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.
photo by B. Cassella of the St. Pete Times
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: The Bossman Cometh. It was his second 3-hit game in 3 days, but it was the line drive blast over the left field wall leading off the 9th inning that completed the biggest comeback in team history. And what was even better, was how hard the ball was hit. That was vintage Bossman and the best he has looked since the ALCS last year…The Bullpen. We can’t expect the 7 guys in the ‘pen to save the rotation’s butts every night, but they got the job done last night with 5.2 scoreless innings, holding the tribe to 1 hit and 2 walks over that span…Zorilla! Another home run for Ben Zobrist, his 7th, tied the game in the 8th inning. His blast came one pitch after just missing a home run foul, and may have been even more important than Upton’s homer. After pulling within 1 run in the 7th, the Rays missed an opportunity to tie the game with Upton on 3rd and only 1 out. The wind could have easily come out of the sails at that point.
THE BAD: Scott Kazmir. 10 hits, including 2 home runs, 4 walks and only 2 Ks and his night was over before the end of the 4th. And no matter how great you think the comeback win was, the rotation is still in a lot of trouble…Delicate Sensibilities. Victor Martinez joins the ranks of those that can’t handle a pitch up and in. And by “in” we mean about an inch inside and yet that was apparently too close for Martinez as he started jawing at JP Howell. We once read Carl Yastrzemski’s autobiography and he wrote about being knocked down at least once a game for his entire career. Did he get offended? No. He got up, stepped back in and hit the damn ball. Martinez is baby and he is lucky the next pitch wasn’t in the middle of his back.
THE TELLING: Troy Percival worked the 7th inning…Carl Crawford was back in the lineup after missing 1 game with a bruised shoulder…Pat Burrell received a cortisone shot and will not be available today. He will be reevaluated tomorrow… This is the 13th series of the season and the Devil Rays ($8) have only played 7 3-game series. This is the 3rd 4-game set in addition to 3 2-game sets. And 2 of the next 3 series are also of the 4-game variety.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: BJ Upton.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Durham 13, Louisville 9. Chris Richard hit 2 grand slams for the Bulls. The first in the 8th inning cut the lead to 1 and the second was the game-winner in the 11th. He also added a single and a walk in 6 trips to the plate…James Houser made the start and lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up 7 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks…Jason Isringhausen made another appearance for the Bulls, working a perfect 6th inning…Reid Brignac was 1-5 with a walk.
Montgomery 13, Mobile 3. Ryan Morse was pulled with just 1 out in the 2nd inning after giving up 3 hits and 4 walks…Desmond Jennings homered and walked in 5 plate appearances. It was his 4th home run…Jason Perry added his 3rd home run in 8 games since being signed by the Devil Rays ($7).
Palm Beach 2, Charlotte 1 (14). Charlotte lost in the bottom of the 14th on a walk-off wild pitch by Kevin Boggan. Charlotte missed several opportunities to take the lead, including the top of the 9th when they had second and third with only 1 out. They also had two runners on in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings and failed to score…David Newmann allowed just 1 run in 6 innings, striking out 6 and walking 1…Charlotte managed only 4 hits.
Bowling Green vs Charleston (ppd. rain).
Notes from Down on the Farm…
Should we start charging Jennings rent for being a regular tenant here on Hot Sheet? Phone lines are open. The guy just keeps on tearing through the Southern League, with his latest escapade starting last Friday with a five-hit game that included three runs scored and a double. And get this: He’s hitting .468/.526/.596 (22-for-47) in May.
