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: The Bullpen. Thanks to Lance Cormier, Dan Wheeler and JP Howell, the bullpen gave up a run in the 8th to ensure that the Rays would not lose yet another 1-run game.
THE BAD: Lost Power. New Shea is where home runs go to die. Just ask Evan Longoria about his fly ball in the 1st inning. Or Dioner Navarro who hit a ball that would have gone to the warning track anywhere else, but came up 30 feet short (no Navi, that would not have been a home run)…Andy Sonnanstine. Nobody hits home runs in New Shea. But Sonny found a way to serve one up to a guy that had ZERO home runs entering the game. The only thing left to decide is whether The Duke goes to the bullpen or the minors when Scott Kazmir returns.
THE TELLING: If today’s game is rained out, there will likely be a double-header tomorrow. And this radar cap does not look promising…Today’s game is the National game on Fox. If you are in an area that does not have the game, be sure to check Fox Espanol as they often carry an alternate game.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: BJ Upton
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Pawtucket 8, Durham 6. Wade Davis continues his strong run, striking out 9 in 7 innings and allowing just 1 earned run (3 runs total) on 4 hits and 2 walks. One of the hits was a solo home run…Reid Brignac was 2-5 with a strikeout…Justin Ruggiano was also 2-4 and hit his 9th home run, a grand slam…Matt Joyce was 0-4 and John Jaso was 2-4 with a pair of doubles.
Montgomery 4, West Tenn 1. Heath Rollins improved to 6-5 with 1 run allowed in 6 inning on 6 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 5…Desmond Jennings was 2-4 with a strikeout…Matt Fields had 2 singles and 2 RBI in 4 at bats…Cesar Suarez hit his 3rd home run, a 2-run shot.
Charlotte. (no game scheduled)
Asheville 5, Bowling Green 3. Frank de los Santos struck out 5 and walked none in 6 innings. He gave up 3 runs (1 earned)…Tim Beckham was 0-4 with a strikeout and Jake Jefferies was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI. He is hitting .258.
Hudson Valley 4, Aberdeen 2. Albert Suarez picked up the win on opening day, allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. He struck out 2 and walked 2.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
