Awww

Game 25: Durham Bulls 6, Rochester Redwings 7 (11 innings)
Season: 15-10
Wrap, Box

I was able to listen to most of the game yesterday. I accumulated a whole bunch of clever notes, but in the bottom of the 11th most of them really didn’t seem to mean much.

As a general rule, I give Charlie Montoyo a pass when I think he’s made a mistake. I have a couple of reasons for that, but the major ones are that he knows the players and the game much, much better than I.

However, leaving Winston Abreu in for another inning was surely a mistake. Not that we almost didn’t get out of it. After all the game did go down to 2 outs and a 3-2 count. But was this really the game to try to get a second inning out of Abreu? Until last night Abreu had never pitched more than one inning on at least two days rest. So he had not even gone back to back days, much less back to back innings. Should that be? Probably not. But that’s the way it’s been this year for Abreu. I think it was the wrong time to change. Winston gave up three doubles and that was more than enough.

Have to mention Perez’s error in the 5th. It was huge and opened the door to several runs. On the other hand, it did look for a while that the Johnson and Johnson home runs were going to make the difference.

Wasted a good start by Carlos Hernandez.

And if someone up there could maybe slash Redwing shortstop Trevor Ploufe’s tires or bribe a taxi driver to get lost with Trevor in the back seat or somehow make sure he doesn’t show up for the game today, we’d appreciate it. That guy is killing us with brilliant fielding and timely hitting.

Benchwatch: Justin Ruggiano apparently hurt something either during his at bat in the top of the 10th or earlier. He finished his at bat, but left the game with Desmond Jennings coming in for him. Jennings did not get an at bat. We are running out of depth.

Elsewhere:

DRaysBay has a “Starting Pitchers Watch” going for players in the Rays system. Two Bulls are on the list.