[Westheim]

Raccoons (12-6) vs. Thunder (10-9) – April 22-24, 2019

Were the Thunder ready to climb out of the cellar? Ranking fifth in runs scored and ninth in runs allowed, the answer was definitely a clear ‘maybe?’ – but their bottom-three rotation certainly would not inspire confidence about their chances. They had the second-highest batting average in the Continental League and were tied for fourth in home runs, but had no speed and only five stolen bases. They had the second-best defense to the Raccoons’, who entered the 3-game set tenth in runs scored, and first in every pitching category that was vaguely important. The Raccoons had taken seven of nine from the Thunder in 2018, their second straight series win over Oklahoma.

Projected matchups:
Cole Pierson (1-0, 0.44 ERA) vs. Evan Greenfield (0-4, 7.65 ERA)
Jonathan Toner (2-1, 3.81 ERA) vs. Brian Furst (0-2, 5.20 ERA)
Tadasu Abe (3-0, 1.01 ERA) vs. Jim Bryant (1-0, 2.59 ERA)

All right-handers from the Thunder, but Jim Bryant had left his last start with back spasms and was not yet a lock for the Wednesday game. The Raccoons would have Thursday off, offering a chance to either skip Bobby Guerrero of use him in long relief or extra innings, or to start them on Friday, whatever the heck we pleased.

Game 1
OCT: CF Stevenson – 2B Farias – RF Fullerton – LF Cisneros – 1B Janes – SS Paull – C Kizziar – 3B N. Brown – P Greenfield
POR: RF Carmona – 2B Walter – SS McKnight – 1B Mendoza – LF DeWeese – C Margolis – 3B Nunley – CF Duarte – P Pierson

Both teams scored a run in the second inning, and for both teams it was their cleanup hitter opening the inning with an extra-base hit to get things moving. Javy Cisneros doubled to left and came around after Erik Janes’ single and Eric Paull’s double play grounder, and Hugo Mendoza tripled to center and came home when DeWeese grounded out. The third started with a Greenfield single to left, and before long Pierson had the bases loaded on three singles with nobody out. D.J. Fullerton popped out, but Cisneros drew a walk to give the Thunder their second lead. Janes’ sac fly scored another run in the inning. The Coons would get Pierson and Cookie on board with singles in the bottom 3rd; McKnight doubled to the base of the wall in rightfield, but Cookie was thrown out at home to end the inning after Pierson had scored, keeping the Raccoons 3-2 short.

Pierson would not get out of the fifth inning, allowing two quick singles to Emilio Farias and Fullerton. The latter singled to right, Farias went to third base, but Cookie’s throw was nowhere near Nunley, allowing Farias to score on the error, with Fullerton to second. Pierson would not retire another batter, with Cisneros and Janes hitting singles to put him in a 5-2 hole with two on and one out. He got yanked, Jeff Boynton replacing him with yet another long relief assignment. He struck out Paull and Eric Kizziar to end the inning. Boynton would pitch 2.2 innings and struck out six, including the first five batters he faced, while the Raccoons pulled back to 5-4 when McKnight hit another 2-out double, and this time both runners scored, including the trailing runner Cookie. Too bad that Mendoza grounded out to Farias with the tying run in scoring position. There was a 66-minute rain delay in the eighth inning, but like the game that the Coons led last week and didn’t get called early, this one would be played to conclusion as well, despite the Thunder being unhappy with it. Alex Ramirez retired Oklahoma in order in the ninth, with the Raccoons bringing up the 5-6-7 batters against Mike Tharp, a lefty with a 4.50 ERA, so Eddie Jackson pinch-hit for DeWeese right away, and the pitcher was in the #7 slot, with Nunley having – to his extreme dismay – being removed in a double switch much earlier. Jackson batted .111, but cracked a fast bouncer through Nate Brown and up the leftfield line for a leadoff double, putting the Thunder into some real trouble. Margolis’ single put the runners on the corners, with Denny hitting for Ramirez and striking out. Alex Duarte was next, bounced a 1-0 pitch to Tharp, and Tharp started a 1-6-3 mood killer. 5-4 Thunder. Carmona 2-3, BB; McKnight 2-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Jackson (PH) 1-1, 2B; Margolis 2-4; Boynton 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K;

DeWeese dropped under .200 now with another fine effort of NOTHING in this game. This gives the Coons three starters and three bench players that are batting under .200 …

Game 2
OCT: CF Stevenson – 2B Farias – RF Fullerton – C Parks – 3B Paull – LF Gosnell – SS Pitner – 1B Mooney – P Furst
POR: RF Carmona – 2B Walter – SS McKnight – 1B Mendoza – C Denny – LF DeWeese – 3B Nunley – CF Duarte – P Toner

Denny grounded out to strand McKnight and Mendoza on the corners in the first. After Toner overcame drilling leadoff man Eric Paull in the second inning by getting a double play grounder from Justin Pitner, DeWeese reached on an error by Farias in the bottom 2nd, leading off. He stole second base (the first stolen base for a position player other than Senor Carmona), but Nunley struck out and Duarte popped out to bring up Jonny, who singled hard to right, but DeWeese had to hold on third base against Fullerton’s arm. Cookie dropped to 0-2 before knocking a ball into play, and this was not an ordinary single. Cookie, who hadn’t homered at all in 2018, put the Coons in front with a 3-run shot to right center, a good bit to the far side of the 383’ sign. Toner allowed no hits, but walked one and ran five full counts in the first three innings, probably disqualifying from a no-hitter right away. Toner and Cookie had base hits again in the bottom 4th, with both ending up scoring on McKnight’s sac fly and Mendoza’s groundout, extending the lead to 5-0, and when he was up to bat with one out and Duarte on first in the bottom 5th, Toner was told to bunt, but reached first base safely anyway on a tardy Brian Furst, who was then knocked out by Cookie’s RBI single. Toner went to third, drew the throw, but was safe, with Cookie moving to second, and both ended up scoring again on Walter’s groundout and McKnight’s single over Farias. The Coons were up by eight after five innings, the Thunder had no hits, and Toner had thrown 78 pitches and run the bases excessively. Tim Mooney, reliever Ryan Corkum, and Josh Stevenson went down in order in the sixth on 11 pitches, which didn’t ease the growing conundrum, and the seventh was a major nightmare.

No, Oklahoma didn’t score. They also didn’t get a hit. But it took Toner 18 pitches to set them down, hitting Fullerton and with him at second and 2-2 to Paull and two outs, Toner threw a major wild pitch. Paull did ground out to McKnight, but Toner’s pitch count was absolutely wild by now. The crowd was chanting for Toner to continue his gem, and he came out for the eighth inning, which started with Chris Gosnell, a left-handed sixth-outfielder type, who batted .217, bounced a 2-0 quickly to right, but Mendoza stopped it and scrambled to first in time. Then Toner ran a full count on Pitner. The nightmare! The horror! Pitner walked! Nate Brown pinch-hit in the #8 hole and grounded to Walter, but he only got the lead runner. Bill Hiscock pinch-hit in the #9 spot and struck out. Toner’s spot to bat came up in the bottom 8th. While Duarte was batting with DeWeese at first base and one out, Joey Mathews could briefly be seen sticking his head from the dugout. He was hissed back down in there by the chanting crowd, and one guy threw popcorn at him. Duarte singled, the Thunder tried to get DeWeese at third, didn’t, and Duarte moved up. Toner came to bat, facing runners in scoring position, and was walked by a troubled Ed Michaels. Oh great, he has to run the bases again! Why!? The inning dragged on. The Coons scored three on the hapless Michaels, nobody cared.

Top of the ninth. Jonny Toner in on a whopping 124 pitches. Top of the order to bat, but William Waggoner would pinch-hit in the #1 spot to get going. The ****ing count ran full on Waggoner, and Toner lost him to a walk after EIGHT pitches. The crowd was still chanting and howling, but Ron Thrasher was now getting ready for real in the pen. Toner threw the first pitch to Farias into the dirt, and Denny barely contained it. The next pitch was center, but low, and Farias put it in play. Grounder to Walter, easy to handle, to second, out, to first, OUT!! Double play for Toner!! D.J. Fullerton was up as the Thunder were down to their last out in a 12-0 blowout. .260 with two homers and 12 RBI on the season. The pitching coach was out, checking Toner’s pulse. The whole place was a ****ing madhouse. Toner was nodding reassuringly, although he had not shown great command in the inning. Fullerton looked at strike one on the corner, then swung over a low pitch that would have been ball one for sure. Last strike before history! Come on Jonny! This is all yours! Do your thing here! The next pitch, #137, bounced in front of home plate, and boinked Denny in the mask before bouncing away. Okay, ehm, no harm done yet? Denny shook it off, 1-2 on Fullerton. Pitch #138 was a curve that started so high, Fullerton loosened almost immediately. That was not his pitch. And there he was wrong. The curve dipped into the zone. Fullerton was punched out. It was a no-hitter!!! 12-0 Furballs!!! Carmona 3-5, HR, 5 RBI; Walter 1-5, 2B, 4 RBI; McKnight 2-5, BB, 2B, RBI; Mendoza 2-4, RBI; Denny 2-5; Duarte 3-5, 3B, RBI; Toner 9.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 10 K, W (3-1) and 3-4, BB;

WHEEEEE!!!! WHEEEE!!!! WHEEEE!!! WHEEEEE!!!!!!

Can this be groundhog day, please?

With Toner’s extended outing, Guerrero would start on Friday, just to give Toner the extra day off, so that was sorted out by divine intervention and no hard decision had to be made. Toner will now start again on Monday in Elkland, and not on Sunday in Boston.

Game 3
OCT: CF Stevenson – 2B Farias – RF Fullerton – C Parks – 3B Paull – SS Janes – LF Hiscock – 1B Mooney – P Bryant
POR: RF Carmona – 3B Walter – SS McKnight – 1B Mendoza – C Denny – 2B Mathews – LF DeWeese – CF Duarte – P Abe

Farias’ first inning single ended whatever idea Abe might have had about a special outing, but at least he kept the Thunder out of the R column in the first three innings. The Coons didn’t reach until the bottom 3rd against Bryant, who walked DeWeese and Duarte. Abe bunted them into scoring position, Cookie lined over Tim Mooney and all the way into the rightfield corner for a 2-run double, Walter singled, and McKnight plated Cookie with a sac fly to give the Coons a 3-0 lead. Abe shut the Thunder out on two hits for five innings, but they got back-to-back 1-out singles from Stevenson and Farias in the sixth. Both pulled off a double steal on Denny, and when Fullerton flew to deep center, one run was always gonna score. A good play by Duarte kept the Thunder to one run there on a sac fly, and Jalen Parks struck out to end the inning in a 3-1 score. This game was far from over, of course. The Coons did basically nothing in the middle innings, and Abe allowed a leadoff single to Paull in the seventh, but Janes right away hit into a double play. Abe ended seven on 92 pitches, and was pinch-hit for in the bottom 7th. DeWeese had tripled and Duarte had walked, presenting a chance with runners on the corners and one out. Nunley got to hit in place of Abe. There you go, Matt! Don’t look like you ate a bag of lemons. This is a vote of confidence! Go out there and murder them! Oh, you DID eat a bag of lemons? Okay, in that case- … but still murder them, please. Jim Bryant’s 1-1 was a bit high, but right in Nunley’s sweet zone. He hit the ball hard to deep right, Fullerton was racing back – but he raced in vain. This ball was OUTTA HERE!!!

