Minor League Write Up Blaze 7 Ports 4

So I thought it woud be a nice way to spend a Friday evening with my wife by watching the Ports take on the Bakersfield Blaze last night. It was a lefty-lefty matchup with Brad Davis going for the Ports and Glenn Swanson taking the mound for the Blaze. It was warm, dry, with a decent breeze blowing out to center field and this bode well to seeing a few balls leave the park tonight.

Davis started off well in the 1st picking off a runner on first base and then getting a K to end the inning. The 2nd? well... that didnt quite go according to plan... got behind to the first batter who ripped a 3-1 fastball for a double. A strikeout then another double to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead. Gave up a RBI single to the #8 batter for a 2-0 lead before he got out of trouble. So ok its only two runs... no problem, the Ports can hit and its early. This would be fine except tonight the Ports could not put the ball in play. The Blaze pitcher Swanson was just lights out. Recently promoted from low A ball with a 6-1 record, he took looks like he belongs at the higher level, dazzling the helpless Ports with a defasting fastball that just seemed like a blur. I could hardly even see it, so I dont know how they did! He proceeded to no hit the Ports through 6 2/3 innings in his first high A start

Davis hit his first batter in the 3rd before striking out the side and hope was raised before being dashed in the 4th. A double, a Sac-bunt and then a 2 run homer to right field made the score 4-0 and with the way Swanson was pitching you just knew this was not going to be a good night. In the home half of the fourth Tommy Everidge worked a 2 out walk and on a 1-2 count to Pineda, stole second... At least everyone else in the ground knew he took second, however the Ump called him out and the boos and cat-calls echoed around the stadium. It just seemd nothing was going to go the Ports way.
Davis left after the 5th after three fly ball outs and it was a good call by the Skip as the Blaze were making solid contact to everything he threw at that point. His final line 5IP 6 H 5K 0BB 4ER. I feel he has a lot better in him than that line suggests, the lack of walks certainly indicates good control. Indeed he has only given up 7BB in 33 1/3 IP this year and with 30K thats a ratio i will take any day. From his splits this year he is much more effective relieving, than starting though. A good setup man, maybe a closer is probably his future.

Booby Cramer took over in the 6th and struck out the side and K'd another 2 in the 7th.
The Ports FINALLY got through on Swanson in the bottom of the 7th. Swanson retired the first two before walking Pineda which brought Anthony Recker to the plate. He got ahead 2-0, got the fastball he was waiting on and just slashed it over the left field wall. A line drive that didnt have much height but it just kept on going, right over the Blaze bullpen to finally put the Ports on the board. 4-2. Hey, maybe another late-game, come from behind rally from the Ports? Maybe not... Swanson struck out Kleen to end the inning and finished with a very impressive line 7IP 1H 5K 4BB 2ER
Having gotten on the board we needed another shut down inning from Cramer and we almost got it... almost. He retired the first two and then inexplicably lost his control. Walked the next batter and got a visit from the Coach. We've got someone up in the pen and i am PLEADING with the coach to pull him... no, Coach keeps him in and he promptly hits the next batter with his first pitch. OK now time to pull him right? WRONG... Next batter hits a 2 run double down the right field line and the lead is back to 4. A flyball from the next batter to short right field and that should have been it, but neither Sellers or Kleen could figure out who makes the play and it ends up bouncing off Kleen's glove for an Error and another run. Damn it, these guys are supposed to be Pros. OK they are still kids learning but still... Cramer then gives up a single before finally being yanked in favour on Jeff Muessig... at least 4 batters too late. The Blaze sent 8 men to the Plate in the 8th and scored 3 runs. 7-2
Bottom of the 8th, back to back 2 out singles from Pennington and Sellers followed by a double down the line that was just fair by Luke Appert made the score 7-4. However Everidge struck out to end the inning. A double play in the ninth killed off any hope that was left and the fans left despairingly, wondering what could and should have been.

Anthony Recker was my Ports player of the game, not just for the home run but for two great defensive plays. The first was a sublime sliding catch on his knees right into the backstop to end the 4th and then in the 9th, he noticed that Matt Smith had strayed off first and threw a bullet to Everidge to tag him out. Smith was also the runner that Davis picked off in the first so thats at least one player that needs to improve his awareness on the bases!
I dont know what the conventional thinking is on Recker, nor do I really care. To me he looks like a very solid Catcher. Good defense and some legit power. I've seen Powell and Recker and to me Reck is a much better player. Thats just my opinion.

Well you all have a great day and I will be back soon on the next Ports homestand in two weeks time.

MAF