This afternoon, we enjoyed one of the many quirky promotions that you encounter in minor league parks – Bark at the Park.  Afterward, we were treated to a Cole Hamels’ start for the Threshers.

Hamels’ second pitch was rocketed over the right field wall by Jays’ star Dwight Smith, Jr. In the third inning, Hamels hit the number 9 batter in the heel while ahead in the count.  He proceeded to pick the runner off first base.  Good thing, too.  Smith followed with another bomb over the wall in right center.

Including a single off the shortstop (I had scored it E6), Hamels line was –

• 4 IP; 3 H; 2 R; 2 ER; 0 BB; 4 K; 1 HBP
• 50 pitches, 33 strikes

Regarding the 2 home runs, Hamels gave credit to Smith stating that he located his fast balls where he wanted.  Smith was just aggressive and went and got them.

Miguel Nunez took over after Hamels’ fourth inning.  He suffered through a rocky fifth where the Jays scored 3 runs on 5 hits.  He settled down after that and pitched 3-hit ball over the next 4 innings.  He pitched into and out of a jam in the eighth.  His final line –

• 5 IP; 8 H; 3 R; 3 ER; 1 BB; 6 K

Defensively, the Threshers were charged with 2 errors.  Charitable scoring probably saved another two-three errors.  However, I’ve been told by friends that I’m a tough scorer.

Offensively, the Threshers managed 8 hits – 6 singles and 2 doubles.  Jays’ pitchers struck out 10 and walked none.  Pete Lavin went 3 for 4 with a double;  Harold Martinez went 2 for 3 with a double, a sac fly, an RBI, and a run scored;  Brian Pointer went 1-3 with a sac fly and an RBI.

Miscellany:

• 1^st inning – Smith homered deep over the right field wall on an 0-1 pitch.
• Lavin singled thru the hole into left on a 3-2 pitch.
• Martinez followed with a line drive single to left on a 3-2 pitch.
• Threshers’ batters saw 26 pitches in the first inning.
• 2^nd inning – Threshers’ SS deflected a ball off his chest into centerfielder (scored a hit, I thought it was an error), second baseman retrieved the ball and retired the batter trying to reach second, 4-6.
• Pointer singled to right field thru the hole.
• 3^rd inning – Smith homered onto the right centerfield berm on a 2-2 pitch after runner was picked off first.
• 4^th inning – Martinez doubled down the right field line.
• William Carmona reached on a pop single down the left field line.
• On a shallow sac fly to right center by Pointer, Carmona was thrown out at second by the cutoff man after the run scored.
• 5^th inning – with runners on the corners, Nunez picked the runner of first but the fielders botched the rundown.
• 6^th inning – Lavin doubled into the left field corner.
• 7^th inning – Nunez overpowered the 9 hole hitter on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.
• 8^th inning – with one out a Jays’ batter stretches a single to left into a double on throw to the relay man, after another single, Nunez pitches out of trouble.
• 9^th inning – Jays batter singles off the glove of the second baseman.

See you in a few days, off to watch the Flyers play a couple of important games.