Five observations from
my first game of the year at U.S. Cellular Field:
- I kind of liked that I couldn't get lower deck seats on the day of the game. A series this big should sell out the lower bowl.
- And upper deck isn't as bad as I remembered it.
- Few things warm the heart more than when Joe Crede is swinging the bat well.
- Maybe Jim Thome's homer did only go 464 feet. Extending an imaginary radius from home plate, Joe Borchard's concourse shot beat Thome's by plenty.
- The crowd meter is still the worst gimmick of all scoreboard gimmicks.
I didn't get a great look at Champions Plaza, but it looked like they did an OK job with it.
**********************
Minor league roundup:- Charlotte 6, Durham 2
- Josh Fields homered, tripled and drove in two. He also walked.
- Danny Richar also had himself a day, going 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two steals.
- Mike MacDougal pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Wes Whisler, who allowed two runs over five innings.
- Ehren Wassermann closed it down with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
- Birmingham 12, Montgomery 4
- Ricardo Nanita went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI.
- Dave Cook hit his 12th homer, a two-run shot; Micah Schnurstein and Robert Valido each drove in two.
- Justin Cassell didn't pitch well, but well enough for the win (5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).
- Derek Rodriguez struck out three over three perfect innings of relief.
- Winston-Salem 6, Frederick 5
- John Shelby hit a two-run double and also walked.
- Javier Colina hit a solo homer; C.J. Retherford had two hits, and Greg Paiml drove in two.
- John Ely was one out away from a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.
- Ryan Rote vultured the win, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over 1 1/3 innings.
- Kannapolis 5, Greensboro 2
- Logan Johnson drove in four of Kanny's five runs with a 2-for-4 night.
- Jim Gallagher also had two hits, and the other RBI.
- Levi Maxwell pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk.