Lynx Week Four

Week four was the start of an eight game home stand . The Lynx schedule brought the Indianapolis Indians in for four games followed by the Louisville Bats, the first and second place teams in the Western Division. The Indians starting pitching would feature three of the stars of the Pittsburgh Pirates system, each of whom, because of various arm and shoulder problems, found themselves in the minor leagues. This matchup together with the to this date weak Lynx offense did not have the promise of an easy series for Ottawa who had been enjoying a successful home stand after a difficult opening season road trip. Indianapolis starters performed as advertised but the Lynx pitchers with the exception of game two of the series, were equal to the task, continuing their solid season. Three of the four games featured great pitching duals from both teams starters.

It was also the return of National League rules and style of play to Lynx Stadium for the first time in five years. Double switches, pinch hitting and situational bullpen usage and NO DH(!) made for tense and exciting baseball, pitching duals, pitchers batting, (Ottawa starter Rick Bauer batted for the first time in ten years!), and defensive highlights. The only blowout of the series, (10-0), was simply the result of two ground balls which snuck through for singles and a hanging curve ball-a seven run sixth inning in which Clay Condrey who was charged with four of the runs, (he allowed two inherited runners to score which were charged to J.A. Happ). The Lynx uncharacteristically, made two errors in this game, both leading to unearned runs. The game could have been much closer but still a loss as Ottawa was shut out.

The four game series against Indianapolis turned out to be a split. Ottawa won games one, (2-1) and three, (4-2) while the Indians took games two, (10-0) and four, (4-0).

Righty John Van Benshoten went seven innings giving up only three hits and striking out seven, leaving with a 1-0 lead. Rick Bauer started for Ottawa and gave up the lone Indian run in the first inning . He was replaced after only 3.1 IP, (it was his first start of the season), and three Lynx relievers shut down Indianapolis the rest of the way, allowing only five hits. Ottawa finally broke through in the ninth off of reliever Kevin Gryboski with a shattered bat infield single by Lou Collier and a game winning bloop single to left by Jim Rushford just over the infield.

“If you keep working hard sometimes things will break your way,” explained manager John Russell. It wasn’t a pretty victory but it counted all the same. The Lynx were outhit 9-7 and made two errors but still managed to put one in the win column.

The next night featured Lynx lefty J.A. Happ, solid in all three previous starts, against Marty McCleary. McCleary pitched six innings and gave up only two hits. Happ left in the fifth inning with runners at second and third and trailing 2-0 but by the time his replacement Clay Condrey managed an out, the Indians had scored six more runs and putting an end to any Ottawa hopes for victory.

“It was just one of those games. Everything I threw was over the middle of the plate and those guys don’t miss pitches like that,” explained Condrey. “Unfortunately you’re going to have games like that. You just have to put it behind you. A loss is a loss no matter what the score. You have to go out there and get them next time.”

Russell agreed saying, “You’re going to have those games. Sometimes you come out on top and sometimes you get beat up.” Russell added, “It’s just one game and you put it behind you and move on.”

Ottawa did put it behind them the next night this time behind seven innings of shutout ball by Matt Childers, (2-1). Childers left with a 3-0 lead and although the Indians counted two runs in the eighth to get to within one run, (both off Kyle Davis), Yoel Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his third save of the season, Ottawa winning 4-2. Chris Roberson continued to lead the team in RBI, driving in two runs in the fifth to break the scoreless tie. Lefty Sean Burnett, (3-2) went seven and gave up three runs but suffered his second loss of the season.

Game four of the series matched up Lynx starter Brian Mazone against righty Bryan Bullington, (another Pirate starter plagued by arm troubles the previous season and who missed the entire 2006 season). Bullington pitched seven scoreless innings and earned his fourth straight victory, (4-0), giving up only five hits. Mazone, (2-2), allowed all four Indian runs, pitching seven innings and giving up six hits. Indians shortstop Brian Bixler knocked in three of the four runs with an RBI double and a two run home run.

April was officially in the books with the Lynx having a finishing wit a 10-9 record.

The new month brought the Louisville Bats, (Triple A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) to town for games May 1-4. This new series would not be any easier for the Lynx offense as game one would feature one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, twenty year old, (he turns twenty one on May 3), Homer Bailey. Bailey hails from La Grange, Texas and has the potential to continue the high, hard heat of other two other notable Texas born starters, Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Add a nasty curve ball into the mix and a developing change-up and the sky would seem to be the limit for Bailey who was one of the last cuts in spring training by Cincinnati.

As is the case with many young hard throwing pitchers, Bailey, (2-1) suffered from control problems at various times during the game but went six innings and struck out five for the win. The Lynx hard luck pitcher so far this season, Zach Segovia, (0-4) took the loss, giving up all four Louisville runs in seven innings. Louisville won this one 4-2 with Canadian Joey Votto hitting his third home run of the season for the Bats.

The losing streak reached three games for Ottawa the next night as the Lynx went down quietly, 5-2. Rich Bauer, (0-1), lasted only four innings and gave up all five Louisville runs, (four earned). Major League veteran Mark Bellhorn hit a two run home run in the first and added an RBI single in the fifth, all the runs Louisville would need. The Lynx managed only five hits and trailed the entire game. One bright offensive note in this game-Chris Roberson went 2-4 and increased his team leading RBI total to 16.

Game three of this four game series between the Lynx and the Bats resulted in the first extra inning game of the season for Ottawa, and a dramatic 3-2 victory for the home team. Lefty J.A. Happ made his fifth start of the season but with a pitch count of 108, was lifted after five innings with the game tied 2-2. After some bad luck in the eight inning, the Lynx Gary Burnham who was hitless in four at bats, looped a one out single over the head of the Louisville second baseman and driving in Jason Jaramillo with the game winner. Jaramillo, who had hit a vicious grounder to third which might have put the Lynx ahead in the eight, reached base on a routine grounder, again to third, which skipped through the legs of Bats infielder Mike Edwards. A sacrifice bunt by Lou Collier put the go ahead run in scoring position and set up the game winning hit.

“You have to keep grinding it out and forget about your last at bat,” said Burnham. “It’s nice that we got a break tonight. They’ve been making some great defensive plays on us all series.”

The win evened the Lynx record at 11-11. Ottawa finishes this current home stand tonight with game four against Louisville before heading out on the road for eleven games in ten days, three games in Rochester, four in Louisville and four in Indianapolis.