First off this is simply game recaps. For a chronicle of the trip check out the Carolinas 2019 page. Links to my thoughts on new stadiums visited will be found in the reviews.
Game #56. On a hot day in Richmond stop number one on the trip was at The Diamond. Sat in the upper deck and there was at least a nice breeze going. Brandon Lawson started for the Squirrels against Harol Gonzalez for the Ponies. Both pitchers did well, Lawson with 5 scoreless and Gonzalez only giving up one unearned run. I do appreciate a briskly played game and this was certainly it. It looked like Richmond would win but their closer blew the lead and Binghamton won it in the 10th 2-1. Nothing exciting about this game but it was a well played game at least to kick the trip off. Plus I got to see my favorite minor league mascot Nutzy.
Game #57. Another hot one as I made my way to Harbor Park. Used my Orange Carpet card and sat 3 rows from the field. Probably my last trip here for awhile since the Orioles did away with the Passport program so I have no reason to check in here. Josh Rogers started for the Tides against Adam Plutko for the Columbus Clippers. Neither pitcher have good records or good ERAs so I was not expecting a well pitched game and I was not disappointed. Rogers has set himself up to win the Jimmy Yacabonis award with a dreadful start giving up 9 runs and not being able to get out of the 5th before being relieved ironically by Yacabonis himself. He surrendered 3 home runs in that span. Plutko though was good (this is Norfolk we’re talking about, these guys aren’t good enough to hack it with the Orioles!) giving up one run through 6. His relief gave up a 3 run shot to Mason Williams but it didn’t matter at that point. Columbus wins 11-4.
Game #58. It’s a theme but another hot one today. 101 degrees in Fayetteville and it felt like it, even the locals were complaining. Fayetteville and Segra Stadium are new so it was neat to check out. Found a nice parking spot downtown so I parked for free, always a plus and visited the two breweries downtown. J.P. France started for Fayetteville against Marcelo Martinez for the Blue Rocks. Funny moment before this one. The person I was with wanted to buy a Woodpecker hat so he was trying it on in the mirror in the team store. The mascot was in the team store and walking around giving hi-fives, I told him to walk up behind him to scare him. It worked! This game was briefly delayed as a thunderstorm passed through the area. We lucked out, we only got a little rain and the tarp never made it onto the field but this was a massive storm. When the game started one bad inning did in Martinez, who have up 4 runs in the second. Wilmington did get a Dennicher Carrasco two run shot but that was it, in what turned out to be another crisply played game. Fayetteville wins 5-2.
Game #59. There was another benefit from the aforementioned storm as it wound up brining the game in Kinston to a halt. Grainger Stadium is an old stadium so it doesn’t drain well at all and the game wound up being suspended in the 4th so I got to watch the rest of the game when I arrived on Friday, which was tied at 1. John King had started for Down East against Jhonathan Diaz for Salem. Upon resumptions things immediately went downhill for Salem. Eric Jenkins untied it with his second homer of the game and the Wood Ducks kept piling on. Robbie Baker and Andrew Politi surrendered 9 runs between them and Down East coasted to an easy 10-2 win.
Game #60. Then it was on to game two, which would be a seven inning game. That would be good because thunderstorms were in the forecast for about 8:00 that evening. Dylan Thompson started for Salem against Sal Mendez for the Wood Ducks. Even before this started the clouds started moving in. In the second lighting was visible to the north and thunder could be heard. My companion earned his Weenie Boy nickname on this one and wanted to leave. I was content to stay for another inning or two but when he gets worried his bladder gets weak so the last thing I needed was that. This game was played briskly (appreciate that as always!) and Down East got up early and added a J.P. Martinez solo shot to coast to a 3-1 win. As we were leaving town the radio guy said that the Wood Duck bullpen was staring at something in the distance and he thought it could be a tornado. I saw the clouds, it looked sketchy but I didn’t see a tornado.
Game #61. Thanks to the storms that came through this was about as nice of a day as you could hope for in Myrtle Beach. Warm, but not too warm with low humidity. It made for a pleasant stop at New South Brewing before the game after a morning on the beach. This was a nice 6:00 start which I appreciated since I still had to head out of town to get to the next destination. Paul Richan started for the Pelicans against Kyle Johnston for the Nationals. This game moved slowly and it was Johnston’s fault. He could not throw strikes and Myrtle Beach wore him down. He couldn’t even make it through 2 and his relief was little better. The P-Nats had trouble with Pelican pitching striking out 14 times! Yes, last place Myrtle Beach. A little after 8 as we finally moved into the middle of the 5th (the halfway point) and I left. Weenie Boy’s son is living with a newborn so he has been going to sleep early and needed to get home at some point so it worked out well. This was the most unwatchable game of the trip and Myrtle Beach wins 7-2.