The inning was not over. Left-hander Bryan Hanson replaced Jim Bryant, and immediately allowed three straight hits to Cookie, PH Jackson, and McKnight to load the bags. Mendoza hit a sac fly to plenty deep right, and Denny hit an RBI single for two extra runs before Mathews grounded out to short. Mathis pitched the eighth after that, and Kaiser put on two in the ninth, but the Thunder didn’t even get close to a comeback after the 5-spot in the seventh, and the Coons took the series after losing the opener. 8-1 Raccoons! Carmona 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Jackson (PH) 1-1; Nunley (PH) 1-2, HR, 3 RBI; Abe 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, W (4-0);

Even with the homer, Nunley is still only hitting .137. He needs a major hot streak just to get over .200 …

Raccoons (14-7) @ Titans (8-14) – April 26-28, 2019

The Titans graced the bottom of the CL North by now. They had been swept by the Critters to start the season, and since then things hadn’t really improved that much. While they had decent, league-average pitching from their rotation, their bullpen was a hornets nest with a 5.58 ERA attached to it, and their offense was completely embarrassing. They sat on 84 runs after 22 games, which worked out to roughly 3.8 runs per game, the worst mark in the league. The Coons had used their 24 runs in the Thunder series to jump into the upper half in terms of runs scored.

Projected matchups:
Bobby Guerrero (1-2, 10.38 ERA) vs. Rick Ling (0-1, 4.15 ERA)
Hector Santos (2-1, 2.52 ERA) vs. TBD
Cole Pierson (1-1, 2.19 ERA) vs. Chris Klein (3-1, 1.98 ERA)

Ling was a southpaw, Klein was not, and for Saturday we had no clue. It would be the turn of left-hander Jose Diaz (1-1, 4.18 ERA), but the Titans had dropped word that he was removed from the rotation. They had called up SP Jonathan Ryan from AAA Toledo, but he had thrown 110 pitches on Wednesday, and wouldn’t be available for a Saturday start.

This from the team that tried to have the best pitcher of the league have his arm just drop off in a 138-pitch outing …

Game 1
POR: LF Carmona – SS McKnight – C Denny – 1B Mendoza – RF Jackson – CF Duarte – 3B Nunley – 2B Lafon – P Guerrero
BOS: 2B Humphres – 3B T. Thomas – 1B S. Butler – RF Almanza – C T. Robinson – CF J. Roberts – LF Turner – SS M. Rivera – P Ling

Both starters arrived with at least 50% more walks than strikeouts in this game, neither struck out a batter in the first three innings, and clearly neither was helped by an hour-long rain delay in the second inning. By then Guerrero had already walked two and allowed a run in the first inning, Tim Robinson plating Tom Thomas with a sac fly. Through three, Guerrero walked three batters, and Ling walked one, but then struck out McKnight and Denny in the fourth inning. Guerrero never got anything close to even useful and conceded two runs on three extra-base hits in the bottom of the fourth, three doubles to be precise, with the middle one hit by Ling with two outs. Guerrero didn’t make it through five innings and was saddled with another two runs in the bottom 5th, the Titans whacking the ball every which way. The Raccoons, down 5-0, were nothing but awful. By the seventh inning, in which Denny reached on a Thomas error and Mendoza hit into a double play, they had more double plays (3) than hits (2), and heck, the Titans had made more errors (3) than the Coons had hits. Eddie Jackson would try to set those crooked numbers straight and hit a solo homer to left off Ling, but the overall result was still miserable. The bottom 7th saw a Chris Almanza single off Wade Davis, and Boynton loading the bags with a walk to Jimmy Roberts and Brad Turner getting drilled. Mike Rivera lined out to Nunley and Ling was sent to bat and struck out to end the inning. The Critters put two on in the eighth, but that was that; Ling looked like a complete game win was in order for him, but Jackson came up with two outs in the ninth and hit another homer to left, this one ending Ling’s day. Harry Merwin came in and struck out DeWeese to put an end to this sad effort. 5-2 Titans. Jackson 2-3, BB, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Duarte 2-3; Mathews (PH) 1-1;

