I arrived in Minnesota yesterday and hung out with my high school best friend/Spookymilk Survivor frequent nonsub threat Leif Bierly. Today's the State Fair followed by the Twins the next night and an in-person CdL/WGOM thing the night after that. I wish I had a better time than midweek, but that's not how this trip's going to work.
Still taking suggestions for a place in the Apple Valley/Eagan area, as many said this works just fine for them.
DRAFT REMINDER
9pm tonight. Zee German should fill out the league taking over UW's spot. That should set us up. Any questions, let me know.
Because today is the last day of the minor league regular season, we'll hold off on our Players of the Week until tomorrow.
The Phillies are one out away from pitching a combined no hitter. On ESPN
There it is. 4 pitchers required.
Hamels pulled in the 7th for a pinch hitter with a 2-0 lead, two out and two on. I didn't stick around for the PH, but next thing I saw (at the gym) , it was 5-0.
So, Adam Dunn. Hits a HR in his first plate appearance with the A's to trigger a five-run first against Seattle.
I won't be here until the end, but I'll provide updates while I'm here. In the top of the first, an error, a single, a ground out, a sac fly, and another error produced two runs for Johnson City. Elizabethton went down in order in the bottom of the first. 2-0 Johnson City after one.
Johnson City goes down in order in the top of the second. Still 2-0 Cardinals after 1 1/2.
Elizabethton goes one-two-three in the bottom of the second. 2-0 Johnson City after two.
Not looking good. In the top of the third for Johnson City, a single and a double scored one, another single scored one more, and a ground out and a wild pitch resulted in two more runs. Elizabethton does not have a baserunner through three. 6-0 Cardinals after three.
Elizabethton changes pitchers, with Randy LeBlanc replacing Sam Gibbons. Johnson City goes down one-two-three in the top of the fourth. Still 6-0 Cardinals through 3 1/2.
Elizabethton gets a baserunner, as Trey Vavra is hit by a pitch with two out, but that's it. Still 6-0 Johnson City after four.
Johnson City gets a two-out double in the fifth, but nothing comes of it. Still 6-0 Cardinals half-way home.
Elizabethton gets its first hit, a leadoff single by Jorge Fernandez, but the next three batters go down. Still 6-0 Johnson City through five.
Johnson City gets a one-out single, but a double play ends the inning. Still 6-0 Johnson City through 5 1/2.
A huge inning for Elizabethton! Pat Kelly doubles, Tanner English triples, and Nick Gordon walks. Cardinals starter Landon Beck leaves with a 6-1 lead. Reliever Jerry Then throws to wild pitches to make it 6-2, walks Trey Vavra, then throws another wild pitch and a passed ball to make it 6-3. Tyler Kuresa singles to make it 6-4 and Sasha Kuebel replaces Then. Jorge Fernandez singles and Tyler Mautner walks to load the bases. A force out scores one to make it 6-5. Jeremias Pineda walks to re-load the bases. Kelly singles in two to put the Twins ahead 7-6, English hits a sacrifice fly to make it 8-6, and Gordon singles in a run to make it 9-6. A nine-run inning gives Elizabethton a 9-6 lead through six innings.
Good thing none of them hit a homer.
And just that quickly, Johnson City takes the lead back. Two singles led off the inning and chased Randy LeBlanc. Samuel Clay came in and gave up a single and a wild pitch to score one run. Oscar Mercado doubled in two to tie it and Casey Grayson doubled in a run to put the Cardinals back in front. With one out in the inning, Trevor Hildenberger replaced Clay and struck out two to end the inning. Johnson City leads 10-9 as we go to the seventh inning stretch.
And, as I said, I can't be around for the end of the game. You can certainly find it yourselves, or you can wait for the complete report in Minor Details tomorrow.
With give back runs like that, sounds like they're ready for the big club.