Celebrate! Remember!

More about the Flag

Season: 54-33
Wrap, Box, Charlotte Observer

Cole Figueroa is demanding that the Rays start paying attention to him. He’s hitting .300. He’s started games at 2B (16), 3B (53), SS (2), and the outfield (6). Last night he was 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI. His plate discipline and batting eye is exceptional, only 18 Ks in 300 plate appearances.  And durable. His 77 games is matched only by the Bulls’ 2013 superstar, Vince Belnome.

It was a doubling night. Bulls hitters got 5 doubles last night and swept the Knights at home. (Swept? Well, maybe that’s a bit overstated. Just a one-game stand, after all.)

Matt Buschmann seems to have profited from his weeks in Montgomery this year. He went 6 innings for the first time and gave up just the one home run. Josh Lueke got into and out of trouble. All’s well that ends well.

Charlotte's hoping that the next 4th will be celebrated in their new park downtown.

Let’s look at where the Bulls are on the 4th of July.

The Bulls are ahead of  tonight’s opponents, the Norfolk Tides,  by 7½ games (The Tides are, however, tied for the IL wild card spot). At 21 games above .500, this is the best the Bulls have been all year. Starting last night, the Bulls have a 12-game stretch against their South Division opponents, all the way to the All-Star break. Five games against Charlotte, 2 against Norfolk, and 5 against Gwinnett. Should be fun.

In recent days the pitching has been steadily improving, even as the staff is under severe stress and turnover. A tribute to the talent in the Rays system and the work of Neal Allen and Charlie Montoyo.

This is a pretty good hitting performance over the last couple of weeks. Team was 12-8 in the stretch shown.