Roadkill

Game 16, Friday, April 20, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket Red Sox 15; Durham Bulls 10
Box, Wrap, Baseball Heavy

Game 17, Saturday, April 21 McCoy Stadium
Pawtucket Red Sox 9; Durham Bulls 5
Season: 6-11; This Trip: 1-9
Box, Wrap

The Bulls bats came alive in Friday's game with 13 hits. Craig Albernaz got his first hit of the season; Brandon Guyer got a home run; even Juan Miranda got two hits. There were moments, such as the top of the 5th inning when the Bulls scored two runs to go ahead 9-6, when things were really looking good. But that was before PawSox DH Mauro Gomez hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the 5th; the PawSox picked up another run in the 6th; Alex Hassan hit a grand slam in the 7th; and Will Middlebrooks hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th.

To summarize, Durham pitchers gave up five, count ‘em, five home runs.

So, let’s go on to this afternoon’s game with Alex Torres on the mound. In the first inning Mauro Gomez hit another home run and Middlebrooks hit one in the 2nd. But, hey, that’s only three runs and Alex Torres hasn’t walked anyone. Wait a minute, in the 3rd, Alex Torres’ first 13 pitches include 12 balls. That would be three walks. That is, the bases were loaded by the time before he’d thrown his second strike. Still, he got out of the inning with only one more run scored.

So let’s fast forward to the 6th when the Bulls scored 4 runs and went into the bottom of the inning behind only 4-6. Dane De La Rosa come to the mound with runners on first and second, one out. They both scored, plus one that he put on base. 4-9 by the end of the inning.

Ten days ago Bulls starters had an ERA of 2.57, not bad, the relievers a not very good 5.29, and the team was at 3.79 overall. Today the numbers are 5.94/6.03/5.98. Awful, awful, awful.

New guy Lance Pendleton [Update: Or maybe Ryan Reid] may get the start tomorrow. We know very little about him, but what have we got to lose?

Outside the game:

• McCoy Stadium is apparently one of the good places to watch a ball game. See reviews here, here, and here.
• Former Durham Bull Jon Weber has signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association.