Sunday at the Park

Game 4, Sunday, April 8, DBAP
Durham Bulls 7; Gwinnett Braves 4
Season: 3-1, Games left in this home stand: 3
Box, Wrap, Herald-Sun, Indy Week, Examiner

That was fun. Beautiful day. Great baseball. Bulls win.

The story at the links is pitcher Chris Archer, and he did do quite well. He’s going to be fun to watch this year. He held the Braves to just one run, a homer by Ernesto Mejia to start the 2nd. His 8 strikeouts ties him with Augenstein and Cobb. Note: how about that, three out of four Durham starters begin the season with 8 K’s, and the fourth (Torres) had 7? Very impressive even if it is the beginning of the season.

I like the youngster on the team, infielder Shawn O’Malley. This is his first time in AAA and he’s doing just fine. He got his first hit yesterday, a big home run over the Blue Monster in the 6th. As important, however, was his bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 2nd that pushed across the first of five runs in that inning. He started at shortstop yesterday, giving Tim Beckham his first day off. Given the way Charlie Montoyo like to run his team, what we are likely to see is O’Malley at shortstop or second base when Beckham or Rhymes is due a day off, maybe a start or two at third over the year, and possibly a stint in the outfield.

Leslie Anderson is starting the year on a roll. He picked up two more hits (singles) yesterday and is batting .500 in 12 ABs. He’s had just the one start at 1B, while his counterpart at that position, Juan Miranda, is waiting for his first hit. It will come, but it’s becoming frustrating to watch.

Big day today for folks who follow the Bulls from year to year. Dan Johnson and Ray Olmedo come to town wearing Charlotte Knights uniforms. The Knights are 2-2 on the season. Johnson has played in all four games and hitting .333 in 12 AB. Olmedo is waiting for his first hit in 11 ABs.

Outside the game:

• While you’re waiting for the Bulls front office to fix their site, here’s a link to the Bulls roster. 
• I’ve been using the Bulls app. After a slightly rough start, it’s been working very well. Not really useful for listening to the game while at the game (a bit of a delay as the electrons work their way through cyberspace), works fine if you’re not at the park.  I haven’t tried the LiveShare app.
• Broadcaster Patrick Kinas reported that pitcher Romulo Sanchez is OK after taking that line drive off his ankle on Saturday. Could be back very soon.
• Who reading this remembers Joel Guzman? Well, he’s still playing ball, now for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and he hit a home run yesterday that helped them beat the Montgomery Biscuits. I can still remember him hitting the biggest homer I've seen at the DBAP. It rattled around inside the framework of the under construction Diamond View II, at least a floor, possible two floors, above what's now the Tobacco Road cafe. Last we heard he was in the Baltimore system. Now looks like he's with the Reds after a year in Japan.