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (32-L .266-557-17-90-.800-21 B) MVP(04)/Silver Slugger(3: 01-SS,02,04)/All-Star(4: 01-02,04-05)
4: LF Mike Cram (34-R .233-283-24-47-.870-8 B+)
5: 1B Phil Shumate (33-S .291-405-17-62-.815-0 C) All-Star(2: 04,06)
6: RF Terry Graham (27-L .271-166-8-28-.810-0 A) All-Star(04)/Gold Glove(LF)
7: SS Scott Damon (27-R .259-290-11-50-.769-2 A)
8: C Pat Kennedy (25-R .220-422-14-54-.674-0 C+)
9: P Jerry Doherty (28-L .221-68-0-7-.497-0 F) All-Star(04)

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .311-511-4-50-.768-36 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: 3B Ken Yockey (27-R .268-239-1-10-.655-15 A)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .296-544-15-83-.796-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Tom McDowell (29-R .264-518-32-101-.840-23 B) All-Star
5: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .277-188-6-24-.750-12 A+)
6: CF Dickie Stemen (31-R .200-145-4-22-.545-0 C+)
7: LF Cal Doty (29-L .291-529-11-59-.753-27 A) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .225-267-6-32-.644-3 B+)
9: P Tommy Corris (26-R .286-70-0-8-.625-0 F) All-Star(3: 04-06)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 78 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 16,651

Top of the First
Jimmy Allen strikes out on 3 pitches! Chuck Corrigan strikes out! Leo Toruno lines a 2-2 pitch to right for a hit... He steals 2nd... Mike Cram strikes out!

Bottom of the First
Brian Bowden swings at the first pitch and triples to right! His 13th triple of the season, which moves him past Leo Toruno for the MLB lead! Ken Yockey hits a home run to right!! 2 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald strikes out looking on 3 pitches... Tom McDowell takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Bart Daw swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to 2nd and they double McDowell off at 1st......

Bottom of the Second
Dickie Stemen grounds the first pitch to left for a hit! Cal Doty plunks one into a force at 2nd, 2-4. Don Kern doubles to center! P Tommy Corris lines the first pitch to right for a hit and both runners score!! 4 to 0, Jays! The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Fourth
Dickie Stemen and Cal Doty lead off with back to back hits! Don Kern bloops a hit to right and the bases are loaded with no outs! P Tommy Corris grounds a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and Stemen scores! 5 to 0, Jays! That does it for P Jerry Doherty. New Pitcher: Jim Greer (24-L), a rookie who is 5-1 with 1 SV and a 2.32 ERA in 93 IP with 1 start. Brian Bowden swings at the first pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4, and Doty scores and Kern goes to 3rd. 6 to 0, Jays! Ken Yockey swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to center and Kern tags up and beats the throw home. 7 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Fifth
With 1 out, Pat Kennedy lines the first pitch to right center for a double. With 2 outs, Jimmy Allen lines a hit to center. A wild pitch scores Kennedy... 7 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Fifth
With 2 outs, Dickie Stemen plunks one, but C Pat Kennedy cannot find the handle for an error. Cal Doty lines a hit to right and Stemen beats the throw to 3rd! Don Kern lines the first pitch to right for a hit and Stemen scores! 8 to 1, Jays! P Tommy Corris clears the bases with his third hit of the day, a double grounded over the 3rd base bag!! 10 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Sixth
Ken Yockey plunks one and C Pat Kennedy finds the handle this time, but throws the ball away at 1st for a 2 base error! Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd and Yockey goes to 3rd. Tom McDowell flies out to deep center, but Ken Yockey still manages to get himself thrown out, yet again...... And he is hurt.... Buddy Hendricks (27-R) will go in to play 2nd and Bart Daw will move to 3rd.

Bottom of the Seventh
Bart Daw draws a walk and Dickie Stemen bloops the first pitch to right for his third hit of the game! With 1 out, Don Kern draws a walk to load the bases up. P Tommy Corris strikes out... Brian Bowden swings at the first pitch and fouls out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Jim Rutherford (37-R), who is 5-5 with a 4.65 ERA in 71.2 IP. With 2 outs, Tom McDowell hits a home run to left center! 11 to 1, Jays!

Won - 11 to 1

We had 15 hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 7 hits and made 2 errors

Tommy Corris (W 16-6) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 7 hits, no walks and struck out 9. He threw a WP. 126 pitches. At bat, he had 3 hits with a double and 5 RBI! Who has been named the Player of the Game the most times this season for the Jays? Not Jim Baucom, with 20, but Tommy Corris with 21!

Jerry Doherty (L 10-15) went 3+ innings, gave us 7 runs, 9 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 2.

SS Brian Bowden hit a triple, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Ken Yockey hit his 2nd home run of the season and had 3 RBI. 1B Tom McDowell hit his 33rd home run and drew a walk. 2B/3B Bart Daw hit a double and drew a walk. CF Dickie Stemen had 3 hits and scored 2 runs. LF Cal Doty had 2 hits and scored 3 runs. C Don Kern went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk, scored 3 runs and had an RBI.

Trudy's report on Ken Yockey is a knee contusion (why not a bruised knee?), that she figures will hobble him for about a week.

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Fan Appreciation Day!

The final regular season home game of 2006.

Charlotte Hornets (75-80 .484 28.5 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (103-51 .669 19 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Boots Hotchkiss (26-R) (3-6 5.49 ERA 83.2 IP, 101 H, 9 HR, 25 BB, 39 SO) Rookie
JAX: Del Warwick (31-L) (15-7 2.78 ERA 210.1 IP, 196 H, 17 HR, 56 BB, 125 SO) Gold Glove(02)

Hotchkiss is 0-1 in 2 starts against the Jays this season with a 27.00 ERA. 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 0 SO. We shelled him once and he got hurt after a scoreless inning in the other game.

Warwick gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a no decision at Louisville that we won.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: CF Jimmy Allen (21-L .338-77-0-14-.922-1 B+) Rookie
2: 2B Leo Toruno (32-L .266-561-17-90-.798-22 B) MVP(04)/Silver Slugger(3: 01-SS,02,04)/All-Star(4: 01-02,04-05)
3: LF Mike Cram (34-R .230-287-24-47-.858-8 B+) 4 for 20 (.200) with 3 HR vs Warwick
4: SS Scott Damon (27-R .260-292-11-50-.770-2 A)
5: RF Terry Graham (27-L .274-168-8-28-.812-0 A) All-Star(04)/Gold Glove(LF)
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (30-R .302-248-0-21-.732-0 A)
7: 1B Bobby Baker (24-R .269-286-2-20-.700-25 A+)
8: C Terry Johnson (27-R .274-124-4-21-.813-0 D+) Rookie
9: P Boots Hotchkiss (26-R .231-26-0-5-.538-0 C) Rookie

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .310-516-4-51-.769-36 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .293-533-11-59-.755-27 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .293-549-15-83-.790-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .259-455-25-88-.855-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .264-522-33-102-.844-23 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .316-370-10-47-.800-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .276-192-6-24-.754-12 A+)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .233-270-6-33-.665-3 B+)
9: P Del Warwick (31-L .236-72-0-7-.528-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 77 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 15,821

We finish the home season with 1,156,290 fans coming to our games this year!
The first time we have ever drawn a million fans!
We lead the MLB in attendance!
Both Syracuse and Rochester, 2nd and 3rd in attendance, have 7 home games this week and could conceivably catch us, but it does not seem likely.

Top of the First
Jimmy Allen flies out to left. Leo Toruno grounds out to 3rd. Mike Cram grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Brian Bowden strikes out looking on 3 pitches....... Cal Doty beats out an infield hit! And P Boots Hotchkiss is hurt. New Pitcher: Jim Rutherford (37-R), who gave us a run on a home run in an inning yesterday. Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Jack Washburn draws a walk. Tom McDowell, who hit the home run off Rutherford yesterday, pops out to left...

Top of the Second
Scott Damon grounds a 2-2 pitch to left for a hit. Terry Graham doubles to right and Damon heads home, but we throw him out, 9-4-2! The next two make outs!

Bottom of the Second
Fernando Tello and Bart Daw lead off with back to back hits! Don Kern hits a home run to left!!! 3 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Third
With 1 out, P Jim Rutherford grounds the first pitch up the middle for a hit and goes to 2nd on a ground out. Leo Toruno grounds an inning ending ball to 2nd, but Bart Daw throws it away for a 2 base error and P Rutherford scores... 3 to 1, Jays. Mike Cram triples high off the wall in right center and Toruno scores.. 3 to 2, Jays.

Top of the Fifth
With 1 out, P Mike Guy (21-R), a rookie, lines his first MLB hit to right center for a double... Jimmy Allen knocks a 2-2 pitch over the head of the center fielder for a double... Tie Game: 3 to 3. The Bullpen gets up. Allen steals 3rd... That brings the infield in and Leo Toruno grounds a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Cal Doty overruns the ball for an error and Allen scores... 4 to 3, Hornets. The next two make outs.

Top of the Sixth
With 1 out, Chuck Corrigan lines a hit to right. The Bullpen gets up. Bobby Baker grounds a hit to left... Terry Johnson gets beaned with a 1-2 pitch to load the bases up.... PH Phil Shumate (33-S), 0 for 5 this series, is sent up. He made the All-Star Team this season, but is now relegated mostly to the bench. Call to the Bullpen: Rob Thurgood (22-L). Buddy Hendricks (27-R) is in to play 2nd in a double switch. Shumate grounds a hit up the middle and two runs score... 6 to 3, Hornets. The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Buddy Hendricks grounds a hit to left and steals 2nd. Brian Bowden lines a hit to center and Hendricks heads home, but Jimmy Allen throws him out...

Bottom of the Eighth
On the Hill: Dale Kumpf (35-R), after two scoreless innings. PH Dave Estey (24-L), who will stay in to catch, grounds out to 2nd. Buddy Hendricks walks on 4 pitches. Brian Bowden beats out an infield hit. Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses..... Ray McDonald, who has a .596 OPS in September, lines the first pitch to left for a hit and Hendricks scores. 6 to 4, Hornets. Jack Washburn plunks one and is out, 2-3..........

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Bill Grant (36-L). PH Mickey Lynn (33-L), 1 for 5 with a home run and a walk this series, lines a hit to left center... The Bullpen gets back up. Jimmy Allen, another lefty, bloops the first pitch to left for a hit.... Leo Toruno, the 2004 MVP, bunts the runners up. Mike Cram strikes out! A wild pitch scores Lynn... 7 to 4, Hornets.

Lost - 7 to 4

We finish the season series with Charlotte 7-7.
We were 11-3 last year and had won the series 3 years in a row.

We had 15 hits and made 2 errors
Charlotte had 12 hits and made no errors

Opposing pitchers had been 1 for 42 in September against us, but the Hornets' pitchers were 2 for 2 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Del Warwick (L 15-8) went 5.1 innings, allowed 6 runs (4 earned), 9 hits, no walks, 1 HBP and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP Ron Thurgood went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Tim Hiler pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
LHP Bill Grant went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 2 hits and struck out 1. He threw a WP.

Boots Hotchkiss got 1 out, gave us 1 hit, no walks and struck out 1. In 3 starts against the Jays, he has now pitched 2 total innings.
RHP Mike Guy (W 1-1) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, gave us a walk and struck out 1.
RHP Miguel Tejeda (SV 22) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 walk.

SS Brian Bowden had a 2 hits. CF Cal Doty had 4 hits. 3B Tom McDowell hit a double, drew 2 walks and stole a base. LF Fernando Tello had 2 hits and scored a run. 2B Bart Daw had 2 hits and scored a run. C Don Kern hit his 7th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. 2B Buddy Hendricks had a hit and a walk, stole a base and scored a run in 2 trips to the plate.

The Hornets announced that P Boots Hotchkiss had a biceps strain that was nothing serious, but his season is over with.

[Questdog]

September 25, 2006

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Ray Dallas, 3B, Hartford (24-R .385/.417/.555) Had 16 hits (!!) with 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5 R and 2 RBI in 6 G (3rd career PoW; 2nd this season)

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

September 19 - Terry Luckett (31-L) of Rochester pitched a 3 hit shutout at Ottawa. He did not walk a batter and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit. It is his 4th shutout of the season and 20th of his career. He is now 14-8 with a 2.45 ERA in 33 starts. The Roosters won, 2 to 0.
September 20 - LF Ken Kelly (28-S) of Buffalo had 3 hits with a double and a Grand Slam, was hit by a pitch, scored 4 runs and had 5 RBI at home versus Hartford. 2B Ray Holloway (32-R) had 3 hits with a home run and 5 RBI. The Bombers won, 12 to 2. 3B Ray Dallas (24-R) of the Whalers went 5 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI.
September 21 - Rookie RF Rudy Purcell (27-L) of Louisville had 3 hits with a triple and a home run, stole a base, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at Memphis. The Colonels won, 8 to 1.
September 23 - Jesus Torres (28-R) of New Orleans pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Orlando. He walked 4, hit a batter and struck out 5. It is the first shutout of his career. He is now 3-5 with 2 SV and a 5.66 ERA in 5 starts (49 G). The Pelicans won, 3 to 0.
September 23 - 2B Norm Geiger (31-R) of Indianapolis hit 2 home runs, drew 2 walks and had 5 RBI at Ottawa. The Arrows won, 8 to 1.
September 24 - LF Dave Brooks (28-L) of Richmond had 4 hits with a double and a home run and 4 RBI at home versus Birmingham. The Robins won, 9 to 4.
September 24 - 3B Ray Dallas (24-R) of Hartford went 2 for 4 with his 50th double of the season, an MLB record, and scored a run. He now has 231 hits on the season, also an MLB record. The Whalers lost, 9 to 2.

For the final week of the regular season we are on the road with 4 games in Orlando and then 3 in Richmond.

[Questdog]

Monday, September 25, 2006

We are in Orlando to play a 4 game series. They won 3 of 4 at New Orleans over the weekend. We are 6-4 against them on the season and won 2 of 3 in our first visit, August 22-24. They are 4th in scoring with 4.49 runs per game (Jacksonville is #1, barely, with 4.59). We have scored 1 more run than Indianapolis. The Juice are 6th in fewest runs allowed with 3.98 (Jacksonville is #1 with 3.22). Their run differential is +79, 3rd best in the MLB, and ours is +213, the best.

Jacksonville Jays (103-52 .665 18 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (85-70 .548 18 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Tommy Keyser (27-L) (7-1 3.66 ERA 76.1 IP, 66 H, 11 HR, 14 BB, 38 SO)
ORL: Ray Berres (27-R) (16-10 3.50 ERA 228.2 IP, 213 H, 11 HR, 101 BB, 131 SO)

Keyser pitched a CG win last time out at Birmingham, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts. It was his 2nd CG win in a row. Since being recalled from Portland (AAA), he is 5-0 in 5 starts!

We have only faced Berres once this season, back in April, and he beat us, giving us 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and no walks with 7 strikeouts in 8 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .311-521-4-51-.769-36 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .297-538-11-59-.762-27 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .292-554-15-84-.786-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .257-459-25-88-.850-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .265-525-33-102-.847-24 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .317-375-10-47-.800-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .282-195-6-24-.762-12 A+)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .234-273-7-36-.676-3 B+)
9: P Tommy Keyser (27-L .308-26-0-5-.615-0 B)

ORLANDO
1: SS Ernie Patterson (25-R .328-631-10-59-.816-53 B) All-Star(2: 02,06)/Gold Glove(5: 3B,01-05)
2: 2B Reggie Frazier (24-R .263-255-1-21-.644-12 B+) Rookie
3: 1B Robert Rodriguez (25-R .336-420-12-73-.865-2 A) Rookie #61 prospect
4: CF Pete Thompson (26-L .264-261-13-42-.824-7 C)
5: 3B Joe Jones (30-R .241-440-14-70-.701-2 B+)
6: RF Jimmy Ward (31-L .296-500-6-63-.780-10 B) All-Star
7: LF Bob Cline (28-R .236-416-1-47-.602-9 B+) Waiver claim from Columbus April 13
8: C Jeff Tummino (24-L .239-293-8-43-.708-1 B) Rookie
9: P Ray Berres (27-R .200-70-0-6-.505-0 D+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 81 F, Overcast, with a 10 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 7,847

Top of the First
Brian Bowden grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Cal Doty walks on 4 pitches! Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-4.... Jack Washburn grounds a hit to right and McDonald heads to 3rd, but Jimmy Ward throws him out....... McDonald is useless right now.......

Bottom of the First
Ernie Patterson strikes out looking! Only his 37th strikeout of the season in 632 AB! Reggie Frazier pops out to right and I fully expected Ray McDonald to muff the catch, but he did not! Robert Rodriguez swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1! 1-2-3!

Top of the Second
Tom McDowell lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a double and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Bart Daw strikes out... Don Kern lines out to short...

Bottom of the Second
Pete Thompson grounds a 2-2 pitch over the 1st base bag for a double... Joe Jones walks on 4 pitches... Jimmy Ward grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Thompson goes to 3rd!! Bob Cline bloops a hit to right and Thompson scores... 1 to 0, Juice.

Bottom of the Fourth
Pete Thompson lines a hit to center, steals 2nd, goes to 3rd on ground out and scores on a wild pitch...... 2 to 0, Juice.

Bottom of the Fifth
P Ray Berres doubles to center... Ernie Patterson pops out to right and Ray McDonald doubles P Berres off at 2nd! That partially makes up for the fact that he has struck out twice this game with a runner on 3rd...

Bottom of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Mickel Cannady (24-R). Jimmy Ward takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... The Bullpen is up. Bob Cline lines the first pitch to left for a hit, his third of the game... With 1 out, P Ray Berres swings away and grounds a double play ball to short, but Brian Bowden makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error and the bases are loaded.... A wild pitch scores Ward... 3 to 0, Juice. Ernie Patterson flies out to center and Cline trots home... 4 to 0, Juice.

Top of the Eighth
Ray McDonald hits a home run to right center! 4 to 1, Juice. Oh! Please let that lead to a hot streak!

Lost - 4 to 1

We had 7 hits and made 2 errors
Orlando had 7 hits and made no errors

Tommy Keyser (L 7-2) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 2 innings, allowed 2 unearned runs, 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. He threw a WP.

Ray Berres (W 17-10) went 8 innings, gave us 1 run, 7 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks and struck out 6. 128 pitches. At bat, he hit a double.
RHP Ray Hayes (SV 29) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

SS Brian Bowden had 2 hits with a double and a walk. RF Ray McDonald hit his 16th home run of the season and doubled a runner off at 2nd. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits with a double. LF Fernando Tello had a hit and a walk.

For Orlando, CF Pete Thompson had 3 hits with a double, stole a base and scored 2 runs. LF Bob Cline went 3 for 3, scored a run and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Jacksonville Jays (103-53 .660 17 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (86-70 .551 17 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Jim Baucom (25-L) (22-7 1.68 ERA 262.1 IP, 158 H, 15 HR, 53 BB, 287 SO) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)
ORL: Bob Valvano (22-R) (7-10 4.49 ERA 122.1 IP, 126 H, 7 HR, 61 BB, 79 SO) Rookie

Baucom gave up 3 runs on 5 hits, 2 home runs and no walks with 7 strikeouts in 5.1 innings last time out in a win over Charlotte. He left the game with a mild hamstring strain, which is still bothering him, but Trudy says it will not affect his pitching. Whether this is his final start of the season depends on how many strikeouts he gets. He needs 13 to reach 300 and I really want him to get it!

We beat Valvano in August, scoring 5 runs on 5 hits, 1 home run and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. He was the 9th overall selection in this year's Amateur Draft. He has won 3 of his last 4 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Brian Bowden (29-R .313-524-4-51-.775-36 A) Gold Glove(2: 02,2B-04)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .296-541-11-59-.759-28 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .292-558-16-85-.789-23 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .257-463-25-88-.847-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .267-529-33-102-.850-24 C+) All-Star
6: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .317-378-10-47-.800-2 C)
7: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .276-199-6-24-.747-12 A+)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .232-276-7-36-.671-3 B+)
9: P Jim Baucom (25-L .167-84-0-7-.388-0 C) Ace(04)/Hurler(04)/All-Star(5: 02-06)

ORLANDO
1: SS Ernie Patterson (25-R .326-634-10-60-.812-53 B) All-Star(2: 02,06)/Gold Glove(5: 3B,01-05)
2: LF Ted Mason (28-R .211-246-6-30-.614-8 B)
3: 1B Robert Rodriguez (25-R .333-424-12-73-.858-2 A) Rookie
4: CF Pete Thompson (26-L .272-265-13-42-.838-8 C)
5: 3B Joe Jones (30-R .239-443-14-70-.698-2 B+)
6: RF Jimmy Ward (31-L .294-503-6-63-.776-10 B) All-Star
7: C Dennis Blaser (28-L .224-250-6-38-.651-0 B) All-Star
8: 2B Gerardo Bustamante (27-R .223-175-1-20-.675-1 B+)
9: P Bob Valvano (22-L .262-42-0-2-.581-0 B+) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 73 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 8,484

Top of the First
Brian Bowden grounds a hit up the middle! He steals 2nd! Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and grounds one to 1st, but P Bob Valvano drops the toss for an error! Jack Washburn pops out to center, but Bowden tags up anyway and gets thrown out by Pete Thompson.... And Bowden is hurt.......

Bottom of the First
Buddy Hendricks (27-R) is in to play short. Ernie Patterson grounds out to short. Ted Mason lines out to right. Robert Rodriguez strikes out! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Second
Pete Thompson hits a home run to left center.... 1 to 0, Juice.

Top of the Fourth
Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and steals 2nd! Jack Washburn flies out to left and McDonald tags up and beats the throw to 3rd! Tom McDowell strikes out... Fernando Tello grounds out to the pitcher............

Bottom of the Fourth
Robert Rodriguez walks on 4 pitches, but Jim Baucom strikes out the next three in a row! 7 strikeouts so far!

Top of the Fifth
Bart Daw doubles to left center and goes to 3rd on a ground out. P Jim Baucom strikes out looking on 3 pitches... Buddy Hendricks makes a bid for a hit with a hard grounder up the middle, but Ernie Patterson makes a great play to get him out....

Bottom of the Fifth
With 1 out. Gerardo Bustamante lines a 3-2 pitch to left center for a hit and P Bob Valvano bunts him to 2nd. Ernie Patterson hits a foul ball down the right field line that Ray McDonald drops for his 12th error of the season.... Given a second chance, Patterson grounds a hit up the middle and Bustamante heads home, but Cal Doty throws him out!

Top of the Ninth
P Bob Valvano is at 102 pitches. 4-5-6 up for us. Jack Washburn flies out to right... Tom McDowell lines a hit to right! Fernando Tello flies out to right... Bart Daw swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to left....

Lost - 1 to 0

We have lost 4 of our last 5 games...

We had 6 hits and made 1 error
Orlando had 5 hits and made 2 errors

Jim Baucom (L 22-8) went 8 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. 105 pitches. At bat, he hit a double. He is now 2-4 in his last 6 starts. We have scored 4 total runs in his 4 losses... And only 6 total runs in his 2 wins.

Bob Valvano (W 8-10) pitched 9 shutout innings, gave us 6 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6. 119 pitches. It is his 3rd shutout of the season.

SS Brian Bowden had a hit and stole a base in his only at bat. CF Cal Doty hit a double, but thought it was a triple and threw a runner out at home. 2B Bart Daw had 2 hits with a double.

For Orlando, SS Ernie Patterson had 3 hits and stole a base. CF Pete Thompson hit his 14th home run of the season and threw 2 runners out, one at home and one at 3rd.

Trudy's report on Brian Bowden is a mild hamstring strain that will bother him for 5 or 6 days. So he will be a pinch-hitter for the rest of the season....

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Jacksonville Jays (103-54 .656 16 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (87-70 .554 16 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Al Calice (25-R) (12-10 2.54 ERA 219.2 IP, 187 H, 10 HR, 66 BB, 149 SO) All-Star
ORL: Larry Hemmerling (30-R) (15-12 3.88 ERA 194.2 IP, 191 H, 15 HR, 83 BB, 140 SO) Silver Slugger(01)

Calice gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings last time out in a loss to Charlotte. It has been over a month since he last won a game...

Hemmerling is 0-3 in 3 starts against the Jays this season with an 8.03 ERA. 12.1 IP, 20 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 7 SO. He is 7-2 in his last 10 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .291-561-16-85-.786-24 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .295-545-11-59-.759-28 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .314-382-10-47-.792-2 C)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .255-467-25-88-.840-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .266-533-33-102-.848-24 C+) All-Star
6: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .281-203-6-24-.757-12 A+)
7: SS Buddy Hendricks (27-R .252-206-0-12-.606-17 A)
8: C Don Kern (29-R .229-279-7-36-.664-3 B+)
9: P Al Calice (25-L .098-61-0-2-.211-0 F) All-Star

ORLANDO
1: 2B Reggie Frazier (24-R .260-258-1-21-.639-13 B+) Rookie
2: LF Bob Cline (28-R .241-419-1-48-.611-9 B+)
3: 1B Robert Rodriguez (25-R .331-426-12-73-.855-2 A) Rookie
4: CF Pete Thompson (26-L .272-268-14-43-.847-8 C)
5: RF Jimmy Ward (31-L .293-505-6-63-.775-10 B) All-Star
6: C Jeff Tummino (24-L .237-295-8-43-.705-1 B) Rookie
7: 3B Ray Montgomery (36-L .234-77-2-10-.745-0 B+) Waiver claim from Columbus August 8
8: SS Bill Loitz (23-L .333-39-1-1-.858-0 B+) Rookie
9: P Larry Hemmerling (30-R .152-66-0-2-.343-0 F) Silver Slugger(01)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 79 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 10 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 8,620

Top of the First
Ray McDonald, batting leadoff in an effort to shake things up for him and for the team, beats out an infield hit! Cal Doty draws a walk! Fernando Tello beats out an infield hit and the bases are loaded with no outs! Jack Washburn strikes out...... Tom McDowell lines a hit to left and McDonald scores and Doty heads home and beats the throw!! 2 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw beats out an infield hit and the bases are loaded back up! Buddy Hendricks pops out to 2nd... Don Kern grounds a hit to right and Tello scores and McDowell heads home and Jimmy Ward throws the ball to the back stop for an error!! 4 to 0, Jays! P Al Calice flies out to deep center.

Bottom of the First
Reggie Frazier pops out to left. Bob Cline grounds a hit to left... Robert Rodriguez grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Pete Thompson swings at the first pitch and flies out to center!

Top of the Second
P Larry Hemmerling throws 2 pitches and gives up a line drive hit to Ray McDonald and an infield hit to Cal Doty! Fernando Tello takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the base up with no outs for the second inning in a row! Jack Washburn, who struck out last inning, strikes out again... Tom McDowell, who had a 2-run single last inning, gets a 4-run hit this time! Grand Slam to left!!!! 8 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Third
P Carl Hughes (36-R) doubles over the head of the center fielder, but is hurt. Pinch-runner: Alex Santana (28-L). Reggie Frazier lines a hit to right... Bob Cline lines a hit to center and Santana scores... 8 to 1, Jays. Robert Rodriguez grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Frazier goes to 3rd!! Pete Thompson doubles off the fence in center and Frazier scores... 8 to 2, Jays. Jimmy Ward grounds their seventh hit of the game up the middle and Thompson scores... 8 to 3, Jays.

Top of the Fourth
New Pitcher: Mickey Steger (36-R), who is 1-3 with 1 SV and a 4.48 ERA in 72.1 IP. With 1 out, Fernando Tello lines a hit to right center. Jack Washburn grounds a double over the 1st base bag and Tello scores, but they throw Washburn out at 3rd, 9-3-5. 9 to 3, Jays!

Top of the Fifth
P Mickey Steger strikes out the side in order...

Bottom of the Sixth
Jimmy Ward grounds a hit up the middle. The Bullpen gets up. P Al Calice balks Ward to 2nd... Jeff Tummino lines a hit to center and Ward heads home, but Cal Doty throws him out!

Bottom of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Tom Hiler (28-R). T.R. Hunter (29-R) is in to play 2nd in a double switch and Bart Daw moves to 3rd. PH Shawn Royer (41-R), 3 for 16 (.188) on the season with a home run and 3 RBI, lines a hit to center... Reggie Frazier hits a home run to left... 9 to 5, Jays. Pia! Fill out one of those roster move sheets!

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (31-R), their closer, who got the Save with a scoreless inning on Monday. Buddy Hendricks pokes a hit to left and Bob Cline muffs the pickup for an error! Don Kern lines one hard to deep left, but Cline runs it down and Hendricks goes to 3rd. T.R. Hunter swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.... He is now 2 for his last 34 (.059) with 11 SO..... We have been holding onto the 3-time All-Star in hopes that he would be compensation eligible when he goes free agent this Fall, but that surely seems impossible now.... Ray McDonald grounds his fourth hit of the game to left and Hendricks scores! 10 to 5, Jays! I think he'll stay in the leadoff spot for a bit! Cal Doty lines a hit to center. Fernando Tello lines the first pitch to center for a hit and McDonald scores! 11 to 5, Jays!

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Roger Wallace (30-R). Ray Montgomery walks on 4 pitches... Bill Loitz doubles to right center... Our Bullpen is so full of suck now, we should call it the Hoover Pen..... The Hoover Pen gets up. PH Ernie Patterson (25-R), 3 for 7 with an RBI this series lines out to right and the runners hold. Reggie Frazier grounds out to short and Montgomery scores. 11 to 6, Jays.Bob Cline lines a hit to center and Loitz scores... 11 to 7, Jays.

Won - 11 to 7

We had 16 hits and made 1 error
Orlando had 15 hits and made 3 errors

Al Calice (W 13-10) went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, 10 hits, no walks, 1 HBP and struck out 2. He threw a WP and balked.
RHP Tom Hiler got 1 out, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 home run and 1 HBP.
LHP Bill Grant got 2 outs, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
RHP Roger Wallace got 2 outs, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 walks.
LHP Ron Thurgood (SV 9) faced 4 batters and got them all out with 2 strikeouts.

Larry Hemmerling (L 15-13) went 1.1 innings, gave us 8 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 2. He is the first pitcher to lose 4 games to the Jays this season.

RF Ray McDonald had 4 hits, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. CF Cal Doty had 2 hits and a walk, scored 2 runs and threw a runner out at home. LF Fernando Tello had 3 hits and a walk, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn hit a double, drew a walk and had an RBI. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits with a Grand Slam, his 34th home run of the season, scored 2 runs and had 6 RBI. SS Buddy Hendricks had 2 hits and scored a run. C Don Kern had a hit and 2 RBI.

For Orlando, 2B Ron Frazier had 2 hits with his 2nd home run, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. LF Bob Cline had 3 hits and 2 RBI. RF Jimmy Ward had 3 hits and an RBI.

The Juice announced that P Carl Hughes had hamstring soreness that they expected to bother him for 2 or 3 days.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 28, 2006

We sent P Tom Hiler (28-R) back to the Portland (AAA) roster and recalled P Mike Hollenbeck (24-R), though the paperwork will not be official until tomorrow when Hollenbeck will have been in AAA for 10 days.

We need to win this game to win the season series!

Jacksonville Jays (104-54 .658 17 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (87-71 .551 17 GB in 2nd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Tommy Corris (26-R) (16-6 2.57 ERA 234.2 IP, 204 H, 17 HR, 31 BB, 153 SO) All-Star(3: 04-06)
ORL: Wil Guerrero (28-R) (3-8 5.31 ERA 105 IP, 117 H, 17 HR, 30 BB, 47 SO)

Corris pitched a CG win over Charlotte last time out, allowing 1 run on 7 hits, no walks and 9 strikeouts. He has won his last 3 starts and only allowed 1 run in each.

Guerrero was claimed off waivers from Hartford on May 15. He is 4-21 in his career, but has pitched 2 good no decisions against the Jays this season with a 2.40 ERA. 15 IP, 14 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 6 SO. Last year, he was 1-13 for Hartford, but also pitched a decent no decision against the Jays...

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .295-566-16-86-.793-24 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .297-549-11-59-.762-28 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .319-386-10-48-.801-2 C)
4: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .255-471-25-89-.841-24 B)
5: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .268-537-34-108-.854-24 C+) All-Star
6: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .279-208-6-24-.749-12 A+)
7: SS Buddy Hendricks (27-R .256-211-0-12-.611-17 A)
8: C Dave Estey (24-L .158-19-1-4-.662-0 D+) Rookie 1st MLB start
9: P Tommy Corris (26-R .311-74-0-13-.685-0 F) All-Star(3: 04-06)

ORLANDO
1: SS Ernie Patterson (25-R .329-639-10-60-.815-54 B) All-Star(2: 02,06)/Gold Glove(5: 3B,01-05)
2: RF Jimmy Ward (31-L .296-510-6-64-.779-10 B) All-Star
3: CF Pete Thompson (26-L .271-273-14-44-.842-8 C)
4: LF Ted Mason (28-R .208-250-6-30-.605-8 B)
5: 3B Joe Jones (30-R .238-446-14-70-.693-2 B+)
6: C Dennis Blaser (28-L .221-253-6-38-.644-0 B) All-Star
7: 1B Gerardo Bustamante (27-R .225-178-1-20-.674-1 B+)
8: 2B Bill Loitz (23-L .349-43-1-1-.894-0 A) Rookie
9: P Wil Guerrero (28-S .147-34-0-2-.353-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 80 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 10 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 8,478

Top of the First
Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4! He gets caught stealing... Cal Doty lines out to center. Fernando Tello grounds out to 2nd.... Here we go again.... You're right, Pia, that was pessimistic. Sorry. Here we go again!

Bottom of the First
Ernie Patterson pops out to left. Jimmy Ward hits a home run to right.... 1 to 0, Juice. Pete Thompson lines the first pitch to right for a hit... Ted Mason flies out to right. Joe Jones grounds out to 3rd.

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Tom McDowell lines one to left center and it looks like Ted Mason makes a diving catch, but the umpire rules that he trapped it and McDowell has a hit! He goes to 2nd on a ground out. Buddy Hendricks pokes a hit to center and McDowell heads home and beats the throw! Tie Game: 1 to 1! But Pete Thompson is hurt. New CF: Bob Cline (28-R).

Bottom of the Third
Ernie Patterson grounds one to 3rd, but Tom McDowell throws it away for a 2 base error... But the next three all make outs!

Bottom of the Fourth
Joe Jones doubles to left and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Gerardo Bustamante pops out to 2nd! We walk Bill Loitz intentionally. P Wil Guerrero, a .147 hitter, grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit and Jones scores, but Ray McDonald throws P Guerrero out, trying to take 2nd. 2 to 1, Juice.

Why can we not hit this bum?!!!?!!!
4 hits and 1 run through 6 innings........

Top of the Seventh
With 1 out, Buddy Hendricks lines the first pitch to left center for a double! Dave Estey grounds the first pitch up the middle for a hit and Hendricks scores! Tie Game: 2 to 2! P Tommy Corris bunts Estey to 2nd. Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep left...

Top of the Eighth
Cal Doty doubles to left! P Wil Guerrero balks him to 3rd! Fernando Tello swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses....... They walk Jack Washburn intentionally. He had better steal 2nd! He does not.... Tom McDowell swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses............. NOW, Washburn steal 2nd... Idiot, Manny... Bart Daw swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to short............

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (31-R), their 2-time All-Star closer, who got the Save on Monday with a perfect inning, but gave us 4 hits and 2 runs in an inning yesterday. 7-8-9 up for us. Buddy Hendricks pops out to right... Dave Estey takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4! PH Tommy Adams (24-L) is sent up. Estey steals 2nd! Adams grounds out to 2nd and Estey goes to 3rd. Ray McDonald grounds out to short.........

Bottom of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Bill Grant (36-L). 6-7-8 up for Orlando. The Bullpen is ready. PH Alex Santana (28-L), batting .287/.383/.375 in 80 AB with 1 HR and 11 RBI, pokes a hit to right........ PH Robert Rodriguez (25-R), the rookie who is 0 for 8 this series, but batting .329 on the year, bunts Santana to 2nd. PH Shawn Royer (41-R), who had a hit and scored a run yesterday, is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: Mickel Cannady (24-R). Royer lines the first pitch hard to left, but Fernando Tello catches it and doubles Santana off at 2nd!!

Extras!
We are 12-4 on the season.

Top of the Tenth
2-3-4 up for us. They go down in order......

Bottom of the Tenth
9-1-2 up for the Juice. 3B Ray Montgomery (36-L), 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored yesterday, lines a hit to left... The Bullpen hops up. Ernie Patterson bunts Montgomery to 2nd. We walk Jimmy Ward intentionally. Bob Cline swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!!

