"PRICE IS RIGHT" ON DAY FOUR

David Price (1-0, 0.00) scattered three singles and a pair of doubles while walking only one in frustrating the host Creepers in their new digs ("Tropicana Fields"), in a horribly one-sided loss in their home opener, as the visiting Firebirds crushed them, 11-0.

With the fans already facing the prospect of a rebuilding year, any opening optimism was set aside in the first. Ryan Zimmerman reached on a throwing error by Aramis Ramirez with one down to put two runners on. Joey Votto hit into a force play for the second out, but Chris Carpenter (0-1, 9.82) let Ryan Braun spank the first pitch for a two-run single, then reach second when LF Brad Hawpe's throw home was mishandled. Veteran DH Vlad Guerrero then hit a single to score Braun, and Pottsylvania trailed, 3-0.

Carpenter rallied for a few frames, but was knocked out in the fourth as the visiting Firebirds put up four-spots in both the fourth and fifth inning, including a two-run triple by Denard Span and Zimmerman's first HR of the season. Young C Buster Posey added three hits for good measure, as every Yuma starter had at least one hit.

To make matters worse for Pottsylvania, this first loss at home was also their fourth straight, and the third time via shutout! Clearly, the Creepers are struggling to score runs, and run the risk of being labeled the BARB version of the San Diego Padres . . . .!


In other BARB action:

LOS ANGELES 6, AC/BC 5

WP: Matt Lindstrom (1-1, 1.80)
LP: Peter Moylan (2-1, 4.91)

Chris Coghlan singled with one down in the bottom of the 13th to score Nick Swisher and lift the host Wolverines to their second win of the year down in Los Angeles. Coghlan, moved back to second after the loss of Howie Kendrick in this year's draft, was 0-for-5 in the contest (and 1-for-9 overall) when he got the game. Matt Lindstrom, the seventh LA hurler, got the win with three scoreless frames after losing the club's opener.

Kendrick had three hits in the leadoff spot with his new club (AC/BC), which helped them take a 4-0 lead after five innings, but Ryan Franklin (first blown save!) served up a two-run bomb to Stephen Drew to tie the game in the ninth, forcing extras, where the Wolverines prevailed.

FROSTBITE FALLS 7, CASSELTON 2


WP: Brett Anderson (1-0, 2.45)
LP: Shawn Marcum (0-1, 8.44)

Brett Anderson pitched seven solid innings and drove in three runs with a sac fly and a two-run single as the Squirrels smacked around 2011 draftee Shawn Marcum. The defending Central champion Horned Toads thus reached the .500 mark at 2-2. Jose Lopez, who was a surprising run producer last year for Casselton, drove in both of his team's runs with a single and a sac fly of his own.

PHILADELPHIA 8, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 6 (1st game of DH)

WP: Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 3.68)
LP: Anibal Sanchez (0-1, 6.00)

PHILADELPHIA 7, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 6 (2nd game of DH)

WP: Matt Belisle (1-0, 40.50)
LP: Dan Wheeler (0-1, 13.50)

The Rebels took two in a double dip in their new park, becoming the first BARB team to go 3-0, twice edging the visiting .45's in Philadelphia. In the opener, Adrian Gonzalez hit his first HR of the young season, every other Rebel starter had at least one hit, as the home team was able to hit enough to overcome some so-so bullpen work by Jose Valverde (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R). In the nightcap, Dan Hudson (7 IP, 3 ER) actually outdueled a disappointing (3 IP, 6 H, 6 runs, 4 earned) John Lackey, but Miguel Montero (a two-run HR) and Andre Ethier (game-winning double) both had big knocks against reliever Dan Wheeler. The early returns, for Central California, after three games: 17 runs scored (plenty of offense), but after Jered Weaver, a troubled pitching staff....perhaps trade talks with a run-starved club with some pitching might be in order? (Of course, it's still early!)

ST. FRANCIS 2, NEW ENGLAND 0 (1st game of DH)

WP: Dallas Braden (1-0, 0.00)
LP: Tim Stauffer (0-1, 2.57)
SV: Cordero (1)

ST. FRANCIS 5, NEW ENGLAND 1 (2nd game of DH)

WP: Jorge De La Rosa (1-0, 1.13)
LP: Gavin Floyd (0-1, 6.75)

A pair of lefties who didn't figure at all in the 2010 Friars campaign frustrated visiting New England in a doubleheader in St. Francis, Kansas. In the opener, Friars LF Jose Bautista hit the first of what is likely to be many home runs in a St. Francis uni, a two-run shot to doom an otherwise-respectable outing by 2011 draftee Tim Stauffer, while fellow draftee Dallas Braden combined with Cordero on a 123-pitch shutout. In the nightcap, former St. Francis farm hand J.P. Arencibia got the Yankee Stompers on the board with an RBI double of De La Rosa, but this would be the only run the resurgent southpaw would give, while Alexei Ramirez and Vernon Wells both had RBI doubles.