We are twelve weeks into the 2007 season and the Ottawa Lynx, despite some promising signs last week, continued their slide deeper into last place in the Northern Division with another losing road trip. Ottawa are dangerously close to the point of no return. This team, who won the IL Northern Division title last season, can’t get a foot forward and put together a long winning streak which might, and I say might, get them back in contention for a playoff spot. This is the month to make up ground and by slipping further behind, the month of July might become critical for the Lynx. Instead of fighting for a playoff spot, Ottawa are struggling to merely hang on.

Week twelve began in Columbus and Ottawa lost three of the four games to begin their eight game road trip. After a big come from behind win against Toledo to end their last home stand, the Lynx couldn’t keep it going and lost game one by a score of 4-0. Columbus starter John Lannan, (1-0), made his Triple A debut a successful one, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and striking out two. Lynx starter Heath Totten, (1-3), surrendered all four Columbus runs over five innings. Ottawa managed only one extra base hit the entire game and never seriously threatened. The Lynx bounced back in game two, continuing their lose one, win one of late, winning this one 4-3. This one saw clutch hitting from veteran Pedro Swann who continued his hot hitting in June, as he started the Lynx eighth inning rally with a double and then singled, stole second and scored on Chris Roberson’s single in the eleventh which put Ottawa ahead for good. J. D. Durbin hurled seven strong innings and while blew the save in the eight, giving up the tying run, Fabio Castro, (3-0), worked around three hits and two walks in two innings picking up the win while Anderson Garcia pitched a perfect eleventh for his second save of the season.

But the Lynx couldn’t keep this modest winning streak going and lost the next two games in Columbus by scores of 7-6 and 4-3, dropping their record to 31-42 and their away record to 13-23. In game three, the Lynx lead by a score of 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eight inning. Ottawa starter J.A.,. Happ went five innings and gave up three runs but Lynx reliever Charles Weatherby, (1-1) couldn’t hold Columbus. In the Columbus eighth, Manny Alexander smacked a bases loaded triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bernie Castro bringing home the winning run. Weatherby was charged with the loss in his first unsuccessful outing of the season. Jason Jaramillo continued his hot hitting going 3-4 and driving in four runs.

The next night saw the Lynx on the losing end of another one run game as their ninth inning rally came up one run short. Brennan King and Gary Burnham hit back to back home runs in the ninth, (King a two run home run), but Columbus stopper Chris Booker stopped the rally then and there, recording his 20^th save of the season, getting the final two outs of the game. Ottawa starter Bubba Nelson, (2-3), took the loss, giving up three runs in six innings as each team collected only six hits but the Lynx made two errors. Columbus counted three runs in the first and Clipper starter Chris Michalak, (3-2), threw seven shutout innings. Next stop Toledo who had last week defeated Ottawa three out of four.

Things didn’t get any better for Ottawa in their return match against Toledo as the dropped the first ( ) games at the Mud Hens home park losing game one by a score of 8-5 and game two 5-2. Lynx starter Eude Brito, (1-4), lasted only four innings and gave up four of the MudHens eight runs. Toledo third baseman and IL All-Star Mike Hessman hit another home run against Ottawa, (and his league leading 23^rd of the season), as Toledo opened up the game with two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth taking a 8-3 lead. Lynx Newcomer Ryan Cameron surrendered four runs, (three earned in 1.1 innings), including the Hessman home run. Brennan King continued his hot hitting with his sixth home run of the season, going 3-4 with three RBI and raising his average to .296. Toledo starter Jordan Tata, (2-1), dominated the Lynx pitching seven innings and giving up three runs.

The second game in this series was an afternoon affair, (noon hour to be exact), and the Lynx dropped their fourth in a row, this time 5-2. Toledo once again got a solid performance from their starter, this time Ron Chiavacci, (7-4), who went seven innings allowing only two runs and striking out four. Chiavacci has won six of his last seven starts. Why is it when a team is struggling the luck of the draw puts it up against the hottest starters or teams? Lynx starter Heath Totten, (1-4), lasted only four innings and allowed four runs. Toledo broke the 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth and a single run in the seventh. Pedro Swann hit his fourth home run of the season.

Ottawa snapped their losing streak Thursday night with a combination which more often than not results in a win-pitching and timely hitting. Charles Weatherby, (2-1), pitched a solid five innings, giving up only one run, Anderson Garcia picked up his third save and Gary Burnham hit his fifth home run which gave Ottawa a lead they never gave up.

Lynx Notes: Lynx catcher Jason Jaramillo has been selected to the Triple A All-Star game.

Outfielder Randy Ruiz and pitcher Ryan Cameron have been promoted from Double A Reading. Joey Hammond has been transferred to Reading. Cameron spent the entire 2006 season with Scranton/Wilkes Barre compiling a record of 6-2 and seven saves with an ERA of 3.19. Ruiz was hitting .320 with ten home runs this year with Altoona and Reading.

The Lynx return home to face Scranton/Wilkes Barre in a short four game home stand with a record of 32-44, ten games behind first place Buffalo in the IL Northern Division. Their home record stands at 18-19. Joe Thurston was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week, (week ending June 17th)