Ottawa began week seventeen exactly as they ended the previous week-losing to Richmond, getting swept by Richmond, and extending their losing streak to seven games. Again, the starting pitching gave up a big inning early, (seven run third), Ottawa lost 9-4 and Matt Childers, (5-2), picked up a loss for only the first time in seven starts. Childers gave up fourteen hits in only four innings and while the bullpen allowed only one Richmond run the rest of the way, the damage was done. Doug Clark hit a three run home run in the third effectively putting the game out of reach as Richmond totalled nine hits in the inning. Although Ottawa scored three times in the next inning, they would manage only one more run. Newcomer Michael Garciapara went 2-3 for the Lynx with a walk and an RBI as Ottawa managed eight hits but seven were singles.

Their next opponent was Norfolk who had beaten Ottawa three out of four earlier in the month in Ottawa and had just taken two of three against the Durham Bulls in Durham. Landon Jacobsen, (1-5), went the distance for the Lynx but Norfolk came out on top 7-4, the big blow a two run single by Tides catcher Albert Castillo which capped off a three run first for Norfolk. Castillo would later hit a two run homer in the eighth for a total of four RBI on the night. Tides starter Craig Anderson, (5-2), allowed only two runs on four hits over seven innings. The Lynx made it close in the eight, scoring two runs and pulling within one run (5-4), but the home run by Castillo put the game out of reach. Once again Ottawa managed only one extra base hit, (double by Jaramillo), and only seven hits. The loss made it eight in a row for the Lynx.

Ottawa snapped their losing streak with a 5-2 over Norfolk the next night as J.A. Happ, (3-5), got back on track with a solid six innings. Happ gave up five hits and struck out six and recently transferred from Philadelphia lefty Michael Zagurski picked up his first hold, (1.1 innings striking out four batters and walking one). Brian Sanches earned his twelve save pitching the final 1.2 innings and allowing no base runners. Ottawa scored two in the first taking advantage of every opportunity. Newcomer Javon Moran and Chris Roberson led off the game with back to back singles and a sacrifice fly, an error and a Brennan King single brought them home. Norfolk tied it in the fourth scoring two runs. Ottawa took the lead in the fifth as Chris Roberson drove in Carlos Leon who had been hit by a pitch leading off the inning, with his 21^st double of the season and scored another run in the sixth on a Pedro Swann single. Roberson scored the Lynx final run, leading off the ninth with a triple and after a walk to Jason Jaramillo, Gary Burnham singled driving home Roberson.

The next night saw a 7-6 walk off victory by Norfolk on a single by Jason Dubois who had been in a 1-12 slump. Lynx starter John Ennis lasted only 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Anderson Garcia didn’t fare much better as he allowed two runs in only two innings of relief. Norfolk lead 6-2 after six behind another solid start by Kurt Birkins but Norfolk reliever Steve Green allowed Ottawa back into the game in the seventh. After retiring the first two Lynx batters, Green hit Carlos Leon and then issued a free pass to Javon Moran. Chris Roberson then pulled Ottawa to within one, hitting his fourth home run of the year, this one over the right field wall and driving in his fourth RBI of the game. Ottawa evened up the score at 6-6 when Carlos Leon drew a bases loaded walk in the eighth after the Lynx managed a walk and two singles all coming with two out. But a strikeout of Moran left the bases loaded, the game tied and ended the Lynx rally. Ottawa could have easily taken the lead in the top of the ninth after loading the bases with no one out on two singles and an infield throwing error by Tidewater second baseman Bo Hart on what should have been a double play. Tim Kester was summoned from the Tides bullpen, (replacing the ineffective Jim Hoey who had given up the tying run in the previous inning), and after a shallow fly ball which even the speedy Roberson couldn’t score on from third, a line out to third by Dusty Wathan, Michael Garciapara ground out to short, ending the inning. That’s the way things have been going for Ottawa this season. The bottom of the ninth proved once again that lead off walks will usually come back to haunt you. Ottawa reliever Yoel Hernandez in his second inning of relief, walked Norfolk short stop Cesar Crespo to start the inning . Crespo was sacrificed to second and an intentional walk to Adam Stern set up what would hopefully be an inning ending double play. Ottawa got the ground ball but Brennan King ‘s only play was to first on a slow hit ground ball. With runners on second and third, manager John Russell ordered another intentional walk, loading the bases but with two out and pitching to the slumping Jason Dubois. Dubois however, beat the Lynx strategy by singling to right and winning the game for Norfolk giving Kester, (7-8), a win in relief and dropping Hernandez record to 1-2.