Top of the Eleventh
New Pitcher: Charlie Flora (25-L), who is 8-3 with 9 SV and a 2.52 ERA in 71.1 IP with only 41 H and 86 SO, but 41 BB. Tom McDowell takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4! Bart Daw fails to get a bunt down and ends up striking out looking.... Buddy Hendricks lines a hit to center! We cannot really pinch-hit for Dave Estey, as Don Kern needs the day off and Bob Hutson is still nursing an injury.... We try a double steal, but C Jeff Tummino (24-L) throws McDowell out at 3rd.... Why, Manny? Why?! Estey grounds out to 1st, unassisted...

Bottom of the Eleventh
Ted Mason pokes a 2-2 pitch over the infield into left center for a hit... The Bullpen is back up. He tries to steal 2nd, but Dave Estey throws him out! SS Reggie Frazier (24-R), the rookie who is 2 for 8 with a home run, 2 runs and 3 RBI this series, grounds one to 2nd, but Bart Daw makes a bad throw to 1st for an error.... He steals 2nd... With 2 outs, Robert Rodriguez, the Rookie of the Year candidate, strikes out!

Top of the Twelfth
PH Brian Bowden (29-R) grounds out to 3rd and we go down in order...

Bottom of the Twelfth
New Pitcher: Roger Wallace (30-R), but the Bullpen is ready. Shawn Royer lines a hit to left...... P Charlie Flora has to hit, because their bench is empty, and he tries to bunt, but pops out to 1st! Ernie Patterson swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses! Jimmy Ward fouls out to 3rd!

Top of the Thirteenth
Fernando Tello lines a hit to right! With 2 outs, Bart Daw takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Buddy Hendricks draws a walk to load the bases up. Dave Estey grounds out to 1st, unassisted....

Bottom of the Thirteenth
They go down in order!

Top of the Fourteenth
New Pitcher: Jerry Brustad (22-L), a rookie who pitched a scoreless inning yesterday. He is 4-2 with 5 SV and a 1.12 ERA in 56.1 IP with 0 HR. PH Ken Yockey (27-R), still suffering from a knee bruise, grounds the first pitch to left for a hit! Ray McDonald fails to lay down a bunt and grounds into a sure double play, but they only get the force, 4-6, because Yockey levels the shortstop. But Yockey is hurt.... McDonald steals 2nd! Cal Doty grounds a 2-2 pitch to right for a hit and McDonald heads home and Jimmy Ward throws the ball to the backstop for an error! 3 to 2, Jays! Fernando Tello and Jack Washburn both strike out....

Bottom of the Fourteenth
New Pitcher: Ron Thurgood (22-L). Their is no one else in the Bullpen. Jeff Tummino grounds out to short! Robert Rodriguez lines a hit to center... Shawn Royer grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 3 to 2

We win the season series with Orlando 8-6! We have now won it every season, except in 2003, when we split.

We had 11 hits and made 2 errors
Orlando had 12 hits and made 2 errors

We have made 11 errors in our last 7 games...

Tommy Corris went 8 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1.
LHP Bill Grant got 1 out and allowed 1 hit.
RHP Mickel Cannady went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 1.
RHP Roger Wallace (W 9-1) pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
LHP Ron Thurgood (SV 10) pitched a scoreless inning and allowed 1 hit.

Wil Guerrero went 8 innings, gave us 2 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 5. He balked. 139 pitches. At bat, he had 2 hits and an RBI.
LHP Jerry Brustad (L 4-3) went 1 inning, gave us 1 run, 2 hits and struck out 2.

CF Cal Doty had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn drew 2 walks (1 INT) and stole 2 bases. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits and a walk and scored a run. SS Buddy Hendricks had 3 hits with a double and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. C Dave Estey, in his first MLB start, had 2 hits with a double and a walk and an RBI and threw out 1 of 2 base stealers. PH Ken Yockey had a hit.

For Orlando, RF Jimmy Ward hit his 7th home run of the season and drew an intentional walk.

The Juice announced that CF Pete Thompson had a finger blister that would bother him for 3 or 4 days.

Trudy's report on Ken Yockey is a sprained finger that will bother him for 2 to 3 weeks. He is still bothered by the knee bruise, too....

Around the League: Rochester lost at home to Hartford, 7 to 1, but Syracuse also lost at home to Indianapolis, 6 to 2, so the Roosters are the Champions of the Northern Division for 2006.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 29, 2006

3B Ken Yockey (27-R) was placed on the Disabled List and PH Greg Walker (24-S) was recalled. Trudy has cleared Bob Hutson (24-L) to play!

We signed RF Ray McDonald (26-R) to contract extension for next year at $170,000. He made $140,000 this season. He'll be a free agent after next year and if he has an MVP type season like last year, we will not be able to afford him. If he stinks it up like he has for the past 4 months, we can probably sign him. Through the end of May, he was batting .316 with 9 HR and 46 RBI (leading the MLB by a wide margin) in 50 G and had a .574 SLG. Since June 1, he is batting .280 with 7 HR and 40 RBI in 106 G with a .382 SLG....

We are in Richmond to play the final 3 games of the regular season over the weekend. They just split 4 games here with Louisville. We are 8-3 against them on the season and split a pair of games in our last visit, August 7-8. They are 7th in scoring with 4.34 runs per game (Jacksonville is down to #2 with 4.57, 4 runs behind Indianapolis). We have already set a new team record for runs with 727. We scored 723 last year. The Robins are 11th in fewest runs allowed with 4.36 per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 3.23). And unless we give up about 90 runs in these 3 games, we will finish at #1. We cannot set a team record, though, has we have already allowed 513 runs and we only allowed 508 in 2004. Their run differential is -3, 8th in the MLB, and ours is +214, the best.

Jacksonville Jays (105-54 .660 18 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Richmond Robins (83-76 .522 22 GB in 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (31-L) (15-8 2.88 ERA 215.2 IP, 205 H, 17 HR, 56 BB, 127 SO) Gold Glove(02)
RICH: Bill Halpin (30-R) (7-10 4.90 ERA 126.2 IP, 139 H, 10 HR, 52 BB, 65 SO)

Warwick gave up 6 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits and no walks with 2 strikeouts in 5.1 innings last time out in a loss to Charlotte.

