Baseball Lifer

The Giants won a thriller in Cobb County tonight, but it was the exact opposite for the River Cats, who once again sputtered, as they dropped the opener of their six-game home stand/series against the El Paso Chihuahuas, 8-2.

The lefty, Matt Hall, took the ball for the River Cats, and after surviving a two-out double off the bat of Luis Campusano in the top of the first inning unscathed, Hall walked four-straight batters and then hit Esteury Ruiz to put El Paso on the board in the second. Thankfully for Hall, Eguy Rosario, who drew the first walk, was thrown out trying to steal second, so the damage was limited to a run.

However, the Chihuahuas scored three off Norwith Gudino in the fifth, and two off Luis Ortiz in the sixth to open up a 6-0 lead. As for the River Cats, they didn’t even get their first hit until the bottom of the sixth, when catcher, Jhonny Pereda led off the inning with a single. Steven Duggar then singled with one out, and Jason Vosler drew a walk to lead the bases for Heliot Ramos, who drew a bases-loaded walk to put the River Cats on the board. David Villar followed that up with a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Duggar, and make it 6-2.

The River Cats were finally on the board, and were not too far out of the game, but the Chihuahuas got those two runs right back in the top of the seventh to put the game away. The final 11 River Cats hitters were then set down.

Some notes in this game. LaMonte Wade Jr., who’s on a rehab assignment, went 0-for-2 before being replaced by Jason Vosler, who despite knocking in a run with a sacrifice fly, went 0-for-3, as he has had a very rough June. Also, Yunior Marte, who has seen time with the Giants this season, threw a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out a guy.

Ryan Weathers got the win for El Paso to up his record to 4-4, and Matt Hall took the loss for the River Cats, as he is now 0-1. As for the River Cats, they fall to 27-40 on the year, and to 11 and a half games behind the Las Vegas Aviators in the Pacific Coast League West. The River Cats and Chihuahuas will go at it again in Game 2 of this series tomorrow night at 6:35.

Stephen