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: Scott Kazmir. The velocity was better (91-93) on his fastball. He threw strikes (61 of 92 pitches). However, he did struggle with strike-one early on. Of the first 11 batters, Kazmir only threw strike-one 3 times. If the final 9 batters he faced, he was strike-one 6 times. Of the first 11 batters, 4 got on base. Only 1 of the final 9 batters reached…Chad Bradford. Bradford allowed 2 baserunners in his 1 inning of work (single, error), but otherwise looked good in his first action of the season…Jason Bartlett. Yes, Willy Aybar had the game-winning sac fly, but it was the steal of second base by Jason Bartlett with 1 out that put himself in scoring position and able to move to third on the subsequent wild pitch…Carlos Pena. We absolutely love when El Gato hits home runs to the opposite field. Because when he does, it keeps pitchers honest.
THE BAD: Evan Longoria’s glove. We are nitpicking here a little. But Dirtbag committed his second error this week and just hasn’t looked right defensively since having his hamstring issues.
THE TELLING: The Rays are once again tied with the Jays for 3rd place in the East, 6 games behind the Sox and 2 games behind the Yankees (3 in the loss column)…According to CoolStandings.com, the Rays now have a better chance of making the playoffs (46.6%) than the Yankees (46.1%). The Jays are only 16.4%. However, PECOTA is less bullish on the Rays, giving them just a 23.1% shot. They have the Yankees at 72.9%.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Scott Kazmir. It took a couple of innings to get the rust off, but after the home run to lead off the 3rd, it was vintage Kid K.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Durham 12, Columbus 5. James Houser overcame 3 straight bad outings to throw 6 shutout innings. He allowed 3 hits, 2 walks and 1 hit batter. He struck out 3…The Bulls leadoff hitter, Henry Mateo hit 2 home runs and drove in 3…Reid Brignac added his 4th home run and was 3-5. He is now hitting .287…Justin Ruggiano went 3-5 with 2 RBI and his 13th steal…Matt Joyce had 2 doubles in 5 at bats, scoring twice.
Tennessee 6, Montgomery 5. Jeremy Hellickson started for the second time since coming off the DL and was limited to 66 pitches (45 strikes). He allowed 2 runs in 5 innings on 4 hits and a walk. He struck out 6. He now has a 2.08 ERA in 39 innings with 48 strikeouts and just 9 walks…
Dunedin 3, Charlotte 1 (gm 1). David Newmann allowed only 1 run in 5 innings but did not factor in the decision. He allowed 3 hits and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts…Cody Cipriano had 2 of the Stone Crabs 5 hits.
Dunedin 3, Charlotte 1 (gm 2). Brian Flores dropped to 0-3 after allowing a pair of runs in 5 innings. He struck out 5 and walked 2…Cody Cirpiano had 2 more hits and finished the day 4-7 to raise his average to .314…Henry Wrigley was 2-3 and drove in the only run.
Bowling Green 4, Lexington 1. Matt Moore improved to 4-3 with 5 shutout innings. He allowed 4 hits and a 2 walks with 7 Ks and now has a 3.14 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 63 innings…Tim Beckham went 0-3 with a walk…Jake Jefferies was 1-4 and Mike Sheridan was 2-4 with his 9th home run.
Staten Island 8, Hudson Valley 5.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