Game 2
POR: RF Carmona – 2B Walter – SS McKnight – 1B Mendoza – C Denny – LF DeWeese – 3B Nunley – CF Duarte – P Santos
BOS: 2B Humphres – 3B T. Thomas – 1B S. Butler – RF Almanza – C T. Robinson – LF J. Avila – CF Turner – SS M. Rivera – P Klein

Chris Klein got moved to start Saturday on short rest, with the mystery pitcher’s slot moving to Sunday. Klein found himself roughly greeted; after McKnight’s 2-out single, Mendoza put the Coons on top in the first inning with a 2-run homer to right. Santos would retire the first eight batters before Klein hit a single to left. What looked like a minor inconvenience became a serious issue after Robby Humphres reached when his grounder hit the edge of Walter’s glove, ran up his arm, and then jumped over his shoulder into rightfield, and Tom Thomas hit an RBI single. When Santos walked Butler, the bases were loaded for Almanza while we were still trying to figure out the **** how this had happened, but luckily Almanza grounded out to Walter, who made a sure grab this time. The Coons remained up 2-1, albeit just barely. While the Coons’ offense had already gone home and had no hits from the second through fifth innings, the bottom 5th was another abyss opening up, starting with Mendoza dropping a feed from Nunley to put leadoff man Humphres on base. Steve Butler singled, and when Almanza flew out to Cookie, Humphres went to third. Santos ran a 3-0 count on Tim Robinson, the bullpen got stirring, and then Robinson inexplicably poked and grounded out to McKnight at short.

Bottom 6th, and the issues would not stop. Jose Avila led off with a double to left center, but hurt himself and was replaced by Jonathan Blake. Brad Turner flew to left, Blake stayed put. Mike Rivera flew out to center, Blake stayed put again. Klein struck out, with Blake trotting to the dugout. The Raccoons had an actual living, breathing base runner in the seventh inning. DeWeese drew a 2-out walk off Klein, who was on nine strikeouts and lost him in a full count. Nunley grounded up the middle, but Rivera made the play to end the inning. For once, the Titans didn’t get their leadoff batter on base in the seventh, but with two outs Butler flew into the gap in right center. Cookie cut the ball off, but Butler was already turning second. Cookie unleashed a murderous throw to third base, right into Nunley’s glove, and Butler was out by INCHES!! WHAT A PLAY!! Still 2-1 Coons! Santos was hit for in a quick and sad eighth inning, and Chris Mathis inherited the lead for the eighth, but would only see Almanza and Robinson before Thrasher would come in. Mathis allowed two rockets; the first was caught by DeWeese, but the second fell into the wide open space between him, Duarte, and McKnight for a 1-out single. At least it was a slow runner! Thrasher came in, but ex-Condor Craig Dasher batted for Blake to counter him. Dasher singled over Walter’s stretched-out glove at 1-0, putting two on with one out, and Denny couldn’t come up with Thrasher’s first pitch to Turner. The ball bounced to the screen, and Denny was charged with the passed ball. Turner would ground hard to the left side – Nunley with a backhand play, Robinson twitching, Nunley hisses him back to the base and throws TO FIRST IN TIME!! OH THE EXCITEMENT!!! Rivera struck out – and the Coons were STILL LEADING THIS GAME.

Klein completed nine innings with ten strikeouts and no hits past the first inning, but was still on the hook. With Mike Cesta, a left-handed batter, pinch-hitting for him in the bottom 9th, Thrasher remained in the game, with Ramirez warm and waiting for his turn. Thrasher obliterated Cesta for another strikeout, and now it was on Ramirez to get the 1-2 batters. Humphres hit a vicious liner to center, Duarte came hustling in and caught it. Oh dear, one more. Ramirez served up a potato that Tom Thomas hit for 400 feet or maybe more, well outta leftfield, and the game was tied. Ramirez! YOU ****ING ***HOLE!!!!

