Ottawa began week nineteen on a two game winning streak, (doesn’t sound like much but it had been awhile since they’d won back to back), and had two remaining games in Buffalo before a brief two game series in Rochester. Game one saw the streak end 10-1 but the game was closer than it looked until the eighth inning when the Bisons scored four times off of Lynx reliever Joe Besinius. Although Lynx starter John Ennis, (4-4), wasn’t lights out, he left the game having allowed five runs, (four earned), with Ottawa trailing 5-1 and not completely out of the game yet. Bisons starter Jeffrey Harris, (6-7), pitched seven innings and allowed only four Ottawa hits and one run and the Buffalo pen held the Lynx scoreless over the final two innings.

Besinius, who has struggled all season long, got a big one out double play grounder with the bases loaded, (King to Jaramillo to Rushford), to hold the Buffalo threat at one run after three straight singles and a walk were given up by Ryan Cameron. in the seventh. But in the eighth Besinius fell apart, throwing two wild pitches, was charged with a balk, walked two, gave up two singles and the big blow, a three run home run by Andy Marte, finished him for the evening. Anderson Garcia came in and struck out the next two batters, ending the inning, but the damage had been done. Ottawa were outhit 17-4, losing their first game of this series against Buffalo.

The next night saw Ottawa came from behind twice, eventually defeating Buffalo 6-4. Starter Matt Childers, (7-2), earned his fifth victory in his last six decisions and while not as sharp as some other starts, he kept the team in the game and Ottawa were able to come back and get the win. Childers allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings, walking five and striking out four. He gave up a run in the first, and three in the fourth allowing Buffalo to retake the lead, and had only one three up three down inning, (the second), but he managed to work out of trouble and Ottawa trailed by only one run after four thanks to a Matt Padgett one out, three run home run in the Lynx fourth. Ottawa counted two in the sixth and one in the seventh, the two runs in the sixth on a one out double by Dusty Wathan and the single run in the seventh on a Brennan King single following a one out Joe Thurston double. Mike Zagurski replaced Childers in the seventh and after walking the leadoff batter retired the side in order. After getting the leadoff Buffalo batter in the eighth, Zagurski was replaced by Yoel Hernandez. Hernandez who finished off the eighth and although he walked two batters in the ninth to make it interesting for manager Russell, ended the game by striking out the final two batters, picking up his fifth save.

Ottawa continued their winning ways in Rochester the next night, the first of a two game series, this time winning 6-5, scoring all six of their runs in the fourth inning and all on walks and singles. The Lynx had lost three of four to Rochester at home in July but got the victory in the opener this time. Starter Fabio Castro, (5-4), ended his four game losing streak going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. Brian Sanches earned his fourteenth save striking out four in 1.2 innings and allowing only one hit. The six run fourth all began with two outs and no one on base, something the Lynx haven’t been very good at all season. A walk, an error and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Jim Rushford who singled in two runs. Gookie Dawkins worked a walk and three consecutive singles scored four more, giving Ottawa a lead of 6-0. Buffalo answered with two in their half of the inning and two more in the sixth allowed by Geoff Geary and another in the eighth on a home run by Garrett Jones allowed by Kane Davis but Sanchez worked out of the jam in the eighth and held Rochester scoreless in the ninth to get the save putting Ottawa at 4-1 for the road trip.

Ottawa lost the next day, 4-1, ending another modest two game win streak as Red Wing starter Nick Blackburn, (7-1), gave up just five singles and went seven innings. Ottawa starter Landon Jacobson, (2-6), lasted only 3.2 innings, allowing three runs but only one was earned. Jason Jaramillo drove in the only Lynx run with an RBI double in the ninth off of reliever Bobby Korecky as Rochester once again as they had when they visited Ottawa, featured excellent pitching.

The Lynx came back home Tuesday night for the start of an eight game home stand, four against Pawtucket and four against Buffalo. The Lynx had split a four game series with Pawtucket in July and tonight would send the very hot J.A. Happ to the mound, looking to continue his 13.2 scoreless inning streak. Happ was very sharp again but one bad pitch did him in and this time Ottawa lost the game 5-3. Happ allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and struck out a Lynx season high ten batters. Ottawa used some perfect execution in the third to jump out ahead 2-0. Gookie Dawkins lead off the inning with a single and Pedro Swann followed with a base hit, moving Dawkins to second. Javon Moran followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving both runners up a base. Joe Thurston hit the first pitch to right field, a sacrifice fly scoring Dawkins. Jason Jaramillo then walked, putting runners on first and second and Gary Burnham drove home Swann with a hard single to right. Jaramillo tried to advance to third but a perfect throw by Bobby Scales nailed him for the third out. Ottawa had a chance to add more in the third but this time a failure to execute a sacrifice bunt by Jim Rushford left runners at first and second and the next two batters were retired. It turned out to be an important misplay as Rochester were able to jump ahead 3-2 in the sixth.

