|
Firstly from yesterday:
Aussie starter RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH was
terrific again yesterday with a composed 8.0ip 4h 3er 1bb 4k for the
Seattle Mariners, anchoring them to a big 6-3 victory over the Oakland
Athletics. Ryan worked around a leadoff walk in the first inning to put
away the next three batters in order before posting a tidy 1-2-3 second
frame. Doubles to Adam Kennedy and Mike Sweeney cost him an earned run
in the third, followed by another three up - three down in the fourth;
and again in the fifth and sixth. A single to Scott Hairston and a home
run to veteran star Nomar Garciaparra posted Oakland's second and third
runs in the seventh. Rowland-Smith ended his day with another efficient
1-2-3 eighth which saw his record further improve to 3-2, 3.88ERA.
Not to be blamed for the Atlanta Braves
disappointing 1-3 home defeat by the battling Cincinnati Reds was
Australia's ever reliable reliever PETER MOYLAN who pitched a
workmanlike 1.0ip 1h 0er 1bb 1k (3.00ERA). Pitching to the meat of the
Reds' lineup, he got Paul Janish to fly out to centre field before
"pitching around" the dangerous Joey Votto who walked. Brandon Phillips
singled into centre field to move arunner into scoring position and
worse followed when veteran Scott Rolen reached base on a fielding error
to juice the bags with just one out. As often, our Pete summoned his
best under pressure to strike out Jonny Gomes, then he ended the inning
with Wladimir Balentin popping out to the second baseman. He had kept
his team in the game once again.
... and from today's games:
Aussie ace GRANT BALFOUR is doing it a
bit tough lately with his fourth blown save and his fourth loss coming
in his Tampa Bay Rays 6-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Grant inherited a
two on and one out situation in the bottom of the seventh inning and his
second four-seamer saw veteran Placido Polanco punch a RBI single up the
middle to take the lead in the contest. Even though he re-grouped to
induce an inning ending double play from Carlos Guillen, he would
appreciate that his primary objective had not been achieved… it happens!
He returned for the eighth inning but saw leadoff batter Miguel Cabrera
walked on six pitches, before Aubrey Huff grounded into a force out to
the third baseman. Unfortunately his earned run was cashed in later in
the inning after he was relieved. Balfour's line was 1.0ip 1h 1er 1bb
0k, taking his season record to 5-4, 4.62ERA.
KEVIN MILLWOOD (Melbourne Monarchs 1997) was saddled with his
ninth loss of the season today after pitching a none too convincing
5.0ip 7h 5er 4bb 4k for the Texas Rangers in their tough 4-5 defeat by
the Baltimore Orioles. His record slipped to 10-9, 3.77ERA which
probably doesn't quite do sufficient credit to his man-sized job this
year.
... and from other games over the past few days:
VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) batted 1-4 (.249) for the
Toronto Blue Jays in their rare 6-0 shutout win over the consistent New
York Yankees.
Chiming in for the Boston Red Sox once again after taking over at third
base was NICK GREEN (IBLA Internationals 2001) who batted 1-2
(.235) in their horrorible 2-12 massacre by the Chicago White Sox.
GEOFF BLUM (Hunter Eagles 1995) batted 1-3 (.261) plus a walk
for the Houston Astros to help them to fashion a 5-4 victory over the
Philadelphia Phillies.
Journeyman reliever MATT HERGES (Adelaide Giants 1999) was
just one of seven Colorado Rockies' pitchers to feel the heat during
their 3-8 loss to the New York Mets. The veteran righty pitched 1.0ip 3h
1er 0bb 0k (3.52ERA).
|
