The Constable, whilst normally upbeat and energetic, has been struggling with sports-related depression with regards to the World Cup. Because I don't have a team actually in the World Cup, and because football is just an awful, awful game, my mood has not been affected by the giant USA choke. That said, I have the US in the office draw, so there is potential for my mood to suddenly decline if there is another choke. Never mind. Feel better soon, Constable!
Summary
* Mixed affiliate day - 2-3 overall, record to 172-149.
* Oklahoma City lost on a frikking walk off, despite hitting five (!) home runs.
* Lancaster are now on the three game slide, since the Great Ankle Incident.
* Tri-City monstered the Lake Monsters with a 4-run eighth.
* Greeneville allowed an early run, and then was nails, eventually winning easily
* Astros lose to Tigers in the GCL.
Oklahoma City (42-37)
Horrible, frustrating, walk off loss, as the RedHawks find themselves in an 0-3 hole in the 4 game series against Tacoma (36-41). Oklahoma was up 8-4 going in to the middle of the eighth, but a four run bottom half, followed by a two-out single by elderly non-prospect Xavier Nady (1-6 on the night) in the bottom of the tenth translated into a 8-9 RedHawk loss.
Rectangle: Asher Wojciechowski (hereafter referred to as Wojo for obvious reasons) got the start and did handsomely given the number of base runners: 4IP, 7H, 2R/ER, 3K, HR on 66 pitches. Regardless (tandem rotation be damned!!) he was relieved by a less than effective Rudy Owens (3.2IP, 7H, 6R/ER, BB, 2K, HR), who was followed by Jason Stoffel, who wore the loss and blown save (2IP, 3H, R/ER. 2BB, K).
Pentagon: Five home runs was the good story of the day for the RedHawks. L.J. Hoes (1-4, BB, HR), Domingo Santana (2-4, BB, 2B, HR, R, RBI), Marc Krauss (2-4, BB, HR, 2R, RBI), Gregorio Petit (1-5, HR, 2RBI, 2R) and Matt Duffy (2-4, 2B, HR, 3RBI, R) all went yard. Kiké Hernandez hit a double (2-5, BB, 2B) and Max Stassi added a triple (1-4, 3B, R).
Man of the Match: Lets go with Domingo Santana and Matt Duffy, with 2-4, 2B, HR nights. Santana also added a walk.
Corpus Christi (36-40)
Day off, All Star Game tomorrow.
Lancaster (46-29)
Lancaster has enjoyed a relatively charmed month, but the last three games have definitely not gone their way. They lose their third in a row to Stockton (42-33) after falling behind early, bouncing back to take the lead, tying the game in the bottom of the eighth, then losing in the tenth. Lancaster lost, 8-7.
Rectangle: Gonzalo Sanudo got the start, and had a rough one. His line: 4IP, 7H, 4R/ER, BB, 5K. Kyle Westwood relieved, and did a little better (4IP, 7H, 3R/ER, 2BB, K, HR), and Jamaine Cotton had a rare poor outing and wore the loss (2IP, 3H, R/ER, BB, K).
Pentagon: Home runs from Rio Ruiz (1-4, BB, HR, R, 3RBI) and Brandon Meredith (2-5, HR, RBI, R) hit home runs, and Danry Vasquez had a double (1-3, 2B, R). Teoscar Hernandez was on base twice (1-4, BB, RBI, R).
Man of the Match: Rio Ruiz has been on a bit of a hot-streak lately, and wins the MoTMy.
Quad Cities (36-36)
Day off. At Clinton tomorrow, for three.
Tri-City (7-4)
Tri-Cities young season continues to progress well with a 6-2 win over the Vermont Lake Monsters (6-5). Vermont scored their runs in the first and fifth inning, and Tri City scored single runs in the third and seventh. However, the ValleyCats took the lead for the first time with a 4-spot in the bottom of the eighth, and held on to win.
Rectangle: Austin Chrismon got the start, and was relatively steady while giving up all the runs that the ValleyCats would concede. His line: 5IP, 4H, 2R/ER, BB, 3K, HR. Brandon McNitt (27th round) did the heavy-lifting for the rest of the way with three perfect innings (3K) and Vince Wheeland (24th round) allowed a hit in the last inning.
Pentagon: Back-to-back jacks from Ravel Santana and Alfredo Gonzalez were the decisive blows in the eighth. Apparently, they were big knocks too, both to left field. Santana's was a three-run shot (1-4, HR, 3RBI, 2R) but Gonzalez arguably had the better day (1-3, BB, HR, RBI, 2R). Marc Wik was on base twice (1-4, BB) as was A.J. Reed (1-3, BB), while J.D. Davis had a double (1-4, 2B). Nick Tanielu went 2-4.
Man of the Match: I want to acknowledge Brandon McNitt's shut-down performance, giving the ValleyCats the opportunity to tie - then win - the game.
Greeneville (3-2)
Greeneville gave up an early run to Princeton (2-3), but that is all they would concede for the game. Thankfully, Greeneville scored seven of their own runs, and ended up winning 7-1.
Rectangle: Getting the start was Juan Santos (4IP, 2H, R/ER, BB, 5K). Relieving, and going a combined 5IP, 3H, 2BB, 5K was Dean Deetz (11th round), Robert Kahana (32nd round) and Joshua James (34th round).
Pentagon: Home runs to Juan Santana (1-4, HR, 2RBI, R) and Ydarqui Marte (2-4, HR, RBI, 2R). Doubles to Jason Martin (3-5, 2B, R, 2RBI), Luis Reynoso (2-3, 2x2B, R), and Brett Clements (2-3, BB, 2B, R). Everyone got at least one hit.
Man of the Match: I like the masher, Ydarqui Marte, for his solo shot. The pitchers deserve a shout-out, too.
GCL Astros (2-1)
The GCL Astros were cruising along at 2-0 before they suddenly gave up a 6 run-top of the fourth against the GCL Tigers (1-2). They managed to add another run, but never recovered, eventually losing 8-3.
Rectangle: Junior Garcia got the start: 3.2IP, 2H, 3R/ER, 4BB, K. Christian Perdomo managed to give up 3R (1ER) in 0.1 IP, and the rest of the pitchers added to the woes... except Aaron Vaughn (1.1IP, H)
Pentagon: Edwin Medina (33rd round) and Dexture McCall (31st round) were the pick of the offensive performers (2-4, 2B, R and 2-4, 2B, RBI respectively). Will Dupont tripled (1-4, 3B, R, RBI). Brauly Mejia walked twice and struck out twice (0-2, 2BB, R)
Man of the Match: Aaron Vaughn was the only GCL Astro hurler to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
The Constable is back with the PreStros tomorrow and I am doing the game recap for Cockroach. Wish me, and the Astros, luck for tomorrow.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