The final game of this series resulted in Ottawa losing 4-1 as they faced on of the leagues best starters, Garett Olsen, (9-6). Olsen threw eight shutout innings, allowed only two hits and struck out seven. Olsen retired sixteen of the final seventeen batters he faced and now lead the IL with 117 strike outs. Fabio Castro, (4-4), allowed three runs on six hits over five innings.

Back home for a six games, (two against first place Scranton and four against Syracuse), Ottawa got back in the win column, defeating the Yankees 5-1. Matt Childers, (6-2), picked up the win and Brian Sanches earned his thirteenth save. Everyone in the Ottawa lineup had at least one hit as the team pounded out sixteen, including a solo home run by Brennan King, (his ninth). Childers pitched 5.1 innings allowing only one run on six hits. Clay Condrey, Michael Zagurski and finally Sanches, (for the final out of the game), shut Scranton down over the final 3.2 innings, allowing only three hits. Joey Hammond and Pedro Swann each collected three hits. Kei Igawa, (2-3), allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings for Scranton.

John Russell summed up the teams effort saying, “We pitched well, scored some runs. I thought we played pretty well.”

With all the roster moves over the last couple of days it’ sometimes tough to find bodies and know where to play guys.

“Yeah, we were really scrambling yesterday and today but the new guys really contributed tonight. We’re still a bit short but we’re making the adjustments we need.”

Lynx newcomers Javon Moran and Matt Padgett made big contributions in the Lynx win.

“It was nice to see Padgett swinging the bat aggressively tonight,” offered Russell.

Moran was involved in a key play in the game in the sixth inning, keeping a rally going and allowing Ottawa to stay out of a potential bases loaded double play as he beat the relay throw to first from catcher Raul Chavez. Hammond followed with a single driving in the second run of the inning and giving the Lynx a 5-1 lead. Ottawa had hit into a couple of rally killing double plays and needed to take advantage of men on base in the sixth.

“We teach them to hustle and play hard. Moran really helped out that inning,” explained Russell.”We could have easily had more runs but we got the job done.”

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and Ottawa hooked up the next night for the conclusion of this brief two game series and this time, the Yankees came out on top. The Yankees won this time, 5-2 in a game which saw some very unusual strategy employed by Scranton manager Bob Miley. Miley used a total of five relievers, including “starter”Ben Kozlowski. Post game, he explained using all relief pitchers.

“We have a double header tomorrow against second place Buffalo and I wanted to save the starters for that series,” explained Miley. “We’ve done it once before and it worked out and we thought we’d try it again.”

It worked as Ottawa were held to only five base runners, four hits and Scranton retired the last fifteen Lynx hitters in a row.

Ottawa got good pitching as well from starter Landon Jacobsen got back on track after three previous shaky starts, pitched five innings and gave up only a pair of runs and seven hits.

“Jacobsen gave up some hits but made the pitches when he had to,” said John Russell. “It was good to see him back on track.”

Joe Besinius threw a shutout inning in the sixth and the two teams were tied going into inning number seven. Anderson Garcia, (0-2), let the game get away in the seventh and eighth innings and with the way Scranton were shutting the Lynx down, those innings proved to be the difference. In 1.2 innings, Garcia allowed six hits, (a couple of bloop singles among them), and three runs, picking up his second loss of 2007.

“Obviously Garcia didn’t pitch the way we wanted him to,” explained Russell. “A couple of the hits were bloop singles but you have to work your way around those in tight games.”

Gary Burnham hit his eighth home run leading off the fourth inning for Ottawa, tying the game at 2-2. Scranton out hit Ottawa 15-4.

John Russell summed up the game. “Sometimes you just have to give the other team credit. They had outstanding pitching tonight and got the hits when they needed them.”

Ottawa will finish this current home stand with a four game set against Syracuse beginning tonight. J.A. Happ, ( 3-5), is scheduled to start game one.

Lynx Notes: August 1 roster moves: Joey Hammond and Matt Padgett joined the Lynx from Reading. Clay Condrey was outrighted to Ottawa Shaun Boyd and Michael Garciapara were transferred to Reading. Chris Roberson was recalled by Philadelphia. Danny Sandoval who had been released by Philadelphia, cleared waivers and returned to Ottawa. August 2 saw the return of Joe Thurston who had been recalled by Philadelphia last week, was released and re signed with Ottawa. Eude Brito was placed on the disabled list.