GAME DAY 24

Hamilton hurt?

DARWIN 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 2

WP: Gil Meche (3-0, 2.60)
LP: Felix Hernandez (2-1, 2.15)
SV: Okajima (2)

Josh Hamilton walked and scored, hit an RBI single and crushed a solo shot to account for most of Darwin’s runs, his fifth tater of the campaign, but had to come out of the game early after crashing into the center-field fence, and the Unnatural Selections (15-6) had to call on backup C Jeff Clement to finish a game that tightened up when reserve SS Khalil Greene threw away an easy grounder. Hideki Okajima bailed out the pen by striking out three of the last Squirrels hitters.

BLACK MESA 9, BROOKLYN 6

WP: Ted Lilly (1-2, 5.50)
LP: James Shields (2-1, 3.45)
SV: Papelbon (7)

The Anomalies don’t lack for hitting, with five regulars homering in double figures in the majors. But, in this game, it was Adam Dunn scuffling with a .120 average who had the big hit, a three-run jack (his first of the season) that gave Black Mesa (12-9) a 7-2 lead after four innings, more than enough cushion for Ted Lilly to get his first win of th eseason. The Moabs’ Ryan Howard hit his 10th home run off Lilly in the seventh, tying Ryan Ludwick for the league lead.

TEXAS 9, POTTSYLVANIA 6

WP: Fernando Rodney (1-1, 2.08)
LP: Brad Thompson (1-4, 13.09)

Alan Embree allowed the Creepers to go up 6-4 in the top of the eighth, but his Texas teammates answered in a big way in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on a throwing error by Thompson with the bases loaded as part of a five-run uprising, as the Tornados (6-13) put together their first winning streak (two games) of the young season. Ryan Ludwick hit his BARB-leading 10th homer of the year in the loss.

WORCESTER 5, YUMA 4

WP: Adam Wainwright (3-0, 2.38)
LP: Jake Peavy (2-2, 3.55)
SV: Morrow (9)

Trailing 4-0 entering the ninth, the Firebirds made it interesting for J.P. Howell and Brandon Morrow, but the Worcester closer struck got Brian Roberts to hit into a force play with the bases juiced and Eliminators (17-6) won their fourth straight, and now lead the defending world champ Squirrels by five games in the early going. Surprising rookie Denard Span scored his BARB-leading 22nd run of the season in a losing cause for the Firebirds.

LOS ANGELES 4, ST.FRANCIS 3

WP: Joe Blanton (1-1, 3.09)
LP: George Sherrill (1-1, 6.05)

Orlando Cabrera came off the bench to hit a two-run double to put the Flyers (6-11) on top, capping a three-run ninth, and Joe Blanton finished off the collapsing Friars, needing 111 pitches to go all the way. It was the second time already this year that St. Francis’s bullpen had given up three or more runs in the ninth to lose a ballgame. Cabrera’s knock scored Kurt Suzuki, who is hitting .417 (20-for-48) to lead the loop in batting average.


Hamilton hurt?