[jksander]

JUNE 14, 1963 . . . Ludovic Peltier (5-5, 4.01 ERA, 83.0 IP, 45 K’s, 1.49 WHIP) started in game one against the Gators, facing Juan Ruiz (5-5, 3.59 ERA, 90.1 IP, 30 K’s, 1.47 WHIP). The Gators got on board with a run in the top of the second off a sac-fly to left, but we tied it up in the bottom of the third with an RBI double by Fernando Esquivel. We loaded the bases and got another run when Cantimori hit into a double play, and Victor Diaz hit an RBI double that scored a third run, giving him his 30th RBI of the season! We held a 4-1 lead going into the top of the fourth, but they got a run back in the top of the sixth, though Peltier stranded two runners in scoring position to keep the lead safe. Cantimori batted in a run in the bottom of the seventh with a double, and with the lead still at three runs, Edward Aguirre came in to pitch in the bottom of the ninth. He got the first out easily, then gave up back to back doubles to let the Gators back within two. Another hit bounced over the center fielder’s head, hitting the wall and allowing the runner to eke out another RBI double. And Aguirre completely faded from there, allowing another hit into right ... you guessed it, a double! ... and this game was tied at 5-5. He got a flyout at right, and then got the final out when the runner tried to come around on a single to score, Colon making a perfect tag at the plate to keep the game tied. With Ortiz warming in the bullpen, we were unable to make anything happen offensively, and this one went into extra innings -- just our second extra-innings game this year. In the top of the 11th inning the Gators took a one run lead thanks to an RBI single with two outs, and though we got two runners on in the bottom of the inning, we couldn’t bring them home. For the second time this year we lost in extras, this time 6-5.

Peltier had a great night, with eight innings of four-hit baseball, striking out four and walking two while allowing just two earned runs. In retrospect I should have let him keep the ball in the ninth, but Aguirre has been so solid all year, I thought we could count on him to get us there. Instead, in one inning of work, he blew the save with five hits and three earned runs, while Ortiz then took the loss, allowing three hits, a walk and a run to fall to 2-2 on the season. Aguirre has a 3.45 ERA now through 15.2 innings, and he was due a bad night. It just hurts knowing we outhit them 14-12 and should have had this one in hand. No particular batter starred tonight, it was more of a team effort -- Cantimori, Diaz, Flores, Colon and Peltier each hit twice.

JUNE 15, 1963 . . . Jose Guzman (6-4, 4.47 ERA, 102.2 IP, 39 K’s, 1.63 WHIP) pitched tonight against Alex Rojas (8-6, 1 SV, 5.66 ERA, 98.2 IP, 49 K’s, 1.83 WHIP). We took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI triple by Antonio Fernandez, and Flores added a run in the bottom of the third with an RBI single. Fernandez hit an RBI single, Colon added an RBI double, and we went into the top of the fourth leading 4-0. Logan Holmes batted in a run in the bottom of the fifth with a single, but they wouldn’t be shut out tonight -- top of the sixth, an RBI single gives the Gators two runs to get on the board. Guzman stayed out there and held on to that lead, and we were able to close this one out to win it 5-2!

Guzman improved to 7-4 with a 4.27 ERA, allowing just seven hits, two walks and two earned runs, striking out eight through 154 pitches, one off his record! This was the fourth time this year he’s thrown at least 150 pitches in a game, and only the second time he’s thrown that many and lasted through the whole game. We outhit them 14-7, led by Fernandez with four hits and two RBIs.

JUNE 16, 1963 . . . Manny Hernandez (5-2, 4.39 ERA, 53.1 IP, 25 K’s, 1.63 WHIP) started tonight’s final game against the Gators, facing Jose Ramirez (5-5, 5.76 ERA, 95.1 IP, 34 K’s, 1.81 WHIP). Hernandez was on fire early -- he struck out the side in the top of the second, which I believe is the first time that’s happened for a Havana team this year! In the bottom of the third we finally found a chink in their pitcher’s armor, loading the bases and getting Antonio Fernandez to bat in three runs with another triple, his second of the season! Victor Diaz batted in a pair in the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Jonathan Gonzalez batted one in with a double in the bottom of the sixth, giving us a 6-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning. Holmes batted in another run in the bottom of the seventh, and before we could start the eighth inning it started to pour down rain and the game was called as a 7-0 shutout win.

Hernandez is now 2-0 since joining our team, allowing just three hits through seven innings with seven strikeouts for an 0.56 ERA. Isla Saorna\s Rebels were among the worst hitting teams in either league, overall, so I understand why they traded for Alcaraz, but I think it’s going to prove incredibly shortsighted that they gave up on a pitcher of his potential when there are so few great ones in our league. We outhit the Gators 11-3, led by Victor Diaz with three hits, a run and two RBIs. Holmes hit twice and batted in a run, giving him a .461 average and 25 RBIs so far this year.

In contract news, Juan Ortiz has signed an 11-year $6,800 deal to stay with his hometown team! At 25 it was a no-brainer to get him signed long term, and the deal still gives him an opportunity to explore free agency after five years with a player opt-out after the 1968 season. If he stays, he has four more years guaranteed and then player options for the 10th and 11th years. He wants, however, the chance to prove he can start regularly. We’re going to move our rookie, Diaz, back into the bullpen and give him a shot at playing more as a member of a four-man rotation with Peltier, Guzman and Hernandez.

We’ve got a three-game home home series against Cienfuegos this weekend, and then we’ll be officially at the mid-point of the season! Heading into the series, we are tied with Santa Clara at 22-17, half a game behind the Cubanos who are 22-16. Ours is by far the most competitive division -- no other division has three teams who all could be playoff contenders, and only one of us actually will be one.