Thursday, July 14, 2011

Cubs walk 6 in the 9th to give the Marlins the victory; Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs

Going into the top of the 9th the Marlins were trailing the Cubs 2-0. Anibal Sanchez started for the Marlins and gave up a solo home run to Cubs' Marlon Byrd in the 2nd inning. Steve Cishek, came in relief for Anibal in the 7th, gave up a single to Geovany Soto to load the bases and then hit Darwin Barney on the 1st pitch bringing in a run.

With a 2-0 lead the Cubs put Carlos Marmol on the mound to get the save. Marmol walked Mike Stanton, Mike Cameron, and John Buck (replaced by a pinch runner in Dewayne Wise at 1st). Greg Dobbs came in to pinch hit in the pitchers spot with the bases loaded, he fought off 7 pitches and on the 8th pitch he delivered a hit (double) to right field which brought in 3 runs. (Brett Hayes replaced Dobbs at 2nd). Marmol then walked Emilio Bonifacio which was the last batter he saw as he was replaced for Kerry Wood. Wood then walked Omar Infante. Gaby Sanchez brought in Hayes on a sacrifice fly to left field. Hanley Ramirez hit a RBI single to put the Marlins on top 5-2. Kerry Wood was then replaced by James Russell. Russell got Logan Morrison to ground out, which moved runners to 2nd and 3rd and intentionally walked Mike Stanton, who lead off the inning with a walk. Mike Cameron then hit his 2nd hit with the Marlins bringing in Infante, and Hanley tried to score but was out at the plate for the 3rd and final out of the top of the 9th.

Leo Nunez came to close out the game with the Marlins leading 6-2. Nunez gave up a lead off bunt single to Tony Campana and a single to Geovany Soto. Brett Hayes with a passed ball that scored Campana. Darwin Barney grounded out, pinch hitter Reed Johnson struck out, and Kosuke Fukudome was struck out looking.

Marlins start the 2nd half with a wild 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Friday, July 8, 2011

First game at Fenway and the Red Sox win!; Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox

Second trip to Boston. Second time at Fenway. Second Red Sox game. First game at Fenway. First regular season Red Sox game.


The first time I came to Boston was 4 years ago in the middle of February. We were going to tour Fenway but we were told it's not worth it due to construction that was being done on the stadium but as we walked around a construction worker told us that if we entered the stadium he wouldn't stop us but he didn't say we could, so of course we went inside and got some photos of the field (tarp on) and the Green Monster. This trip to Fenway was even better we started out eating at a bar called Game On, got to go on the field for the Orioles batting practice, got to go on top of the Green Monster, watched the Red Sox beat my dad's team the Orioles, and got to sit in the Red Sox dugout after the game.






While we watched the Orioles batting practice my father claimed they were having a home run derby, I just let all the trash talk go in one ear and out another because I knew the Red Sox would shut him up...and well they did. The Red Sox had their own home run derby but during the game that put them in first place as the Yankees lost to the Rays to a score of 5-1. The Red Sox had 6 home runs from 6 different players. In the 3rd inning Dustin Pedroia hit a 3 run shot that gave the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. In the 5th Jacoby Ellsbury sent a ball to center field for 2 runs giving the Red Sox the lead again at 5-3. In the 7th inning the Red Sox would go back-to-back-to-back with solo long balls, starting with a shot from David Ortiz, then Josh Reddick, and then Jarrod Saltalamacchia to push the Red Sox over the Orioles 10-3. The Orioles would score 1 more run to make their loss a 6 run deficit at 10-4.




Andrew Miller was shaky in the beginning giving up 2 runs in the 1st and a run in the 3rd, but in the end he recieved the winning decision as he left after 5 innings with a 5-3 lead and gave up 6 hits and walked 4. Miller is now 3-0 on the season in 4 starts. Orioles' starter Jake Arrieta recieved the loss as he pitched 4.1 innings and gave up 6 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) and is 9-6 on the season.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Marlins finally win!; Los Angeles Angels vs. Florida Marlins

The Marlins coming into this Tuesday night game versus the Los Angeles Angels for the 2nd game of their 3 game interleague series were 1-19 in the month of June. Today being the first day of summer the Marlins are 1-0 in summer.

Gaby Sanchez gave the Marlins an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st with a solo shot to left with 2 outs. Omar Infante brought in another run in the bottom of the 2nd on sac fly which Greg Dobbs scored on, 2-0 Marlins. Bottom 6, RBI double by Mike Stanton makes it 3-0 Marlins. Mike Stanton strikes again in the bottom of the 8th with an RBI single and Infante singled in a run as well 5-0 Marlins. The Marlins would keep the 5-0 lead until the top of the 9th. Jose Ceda came in relief for Burke Badenhop for his first appearance this season in the majors and he gave up 2 runs after striking out the first 2 batters. Leo Nunez came into relieve Ceda and walked his first batter and then struck out Russell Branyan for the final out and give the Marlins the 5-2 win.

Javier Vazquez started the game and received the winning decision has he pitched 5.1 innings allowing 10 hits but no runs, walked none, and struck out 4. Angels starter Ervin Santana received the loss as he pitched 5 innings giving up 2 runs (earned) on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 6.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Chris Coghlan sent down to Triple-A

Chris Coghlan has been in a slump this season with the Florida Marlins. He has started in 65 games (of 69 games) and has an average of .230 with 62 hits in 269 at bats with 26 extra base(s) hits. The last 10 games Coghlan has an average of .171 with 6 hits in 35 at bats. He had been bumped out of the leadoff spot when Hanley came back from the DL and was put in the 8th spot which was suppose to take pressure of him. He continued to struggle even there.