Game #62. Guess what? It was hot out. 94 degrees at gametime but low humidity. Despite that I sat in the shade so I didn’t need the free sunscreen given out. Guess the players are used to it at this weather at this point. Jose Butto started for Columbia against Seth Corry for Augusta. This was the first time that I have ever seen Augusta play, go figure. I would have seen them 2 years ago but the game in Augusta was rained out. They’ll be on the docket for the next trip down south. In a comedy of errors Columbia plated 2 runs in the first and for the first 3 innings Butto was in control. But then Augusta got 4 in the fourth and tacked on an insurance run late. Columbia never got the offense going getting only 4 hits and striking out 12 times as Augusta wins 5-2.
Game #63. A nice night in Asheville, warm but not hot and low humidity. McCormick Field is a unique place, the oldest full season minor league park in use. It dates back to the 1920s and I can believe that with a 270 foot distance to the right field fence. Nick Bush started for the Tourists against Keith Weisenberg for Augusta. Both teams scored in the first but couldn’t get anything else through the first three innings. Then the pitching melted down. Augusta plated 4 in the 4th, Asheville responded with 2 of their own, Augusta added another in the 5th and Asheville then almost tied it with 3 of their own. Both scored 2 in the 6th in what was a game that was dragging on and with a need to get into Tennessee I left. I usually leave around stretch time but on these trips I am up early and a bit more active than I normally am so I get a bit more tired than usual. Of course after I left the pitching came through and Augusta hung on for a 9-8 win.
Game #64. Another hot night in Greensboro, surprise, surprise. Parked my car around the corner from First National Bank Field (not to be confused with Harrisburg’s stadium of the same name) outside of one of the breweries so I saved on parking again. Greensboro became a Pirates affiliate over the offseason so it was nice to pay them a visit and get some usage out of my Pirates hat. The bad news is that West York’s Brett Kinneman is not with the team. Not sure if he is injured or was sent back to Extended Spring Training due to his .160 batting average but that was a disappointment since he has homered every game I have seen him play in his pro career. Steven Jennings started for Greensboro (or the Ocelotes as it was Copa de Division night) against Daniel Bies for the River Dogs. This one was all Grasshoppers, they got up early thanks to a Jack Herman 3-run shot and kept on adding. It was also baseball bingo night. I got bingo, unfortunately it was well after the prizes were given away. Figures, the one time I get it! Oh well, Greensboro wins 8-1.
Game #65. One of the reasons that I made this trip was to check out the new Atlantic League team in High Point and as a bonus they were playing my hometown nine at BB&T Point Park. Said hi to the radio announcer, not sure if I got a mention or not. There were also two other Revs fans there too, go figure. Matthew Grimes started for York against Ryan Williams for High Point. The game started well with J.P. Sportman hitting a leadoff homerun. High Point responded with a leadoff homer of their own from Tyler Ladendorf. That might be the first time I’ve ever seen that happen. High Point broke through in the next inning and pretty much held York at arm’s length for the rest of the game. The Revs missed a major opportunity loading the bases with one out and not getting any runs, typical Revs, no clutch hitting. Then in the 8th things went from decent to terrible with right fielder Melky Mesa missing a catch that would have ended the inning and turning it into a 5 run frame for the Rockers. It was academic at that point as High Point wins 9-3.
Game #66. Norfolk @ Durham. With an evening open I headed over to Durham to take in their game. I like the Durham Bulls Athletic Park but I didn’t know if this one would get in, or at least on time with thunderstorms in the forecast. Once again my luck held up and only a few drops fell. Arturo Reyes started for Durham against Tyler Herb (who is listed as being from Harrisburg and played in Schuylkill County) for Norfolk. Neither starter was bad but Norfolk’s Joey Rickard hit a 3-run shot that put the Tides up. After Herb pitched his 5 innings the Tides pen put up blanks. The Bulls’ pen could not say that as Collin Poche imploded giving up 4 runs in the 8th. Norfolk wins 7-2. This is the first time I’ve seen the Bulls lose a game and it has also been a long time since I’ve seen the Tides win a game as well.
Game #67. Myrtle Beach @ Winston-Salem. Last game for the trip at BB&T Ballpark and a Windy City matchup as both teams are affiliated with Chicago teams. Wanting to get some miles under my belt tonight I resolved to only stay until about 8:30 on this. Fortunately this was a briskly played game. Erich Uelman started for Myrtle Beach against Christian Castillo for the Dash. The Pelican offense never seemed to get any momentum. They got a few hits but always seemed to run themselves out of the inning. That allowed the Dash to take control of the game highlighted by a Craig Dedelow shot to dead center that went over 430 feet. It was briskly played even with a brief rain shower and Castillo being pulled due to injury. By the time the Pelicans got on the board it was too late and I was on the road heading towards Virginia. Winston-Salem wins 5-2.
Stayed home for the weekend. It felt nice to just sit around and not do anything and I am sure that the car appreciated it as well. I know the cats did.
On the docket for next week:
June 10 – High Point @ York
June 11 – Toronto @ Baltimore
June 12 – sitting at home
June 13 – West Virginia @ Hagerstown (maybe)
June 14 – Hickory @ Delmarva (Josh Hader Bobblehead)
June 15 – Arizona @ Washington (Obi Sean Doolittle Bobblehead)
June 16 – Boston @ Baltimore.
