GAME DAY FOUR

WORCESTER 3, LOS ANGELES 2 (10 innings)

WP: Grant Balfour (1-0, 0.00)
LP: Scott Shields (0-1, 0.00)

Jorge Cantu hit a sac fly in the eighth to tie the score, then doubled in the winning run with two down in the bottom of the tenth to help the Eliminators (4-0) remain unbeaten. Worcester overcame a strong effort from Flyers starter Joe Blanton, who took a 2-0 shutout into the eighth but lost his command, giving up a bases-loaded walk to Jason Bay and a sac fly in the frame. Scott Shields was hung with the loss after a throwing error by veteran Mike Lowell put Jason Bay at second with two out, leading to Cantu’s winning hit.

FROSTBITE FALLS 7, TEXAS 1

WP: Paul Maholm (1-0, 1.08)
LP: Zach Duke (0-1, 7.50)

Post-season sensation Paul Maholm, resigned as a free agent by the Squirrels in the off-season, made his first regular season start with the club a doozy, taking a shutout into the ninth before yielding a solo home run to Delmon Young. But by then, the game was well in hand, as new 2B Mark DeRosa had four hits, including a two-run double in the third and RBI singles in the fourth and sixth against Zach Duke to lead Frostbite’s 13-hit attack.

Long-time prospect Jeff Niemann made his BARB debut with two innings in relief of Tornados starter Zach Duke, allowing one run.


ST. FRANCIS 5, BROOKLYN 4

WP: Edwin Jackson (1-0, 5.06)
LP: Chris Volstad (0-1, 4.91)
SV: Francisco (2)

3B Casey Blake hit a two-run HR to cap a three-run first against his former club, and the Friars’ pen held on to eke out a win on the road in Brooklyn despite coughing up solo blasts to Chase Utley, Jermaine Dye and Ryan Howard. The Moabs (1-3) are off to a slow start, with the key culprits being the ‘hitless J’s’. Jarrod Saltalamachia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie are a combined 0-for-19. . . .


DARWIN 10, BLACK MESA 7

WP: Josh Johnson (1-0, 8.04)
LP: Glen Perkins (0-1, 18.00)
SV: Gregg (1)

David Ortiz hit two-run homers in each of his first two at-bats to help build a 7-2 lead after five innings, but Josh Johnson would need major relief help after a disastrous sixth inning to get the victory. As it was, the Finches (4-0) had plenty of help from the Anomalies staff in holding onto the lead, and it was thought that Darwin management was eager to dangle pitching in front of Black Mesa with the idea of acquiring another flychaser.


FRESNO 8, CASSELTON 3

WP: Rich Harden (1-0, 3.86)
LP: John Danks (0-1, 7.71)
SV: Street (1)

Benji Molina had four of the Regulators’ season-high 14 hits, and Rich Harden shrugged off a two-run poke by new Casselton RF Brad Hawpe to work six-plus innings of solid ball, as the rechristened “Fresno” club won the opening game of their home stand against the Horned Toads. Huston Street, still hoping to nail down the closer’s role after a so-so 2008 campaign, earned a save with two innings of relief.