The ****ing ***hole remained in the game even as the 10th inning broke. He walked Roberts with two outs, then allowed a drive to center to Brad Turner that Duarte could not come up with. Roberts circled around on the double, and the Titans walked off. 3-2 Titans. Santos 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K;

I need to trade this ****ing ****er or I’ll ****ing open his ****ing throat with a ****ing chainsaw. – (Ramirez stalks up and opens his mouth) – DON’T YOU TALK TO ME!!!

Game 3
POR: RF Carmona – 2B Mathews – SS Walter – 1B Mendoza – C Margolis – LF DeWeese – 3B Nunley – CF Duarte – P Pierson
BOS: 2B Humphres – CF Cesta – RF Almanza – 1B S. Butler – C T. Robinson – 3B Dasher – LF J. Roberts – SS M. Rivera – P Ryan

Ryan made his season debut and allowed singles to Cookie and Mathews that sent them to the corners to start the game. I was not happy, because they would find a way to **** up whether they scored one or two or none or a thousand in the first inning. They scored one; Walter hit into a ****ing double play right away. The Titans made up the run in the bottom 2nd, landing three hard line drive singles on Pierson before Rivera hit a sac fly to get even.

Neither pitcher exactly applied for the All Star Game in this Sunday afternoon affair. Ryan surrendered a complete moonshot to Alex Duarte at the start of the third inning, but the resulting 2-1 lead was instantly blown by Pierson, who allowed three more hard hits to Humphres, Cesta, and Almanza at the start of the bottom 3rd. Two runs scored, and the Coons were wobbling towards a hard-to-digest sweep. They were idle until the sixth, when Mathews’ 1-out single was followed by Ryan losing both Walter and Mendoza with walks. The bases were loaded for Danny Margolis, who had a knack for these dramatic big home runs, or for just striking out and retreating to the dugout with his tail tucked firmly between his hind legs, no stripes visible, except for a single brown one. Or maybe he could hit into a double play to Dasher. Yeah, that happened.

The Raccoons continued to fail themselves through the innings until the eighth, when Jackson’s pinch-hit grounder rolled right through Rivera into left for a leadoff single. The score was still 3-2, with Davis having replaced Pierson during the bottom 7th to restore order. Jose Diaz balked, then allowed a single to Cookie, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Right-hander Jose Fuentes appeared. We had McKnight available, but Mathews had two hits in the game was batting .321. The count ran full, Mathews grounded to Humphres and was out at first, and Jackson never went for home plate. Lefty Nestor Munoz now replaced Fuentes, and both Walter and Mendoza bounced back to Munoz for easy outs at first base. Jackson never scored from third base where he had ARRIVED WITH NOBODY ****ING OUT!! Right-hander Desi Bowles was tasked with handling of the save situation. The Titans were certainly daring, trusting a volatile rookie with an 8.53 ERA in 11 appearances with a 3-2 lead. McKnight batted for Margolis to get going, lined hard up the leftfield line on the first pitch – but it landed foul. McKnight eventually singled on a 3-1 pitch, but now the rotten part of the order came up. DeWeese struck out (…), but Nunley singled to center. Nunley single! Nunley single! Sshh! Contain yourself, nothing has been won, and the Coons are still losing! Tying run at second, go-ahead run on first, one out for Alex Duarte, who hit at the first pitch and clobbered it to left, with Roberts hustling back, but – nope, OUTTA HERE!!!! A score flipper by Duarte, his second homer in the game, and both had given the Critters the lead! Bowles was gone, and Brett Dill got around a walk to Petracek to avoid bigger damage. In a clear signal, Ron Thrasher got the bottom 9th. He got Dasher on a soft line to McKnight, who remained in the game at short, and whiffed Roberts before losing Rivera to a walk. Ryan Anderson, whom we didn’t have much of a scouting report on, pinch-hit for Dill in the #9 hole, 1-for-12 on the season. Thrasher was about to victimize the rookie when Anderson hit an 0-2 pitch into play. Deep center, deep center. Deep center. Still deep center. Duarte’s out there somewhere, right? Duarte? Where is he? Gimme the old long glass! There he is! And he has the ball! Game over! 5-3 Blighters. Carmona 2-5; Mathews 2-5; McKnight (PH) 1-1; Duarte 2-3, BB, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Jackson (PH) 1-1;