Happ had been struggling a bit with his control all game as he had walked three batters going into the sixth but he had picked off two, (Joe McEwing in the first after a single-the third out of the inning), and Junior Spivey in the third after walking him to lead off the inning. Happ had also struck out eight after five. He had worked out of a big jam in the fourth loading the bases on two walks and a single with only one out. After a visit to the mound by pitching coach Rod Nichols, Happ settled down and struck out the next two in the inning, preserving the 2-0 Lynx lead.

“Rod noticed that Happ’s mechanics were a little out of whack,” explained John Russell. “He’d been struggling a bit all game but made the pitches when he had to and was able to make some adjustments.”

Happ couldn’t escape the sixth though.. With two men on, (another walk and a single), and two out thanks to two more strikeouts, Bobby Scales drove an 0-1 pitch far over the left field wall giving Pawtucket a 3-2 lead and ruining what had been another solid effort by Happ.

“That’s four very solid starts in a row for J,’ said Russell. “Obviously that pitch wasn’t where we wanted it but that’s why baseball is such a tough game.” “His pitch count was getting up there and I was hoping he could get out of the sixth as he was coming out after six no matter what but he gave up the home run.”

The Lynx tied it up in their half of the sixth on a Jim Rushford single but Pawtucket would score one in the seventh on a Jacoby Ellsbury single off of Yoel Hernandez and one more in the ninth on a Joe McEwing solo home run given up by Brian Sanchez as the Pawtucket bullpen shut down the Lynx over the final three innings. Starter Gary Hansack, (8-7), pitched 6.2 innings for the win.

Wednesday night was one of the toughest losses for Ottawa all season and was somewhat of a microcosm for the entire season. After the 3-1 loss in thirteen innings, the wind seems to be finally out of the Ottawa sails. A sombre John Russell commented,” We had our chances but as has been happening most of the season, we couldn’t get the big hit-couldn’t get that extra base hit when we needed it.”

Ottawa starter John Ennis was absolutely superb, allowing no hits and walking only one, (that leading off the seventh), in seven innings of work. He left the game with a no hitter still ongoing but with a slim 1-0 lead. He struck out nine Pawtucket batters and simply over matched them.

“I replaced him because he hadn’t gone more than five innings all season and I didn’t want to risk hurting his arm,” explained Russell. “It was a shame to waste such an excellent performance by Ennis. I wish we could have gotten the win for him.”

Geoff Geary replaced Ennis to start the eighth and allowed a single and a double as Pawtucket tied the game 1-1. Bobby Scales broke up the no hitter with one out and would score on a double by Junior Spivey. The game remained tied until the eleventh inning when Pawtucket scored twice. Kane Davis, (3-3), allowed two singles, the second on a hit and run through the left side hole with one out and a runner on second and a another single scored a run to make it 2-1. A sacrifice fly to centre brought home the second run of the inning. Ottawa wasted chances in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out and couldn’t score and in the tenth when Gary Burnham hit into double play.

“We didn’t get the job done in the ninth and Burnham in the tenth, who has been our top run producer all season, hit into the double play, ” said Russell. “We pitched them tough all night.”

The following night just when all seemed lost and Ottawa were going to go down again without much of a fight , the offense came through in the clutch. Dusty Wathan drove a 3-2, two out pitch just out of the reach of a diving Pawtucket short stop driving in two runs in the eighth to tie the game and Joe Thurston drove a single up the middle scoring Gookie Dawkins who had singled to lead off the inning to win the game 4-3 for Ottawa. A perfect sacrifice bunt by Pedro Swann had moved Dawkins into scoring position and a single by Javon Moran put runners on the corners. This time, the Lynx avoided the rally killing double play grounders and the single by Thurston gave Ottawa their first win of this home stand. Knuckle ball pitcher Charlie Zink stymied Ottawa for seven innings before a walk and two singles chased him. Ottawa starter Matt Childers gave up three runs in the third but worked his way out of a bases loaded none out jam in the sixth striking out the final two batters, an inning which would prove to be a key inning for Ottawa.

“Childers kept us in the game,” said Russell. ” The fifth could have been a big inning for them but Childers got through it and gave us a chance to come back.”

Eude Brito who had been activated off the DL the night before held Pawtucket for 1.2 innings and Joe Besinius, (2-3), walked one and allowed a single in the ninth but held the game at 3-3 allowing the Lynx to come back and grab the win.

Lynx Notes: Ottawa’s record is now 49-76, twenty-three games back in the North Division. The team is now only five wins shy of 1,000 for the history of the franchise.

Mike Zagurski was recalled by Philadelphia and Brian Sanches was placed on the inactive list this week.