Fresno falling to the back of the pack?
Gload is batting only .244 on the season, and only .167 in his last 10 games
A tough couple of series against the Yankees and Twins, during which they went 2-4, has teams and people everywhere wondering if the Outlaws talent, or lack thereof, has finally caught up with them. They lost games one and two to the Twins before salvaging a win to avoid the sweep, and then lost games two and three to the Yankees after winning game one. The mediocrity of the pitching staff may finally be catching up to the team, with the team ERA for the month resting at an even 6.00, hardly playoff caliber, or even enough to stay this close to .500 for the rest of the season. The offense for the team will be fine, but if the team is going stay in contention the pitching is going to have to perform well above what they have so far this season, and there is no reason to believe they can do that.
The team suffered another rough series at the hands of the Twins, and very nearly got swept once again.
Game 1: Outlaws 7 - Twins 8
Despite both starters pitching solid, 2 earned runs for Liriano in 6 innings and 2 for Aardsma in 3 2/3 innings in a spot start, offense was the story of this one. The Twins also made two errors leading to three unearned runs. Gload and Buck both drove in two runs, and Crawford went 3-4 with a walk and three runs, and helped us to a one run lead going into the ninth, but the bullpen coughed it up once again. Wickman pitched one inning, gave up three hits, a walk, a homer, and two runs to earn the loss. You would think any team could win a game in which your opponent makes two errors leading to three unearned runs, but I guess not.
Player of the Game: Brendan Harris 2-4 2R HR 3RBI
Game 2: Outlaws 5 - Twins 9
Offense was again the story of this one, in conjunction with the struggles of both starting pitchers. Kershaw lasted only four innings and allowed seven runs, five earned, while walking five, while Slowey struggled through five innings and was charged with five earned runs, but unlike Kershaw, Slowey's bullpen was able to pick him up and didn't even allow a hit in the final four innings of the game.
Player of the Game: Minnesota Bullpen 4IP 0H 0BB 3K
Game 3: Outlaws 9 - Twins 4
This game featured an excellent and very encouraging start by Sean Marshall. Marshall went 7 1/3 innings, his longest outing of the season, allowed nine hits, walked only two, allowed only three runs, and struck eight batters, easily his strongest start of the season and hopefully something to build on. There was offense about in this game on our side. I'll spare you the details and simply give the boxscore.
Player of the Game: Willy Aybar 2-3 2BB 4R HR 2RBI
HTML Code:
FRESNO ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
N. Hopper (DH) 5 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .341
W. Aybar (3B) 3 2 2 4 1 2 0 0 .304
C. Crawford (LF) 4 2 1 2 0 1 1 0 .300
T. Buck (RF) 5 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .339
R. Gload (1B) 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 .249
B. Conrad (2B) 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
J. Repko (CF) 5 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .236
K. Cash (C) 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J. McDonald (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
TOTALS 39 15 4 9 1 7 4 1
Another rough series in Yankee Stadium begins to set in the belief that the team's run of relative success may be up for the season.
Game 1: Outlaws 7 - Yankees 3
Our only win of the series comes back by a strong start from 45 year old David Wells, a start that last eight innings and in which he gave up only three runs and three walks. The big hit of the game came off the bat of pinch hitter Dallas McPherson in the top of the eighth as a pinch hit three run homer, which spread the lead to 7-3 and secured the win.
Player of the Game: Dallas McPherson 1-1 HR 3RBI
Game 2: Outlaws 5 - Yankees 7
Neither starter fared well in this game, but it was again the bullpen that separated the weak from the strong, as the Yankees bullpen managed to lock it down for the final 2 1/3 innings of the game and ours could not, and it was even our steadiest bullpen arm Brandon League that undid us. But the hit that really did us in was a Grand Slam by Alex Rodriguez in the seventh inning for Baek's final batter.
Player of the Game: Alex Rodriguez 1-4 GS
Game 3: Outlaws 1 - Yankees 5
Kershaw pitched a good six innings allowing only three runs, but Mike Mussina was dominant, going eight innings allowing only one run, two walks, and striking out five to give us the loss. The only thing we could muster for offense was a solo homer by Willy Aybar, his ninth of the season, in the eighth inning when the game was already essentially over and basically just assured that the team didn't get shutout.
Player of the Game: 8IP 7H 2BB ER 5K
Team Notes:
- Travis Buck has really put the team on his back, hitting .452 in his last 10 games.
- Brandon League has been the team's steadiest reliever all season with a 2.95 ERA and a .212 BAA.
- Jeff Weaver missed his last start against the Twins with a sore rotator cuff, but should be back in time for his next start against the Tigers on the 12.
League Notes:
- Brandon Phillips of the Reds hit for the cycle!
- Albert Pujols collected homerun #300
AL West Standings:
- Seattle Mariners 34-30
- Texas Rangers 31-33, 3 GB
- Los Angeles Angels 31-34, 3.5 GB
- Oakland A's 30-35, 4.5 GB
- Fresno Outlaws 29-36, 5.5 GB
What do you guys think of the newish, adjusted format? I like it a whole lot more.
Originally Posted by YEAH DAAAAWG
Fresno Outlaws, #6 Overall
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. I'm going to do another update right now, btw.