We only faced Halpin once this year and beat him in June, scoring 5 runs on 7 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: RF Ray McDonald (26-L .292-572-16-86-.786-25 B+) MVP/Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 04-06)
2: CF Cal Doty (29-L .297-556-11-60-.761-28 C+) Silver Slugger(04)/All-Star(3: 04-06)
3: LF Fernando Tello (24-L .316-393-10-48-.792-2 C)
4: 3B Tom McDowell (29-R .269-542-34-108-.855-24 C+) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (24-L .252-476-25-89-.835-26 B) .192 in September
6: 2B Bart Daw (34-R .272-213-6-24-.735-12 A+)
7: SS Buddy Hendricks (27-R .264-216-0-13-.631-17 A)
8: C Bob Hutson (24-L .219-201-0-20-.650-0 B) RoY
9: P Del Warwick (31-L .243-74-0-7-.541-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

RICHMOND
1: 1B Doug Sievers (23-L .262-359-8-48-.731-22 B+) Rookie #33 prospect
2: RF Tim Dawson (30-R .280-547-7-61-.710-8 B+)
3: 3B Vince Depew (26-L .332-599-11-92-.819-35 C) All-Star(2: 04-05)
4: LF Ivan Moreno (35-L .266-530-19-84-.758-1 C) Silver Slugger(RF-02)/All-Star(3: 02-04)
5: SS Carlos Frias (25-R .229-497-11-66-.642-1 B)
6: 2B Bruce McArthur (29-L .251-418-10-54-.690-0 A) Gold Glove(3: 1B,02-04)
7: C Sandy Sanchez (29-S .238-265-2-20-.619-0 C+)
8: CF Graham Carr (34-R .245-245-0-20-.601-1 F-)
9: P Bill Halpin (30-L .262-42-0-2-.589-0 D)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Griffith Stadium
Weather: 67 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 11,059

Top of the First
Ray McDonald strikes out looking..... Cal Doty lines a hit to right center! Fernando Tello grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Tom McDowell lines a 3-2 pitch to right center for a triple and Tello scores! 1 to 0, Jays! Jack Washburn draws a walk. Bart Daw, who has also gone cold, swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First
Doug Sievers flies out to deep right. Tim Dawson grounds out to short. Vince Depew beats out an infield hit... Ivan Moreno pops out to short!

Bottom of the Second
Carlos Frias lines a hit to left... Bruce McArthur doubles to right center... P Del Warwick has to give us innings today, as we only have one rested reliever in the Pen and that is the rookie Mike Hollenbeck, who is not exactly inspiring confidence.... Sandy Sanchez lines the first pitch to center for a hit and Frias scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. Graham Carr swings at the first pitch and grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!! But McArthur scores. 2 to 1, Robins.

Top of the Fourth
Tom McDowell grounds a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and steals 2nd! With 2 outs, Buddy Hendricks grounds one to 3rd, but Vince Depew throws the ball away for a 2 base error and McDowell scores! Tie Game: 2 to 2! They walk Bob Hutson, the .219 hitter, intentionally to face the .243 hitter.... P Del Warwick grounds a hit up the middle and Hendricks heads home and Graham Carr throws the ball to the backstop for an error! 3 to 2, Jays!

The Robins load the bases up with 2 outs in the 5th, but Ivan Moreno grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Sixth
Carlos Frias and Bruce McArthur lead off with back to back hits... Sandy Sanchez swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Frias goes to 3rd!! We walk Graham Carr intentionally.... PH Gus Milam (38-R), batting .202/.304/.316 in 120 AB with 2 HR and 7 RBI, fouls off 5 2-2 pitches and then clears the bases with a double to right center... 4 to 3, Robins.

Top of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Bobby McCreight (24-R), who is 15-4 with 2 SV and a 4.71 ERA in 70.2 IP. He's a sidearmer. PH Tommy Adams (24-L) doubles to center! But the next three all make outs with 2 strikeouts............

Bottom of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Mike Hollenbeck (24-R). Tim Dawson lines his first pitch to left for a double.... The Bullpen gets up. Vince Depew takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Ivan Moreno grounds a hit to right and Dawson scores... 5 to 3, Robins. With 1out, Bruce McArthur grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Depew goes to 3rd. Sandy Sanchez lines a double to right and Depew scores... 6 to 3, Robins. Pia! Get him out of here! Call to the Bullpen: Mickel Cannady (24-R), not fresh at all.... Graham Carr grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Bill Grant (36-L). PH Dave Brooks (28-L), batting .309/.346/.435 in 223 AB with 6 HR and 38 RBI, grounds a hit to right... The Bullpen gets up. Doug Sievers hits one off the wall in left center and ends up with an inside-the-park home run..... 8 to 3, Robins. With 2 outs, Ivan Moreno grounds one to short, but Buddy Hendricks throws the ball away for a 2 base error... Bruce McArthur pokes a hit to center and Moreno scores... 9 to 3, Robins.

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Ray Cognetti (30-R), a rookie with an 18.00 ERA in 4 IP with 1 start and 9 BB. PH Greg Walker (24-S) grounds out to short... Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Cal Doty hits a home run to right!! 9 to 5, Robins.

Lost - 9 to 5

We had 8 hits and made 1 error
Richmond had 17 hits and made 2 errors

Del Warwick (L 15-9) went 6 innings, allowed 4 runs, 10 hits, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
RHP Mike Hollenbeck got 2 outs, allowed 2 runs, 3 hits and 1 walk.
RHP Mickel Cannady faced 1 batter, threw 1 pitch and got 1 out.
LHP Bill Grant got 2 outs, allowed 3 runs (2 earned), 4 hits, 1 home run (ITP) and 1 walk.
RHP Roger Wallace faced 1 batter and retired him

Bill Halpin (W 8-10) went 6 innings, gave us 3 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 5.

CF Cal Doty had 2 hits with his 12th home run of the season and 2 RBI. LF Fernando Tello hit a double and scored a run. 3B Tom McDowell had 3 hits with a triple, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. PH Tommy Adams hit a double.

For Richmond, 1B Doug Sievers had 2 hits with his 9th home run, an inside-the-parker, and had 2 RBI. 2B Bruce McArthur had 4 hits with 2 doubles, scored a run and had an RBI. C Sandy Sanchez had 3 hits with a double and 2 RBI.