GAME DAY 11

GGAME DAY 11
GAME DAY 11AME DAY 11
FINCHES GET EVEN WITH YUMA, TAKE EARLY LEAD IN WEST

The Finches, who were drilled 27-17 last week by the visiting Firebirds, managed to get off the deck and win the opener of a three-game series in Yuma on Game Day 11. It was the fourth straight win for the Unnatural Selections, who improved to a West-leading 8-3 and sent the reeling Firebirds (4-7) to last place, four games out.

But that didn’t mean it was easy. Starting SS Cristian Guzman had been placed on the DL before play began, and Darwin had turned to the free-swinging Khalil Greene to start while recalling free-agent signee Brendan Harris from the minor leagues to fill Guzman’s spot. The Finches trailed 2-1 for much of the game as starter Gil Meche scrambled to match zeroes with Roy Halladay: the Yuma ace went nine innings and allowed just two runs, but had to settle for a no-decision when David Ortiz’s soft liner fell in front of Nick Markakis to tie the game with two out in the eighth.

The Finches pen, meanwhile, so ineffective in Week 2, came through with more zeroes after Meche was out of the game, and Cla Meredith (1-0, 2.25) got a key double play ball with two men on in the bottom of the ninth to keep the contest alive. In the top of the tenth, pinch-hitter Yadier Molina came through with a two-out single off struggling closer Matt Capps (0-3, 7.04) to give the visitors their first lead of the ballgame. J.J. Putz then pitched a scoreless frame for his first save of the year and Darwin’s fourth straight win.

In other BARB action:

BROOKLYN 10, LOS ANGELES 0

WP: Roy Oswalt (1-2, 5.00)
LP: John Maine (1-1, 5.25)

Moabs ace Roy Oswalt, who had allowed eleven runs in his first ten innings this year, was more Oswalt-like in his third start, in which he combined with Manny Parra on a four-hit shutout, while Brian McCann hit two of four homers in a bustout game for Brooklyn, which had 15 hits and 5 walks to improve to 6-5.

POTTSYLVANIA 6, FROSTBITE FALLS 4

WP: Mark Buehrle (2-0, 2.81)
LP: Tim Lincecum (1-1, 3.68)

Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer in the first before Tim Lincecum had recorded an out, and the Creepers (5-4) hung on long enough to add a few more in the late innings and hold off a late Squirrels rally on the road in Frostbite Falls. With the win, Pottsylvania moved above .500 for the first time in nearly a year and took over first place in the competitive Central.

WORCESTER 17, TEXAS 4

WP: Joba Chamberlain (2-1, 2.30)
LP: Zach Duke (0-2, 11.74)
Save: Howell (1)

Zach Duke allowed the first four runners to reach in the first and it was all downhill from there, as Mark Teixeira hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run bomb off Colin Balester in relief. J.P. Howell worked three innings in relief to pick up the save, as Worcester (9-2) won its fourth straight. The Tornados have allowed only 17 runs in their first eight games, but should get Ichiro Suzuki back at the top of the lineup this week.

GAME DAY 11