Up until first pitch, use the comments section to predict who you think will be the Sunburst Player of the Game. (be sure to use a valid email address while leaving the comment). The commenter that correctly predicts who we will name the Sunburst Player of the Game the most times prior to the all-star game, will win two tickets to a second-half game. Runners-up get their choice of a t-shirt. [Click HERE for rules]
Check Marc Topkin’s blog for the starting lineups.
Time to bring back the GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Big year for El Gato. We envisioned a big season for Carlos Pena with Pat Burrell protecting him in the lineup. And so far he is not disappointing. 2 more home runs last night and 8 on the season leads the AL. Let’s put the over/under now at 45…Gabe of the Day. Gabe Gross got the start in right field once again proving that Joe Maddon is a mad genius or the luckiest bastard ever. Gross ended the first by throwing out a runner at the plate. And then led off the 2nd inning with a home run. He finished 2-3 and was on base 4 times…The Svelte Catcher. Dioner Navarro stole a base. We repeat, Dioner Navarro, stole second base…Jason Bartlett. Barty had 4 more hits in 5 at bats, including 3 infield singles.
THE BAD: Scott Kazmir. OK, it wasn’t really bad. 6 shutout innings is still 6 shutout innings. But that might have been the worst 6 shutout innings you will ever see. It took him 69 pitches to get through the first 3 innings. And that included 2 (!) double plays, or else it would have been much, much worse…Retribution gone wrong. After giving up a home run in the 2nd inning to Gabe Gross, Trevor Cahill tried to hit or brush back Gross his next time up. One problem. The pitch hit the dirt about 5 feet in front of Gross.
THE TELLING: Today’s game will not be televised due to blackout restrictions.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carlos Pena. This could end up being Pena’s best season yet.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Norfolk 8, Durham 2. James Houser made his first start of 2009 and gave up 4 runs in 4 innings including 2 home runs in the first inning. He also hit 2 batters and threw a wild pitch…Chad Orvella pitched another shutout inning and now has given up 1 run in 10.1 innings this season with 10 strike outs and 1 walk…Reid Brignac went 0-4 with 2 Ks and Justin Ruggiano was 1-4 with one strike out…Matt Joyce was 0-2 with 2 walks.
Montgomery 4, Mobile 2. In his first start since being demoted, Jason Cromer gave up 1 run in 6 innings for the win. He struck out 4 and walked none…Jason Isringhausen pitched another shutout inning, with 1 strike out and 1 walk…Rhyne Hughes hit a go ahead 2-run home run in the 6th inning…Desmond Jennings was 1-4 with a triple and an RBI.
Charlotte 3, St. Lucie 1. Jeremy Hall pitched 5 shutout innings and now has a 1.80 ERA after 3 starts (15 ip).
Bowling Green 4, West Virginia 2.Chris Andujar allowed 1 run in 4 innings…Tim Beckham was 1-4 with a strike out and a caught stealing.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
One year ago on Rays Index we were amused by the Rays continued use of the moniker “Devil Rays” even though they were fining others when they used it.
The Devil Still Has His Offices In St. Pete [Rays Index]
