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We came into the last day of April and a home game against the Waco Cubs with a 12-8 record, our team having clicked completely since the early rough start. I’ve continued to gradually improve, and in that game I made it through 5.1 innings with four hits, walking six and striking out four to get through with five runs against me, four of them earned. My ERA has improved to 4.68 through my first five starts, and I now have a 2-3 record overall which I’m feeling good about. Our 13th win of the season got us into second place as the calendar flipped to May, trailing Fort Worth’s Panthers by just a game and a half.
On May 6th I had my best game of the season so far, lasting through eight innings before Ira Smith came out of the pen to earn a save as we beat the Beaumont Explorers 4-1 ... I allowed nine hits and a walk, but struck out four and only gave them one run, so I got my second win in a row to improve to 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA. My pitching coach was definintely pleased I had better control over where I aimed my pitches, and though I’m still giving up plenty of contact, my infield bailed me out plenty and I kept my free passes to a minimum.
The Cardinals this year have been struggling and are off to a 10-11 start up there in the major leagues. But that could’t seen farther away to me. It’s clear I have to keep working every day and the improvements will come, but I know I’m not ready to face National League batters ... or even their pitchers for that matter, as I’m only hitting .077 so far through my first six starts.
Our team, meanwhile, is chugging along and we have a real chance to compete in this league. At 15-11 we’re tied for second with Waco, and are just half a game behind Fort Worth. But everyone in the league is within three and a half, except the San Antonio Indians, a haphazardly built team that has struggled to a 5-21 start, 10.5 games back and fading fast.
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