Arencibia Rules!

Game 96, July 17, NBT Bank Stadium
Durham Bulls: 8
Syracuse Chiefs: 4
Season: 42-54; Trip: 2-2
Wrap, Box, Syracuse

Stats:
Game Score: Schultz 49; Season Average 54 (19 starts, 93 innings)
Tm wOBA: Game .392; Season .296; Difference +.096

Catcher J.P. Arencibia accounted for a big fraction of the runs yesterday, for both teams.

His solo home run in the 2nd inning started things off. Then a 2-RBI double in the 4th put the Bulls ahead 3 to 1. A bases-loaded passed ball let in a run for the Chiefs in the bottom of the 6th. Another solo home run in the 8th put the Bulls up 6-2.

Jamie Schultz is apparently on a very restricted pitch count, something like 75 pitches per game. He is up to 1,634 pitches on the year (19 starts), the most of any starter on the team. Perhaps because the Rays want him to be available in September?

At any rate, he did OK yesterday. Several of the newish guys followed, all except Danny Farquhar looked fine as well. Farquhar's stint was affected by yet another iron-handed play that led to two unearned runs.

Outside the game —

• I'm puzzled by the Chiefs' dismal attendance, just 3,000 for a Sunday afternoon. I've never been to Syracuse, so all I've seen of the park is what shows on the MiLB-TV shots. All day yesterday the background visual was trains, noisy trains. From the satellite shot (below) the location appears to be industrial, very different from so many other minor league parks that are located in the middle of cities. 
• Maybe it's their affiliation, they are far from Washington, DC.
• On the TV broadcast during the Friday blowout the announcer made the comment that the IL South Division was, "an affront to organized baseball." And he regularly pointed out the Bulls' dismal stats, especially their strikeouts and batting average, both worst in the league. So it was satisfying to take these last two games. I do have to note that he was more than gracious when he called the final inning of Marks' no-hitter.
• Nonetheless, it is a bit odd that the Bulls, who are 12 games below .500 are in second place in the South Division. [standings]