“And I don’t care about the sunshine, yeah”
-Zakk Wylde, John Osborne
About Last Night
It was another night for me to hear the winning plays happen on my drive home. So be it. Adonis Medina got the start in Alan Rangel’s spot and scattered six hits over four innings only yeilding one run. The newly-solid bullpen took it from there, including a young whipper-snapper named David Robertson. A few double plays didn’t hurt the cause, either.
Enter Orioles prospect Chayce McDermott, who was supposed to start a game this week but got scratched. I guess a 7+ ERA will do that to you, but there’s something to be said for routine. We let Mick Abel take the ball every five or six days last season to work on things. Griff McGarry showed last night that he still has plenty to work out. And, you can’t really hide in the bullpen when you can take a 1-1 game and give up four hits and two walks and five earned runs to really hand it to the other team. We’ll take it. Pigs hitters had to get those hits and earn those walks so credit has to go to both sides–even though I heard it all on the radio on Oxford Avenue and Fish Hatchery Road.
Pigs go for the six-game series sweep this afternoon at Coca Cola Park. The Crizzler on the mound.
Roster Update
CF Brewer Hicklen was acquired by the Phillies from the Detroit Tigers for cash. Why would we suddenly need a center fielder? That is an excellent question. I’m thinking, perhaps, the quartet of Justin Crawford, Cal Stevenson, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas might not all be in the same place they are today, by the end of next week. All scenarios are in play, but this signals moves ahead, we think. RHP Ryan Cusick received the DFA for roster space, and Luis Verdugo was activated to the Triple-A roster from the development list.
Barring some surprise announcement today, we’re thinking RHP Aaron Nola makes the trip to Worcester this week to make a rehab for the ‘Pigs. With no other teams at home at the upper levels, he could always throw another bullpen and start at home the following week with Scranton in town.
Game Day!
“I don’t think the heavy stuff is gonna come down for quite awhile” -Caddyshack quote in honor of Golf Day
First Pitch: 1:35PM
Gates: 12:00 Club/Suites; 12:15 Main and Center Field
Tickets: Widely Available
Promotions:
- Golf Day
- Golf Ball Giveaway (adults)
- Kids Run The Bases (postgame)
Weather: Chance of thunderstorms decreases at game time. Low 80’s. We should get this one in.
Pitchers: (rematch of Tuesday)
IronPigs: RHP Nabil Crismatt (5-5, 3.90)
Tides: RHP Thaddeus Ward (6-6, 6.24)
Up Next
Pigs return home on August 5 for a series with Scranton. Wednesday is a doubleheader.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
Featured Image by Jack Mitroka. Heavily cropped shot of Andrew Painter trying hard.