In other news

April 22 – Lots of wailing could be heard around the Bay on Monday, as the Bayhawks put OF Dave Garcia (.313, 2 HR, 8 RBI) on the DL with a concussion. The 24-year old phenom is expected to be out of action for several months.
April 22 – Knights and Indians play 13 innings before the Knights come through with a 12-10 victory. Tied for the most RBI in the game with four is ATL SP Danny Martin (0-0, 4.30 ERA), who has two hits, but is scorched for six runs in four innings.
April 23 – Despite a moderately even hits column of 19-11 in the Knights’ favor, the Indians never score and are annihilated in a 17-0 blowout, with the Knights reaching double digits in the second inning. The Indians hit into four double plays.
April 24 – NYC 1B Ray Gilbert (.400, 1 HR, 3 RBI) hits his 300th home run in the Crusaders’ 3-2 victory over the Bayhawks, a 2-run home run off Zach Boyer in the eighth inning. Gilbert, who spent most of his career with the Canadiens after debuting with the Cyclones in 2004, is a former Player of the Year and a 5-time All Star, and has two Gold Gloves and a batting title. For his career he has batted .311 with 300 HR and 1,247 RBI.
April 24 – The Knights’ SP Drew King (2-1, 3.62 ERA) has a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. The 28-year old right-hander could be out for a full year.
April 24 – The Titans get destroyed by the Condors in a 15-2 rout. The Condors don’t score in the first two innings, then plate at least one run in every inning starting with the third. TIJ OF/1B Josh Rawlings (.254, 2 HR, 8 RBI) goes 4-for-4 with 2 RBI.
April 27 – The Bayhawks lose another starter as 2B/SS Raul Claros (.246, 2 HR, 12 RBI) goes down with a sprained ankle that could take six weeks to heal.
April 27 – The Cyclones trade LF/RF Jason Seeley (.243, 3 HR, 12 RBI) to the Blue Sox for MR Matt Rosenthal (1-2, 2.33 ERA) and SP/MR Jack Sander (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Sander, 23, was ranked #32 by BNN in the 2018 prospects report, but went unranked this season despite not making his major league debut until this month.
April 28 – RIC SP Shunyo Yano (1-1, 2.15 ERA) will miss five weeks with a sprained ankle.
April 28 – The Capitals look a bit beaten, down 9-1 to the Miners in the seventh inning, until they suddenly explode for a 10-run seventh and claim an 11-9 victory.

Complaints and stuff

Some numbnut made Eddie Jackson Player of the Week. He had five hits in six at-bats, with 2 HR and 2 RBI. I don’t know. They’re all drunk in New York.

However!

+++

Juan Berrios * 1977
Jason Turner * 1989
Manuel Movonda * 1998
Bob Joly * 2000
Jose Dominguez * 2007
Nick Brown * 2016
Jonathan Toner * 2019

Life is good.

The 12-0 score is tied for the highest in a Coons no-hitter with Berrios’, but the highest score ever in any of the 41 ABL no-hitters belongs to the guy the Coons tore up on Tuesday, Brian Furst, who won a 13-0 no-hitter last year against the Indians. Furst is one of only two pitchers (with Henry Selph) to throw two no-hitters, and the only to throw them for the same team. Jonny, there you have a life goal.