Dewayne Wise was signed to a minor league deal to play in Triple-A and was given Coghlan's roster spot and is starting in center in tonight's game in Tampa. To make room for Wise on the 40-man roster the Marlins designated Dustin Richardson, relief pitcher in Triple-A, for assignment.

I think this is a good move. Cogz is in a major slump and was losing confidence. Sending him to the minors where he won't have as much pressure on him and he can get his swing and confidence back in check.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Marlins swept in Philly; Florida Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies

A day game to finish off a 4 game in 3 days series in Philadelphia. The pitching match up was Javier Vazquez vs. Cliff Lee. Coming into the game it was obvious Lee was the better pitcher and well... he showed it as he pitched a complete game shutout. Lee lost the perfect game early by walking Gaby Sanchez in the lead off spot in the 2nd and he lost the no-hitter on a Mike Stanton 2-out single in the 5th. Cliff Lee's only non 1,2,3 innings were the 5th and 6th innings. Lee also helped himself as he went 2-3 with a single and an RBI double bringing in the 1st Phillies run in the 4th.

The Marlins only had 2 hits, singles from Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison. Stanton was left on in the 5th after he singled and Logan Morrison was out in a double play (by Jose Lopez) in the 7th.

Ryan Howard hit a opposite field solo shot to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the 5th and Jimmy Rollins hit an 2-out RBI double in the 6th.

Phillies won 3-0 Cliff Lee the win and Javier Vazquez the loss.

Marlins lose a heart breaking double header in Philly; Florida Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Game 1 was a rematch of a rained out game on April 16th, with the loss in this game put the Marlins on the losing side of the April series 1-2.

Elih Villanueva on his MLB debut pitched only 3 innings gave up 5 hits, 8 runs all earned, 5 walks, 2 strike outs, and gave up a 3-run home run to Jimmy Rollins in the 3rd. Villanueva pitch count was at 94 when he was pulled after the 3rd. Brian Sanches pitched 3 innings in relief of Elih, Edwin Mujica pitched 2/3 of an innings (left due to wrist injury), and Burke Badenhop pitched 1 and 1/3 innings all 3 pitchers combined to allow 3 hits (1 per pitcher), no runs, 1 walk, and 4 strike outs.

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick pitched 7 innings allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, walked 1, struck out 5, and gave up 1 home run to Logan Morrison in the 1st.

The Marlins only had 6 hits and only 1 was extra bases, the solo home run by Logan Morrison. The Marlins left 9 runners on base as opposed to the Phillies leaving 18 on base.

The Marlins lost 8-1, Elih Villanueva with a loss in his debut and Kyle Kendrick with the win now 4-4 after his 5th start of the season.


Game 2 the Marlins were leading before the bullpen (Leo Nunez) blew the lead in the 9th.

Anibal Sanchez had the win over Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Anibal Sanchez pitched 7 innings allowed 4 hits, 2 runs all earned, walked 4, and struck out 6. Roy Halladay pitched 7 innings allowed 6 hits, 4 runs all earned, no walks, and struck out 8.

The Marlins scored 2 in the 1st inning. Hanley Ramirez lead off with a double, Chris Coghlan moved him to 3rd on a ground ball to 2nd base, Logan Morrison brought Hanley home on a ground ball to 1st base, and Gaby Sanchez hit a 2 out solo home run. Chase Utley helped get a run back on a RBI double in the bottom of the 1st bringing in Jimmy Rollins who was walked in the lead off spot. Top 4th Greg Dobbs hit a 1 out ground-rule double against his former team, Jose Lopez hit a double but couldn't score Dobbs, and John Buck then with still 1 out singled in Dobbs and Lopez to put the Marlins up by 3. Bottom 5 Utley brought in another run on a triple that scored Shane Victorino. The Marlins had a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the 9th which brought out Marlins closer Leo Nunez. Leo Nunez got the lead off hitter of Domonic Brown to ground out, then gave up a single to Carlos Ruiz, a single by pinch-hitter Ross Gload (replaced by pinch-runner Michael Martinez), Jimmy Rollins lined out to Leo which moved all the runners into scoring position for Victorino's game tying 2 RBI single. 10th inning the Marlins couldn't get on the board and the Phillies with 2 outs got a walk-off RBI single by Ruiz.

Michael Dunn received the loss, Leo Nunez with a blown save, and Ryan Madson with the win.


Marlins are now 32-36, 4 games under .500 and are tied for last place in the NL East standings with the Washington Nationals

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Elih Villanueva called up from Triple-A




Elih Villanueva to make his MLB debut on Wednesday during the first game of a double header. The game is a make up from a rained out game on April 16th. He will face Phillies Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick is an actual relief pitcher but has started 4 games due to injury of Joe Blanton.

Elih Villanueva was drafted out of FSU in the 27th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by the Florida Marlins.




Elih Villanueva was an ace in Double-A Jacksonville in the 2010 season. Villanueva started 28 games (179 innings) and had a record of 14-4 with an ERA of 2.26, walked 34, and struck out 115. Villanueva had 4 complete games and 3 shut outs which includes a no-hitter he pitched on a rain shortened game on August 14th versus the Cincinnati Reds Double-A team, Carolina Mudcats. Villanueva was 2nd in Southern League in wins (first was teammate Tom Koehler), 1st in complete games, 1st in shut outs, and 1st in innings pitched. Villanueva received Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors in August, Southern League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star, Marlins Organizational Pitcher of the Year, and was a TOPPS Double-A All-Star.

This season Elih Villanueva started in Triple-A New Orleans. Villanueva hasn't had a great start to the season after the great 2010 season and a 2011 Spring Training. He has started in 13 games for New Orleans with an 4-5 record with an ERA of 5.23 in 72.1 innings. In his last start he allowed 4 hits, no runs, walked 2, and struck out 4 in 6 innings.