Weird loss but I moved one step closer

Tonight was the second game of hosting the Baysox from Bowie and it was weird from the beginning.  Skipper had decided to let me have the night off again so I was gonna relax and be a fan for the night, or so I thought.  In the first inning, our first basemen, Ramirez, injured his knee trying to beat out the runner to first on a atom ball.  We don't know how bad it is yet but he had to leave the game.  So what does Skip do? He puts me in at first base.  I started out playing there, so this shouldn't be a problem and it wasn't.  We battled back and forth with Bowie but heading into the bottom of the 9th, we were down 7-3. We started a good rally but were only able to plate three runs and lost 7-6 as Bowie clinched the series with a 2-0 lead.  My "day off" saw me go 2-4 at the plate with another solo home run.  

As disappointing as the game was, I'm very excited right now because after the game, Skipper called me into his office.  He told me that I was recovering well from the ankle injury and was beginning to round back into form.  He said that he was gonna be disappointed to not see how much more I progressed in person and I must say, that confused me.  I asked him if he was going somewhere and he told me no and said that I was the one going.  I just stared at him, still confused.  Skip got up from his desk and walked over and shook my hand while saying, "Pack your bags, Mack.  You've been called up to Rochester and will catch them in Durham tomorrow."  I was blown away.  I had been called up to AAA and was just one step away from The Show. My dream was coming true.  I thanked Skip, ran out of his office and started packing my bags.  The guys were really supportive and seemed genuinely glad for me.  I hope to play with them all again soon.  There is so much more I could say, but I have to get to Durham because now I am part of the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. Later.

Bowie tames Cats in series opener

The Bowie Baysox came to town tonight for the first of a three game series with my Rock Cats and it looked like it would be a pitching duel through the first four innings.  In the bottom of the fourth, I came up with two outs and managed to blast a solo shot to straight-away center to give us a 1-0 lead.  In the 6th, Bowie got on the board with three runs before adding another in the 8th.  We tried to answer in the bottom of 8th but could only plate two and we ended up losing 4-3.  My line was 2-4 with the homer and a double.  The home run accounted for my only RBI.  It was a decent line but I would have traded it for the win.

Erie wins series 2-1

After the disappointing sweep in Akron, me and the guys boarded the bus and headed to Erie for a three-game weekend series against the Seawolves.  Skip decided to give me Friday off to rest up since I had just returned from the DL.  Turns out I was never needed as we went on to win 12-7 in a game that was never really in doubt.

Saturday's game saw Erie jump out to a 4-0 lead before we tied it in the 5th at 4-4. Erie then went up by one in the 7th but we tied it back up in the 8th.  Unfortunately, after Erie scored two more in the bottom of the 8th, we couldn't answer in the 9th and lost 7-5.  I didn't really help the cause by going 1-5 on the day.  My lone hit was a triple in the 1st inning but I was left stranded.  

Sunday's game was not one of our best outings at all.  We ended up losing 6-1 in a game where we didn't even get out first hit until the 5th inning and our only run came in the 8th.  Another disappointing day for me as I finished 1-4 with one RBI. 

We are headed home for a day off tomorrow before we open up a six-game homestand on Tuesday.  The Bowie Baysox come in Tuesday for a three-game series followed by a weekend series against the Harrisburg Senators.  We would love to see you and your family out at the park to cheer us on.  Hope to see you there. 

Swept Away

After losing the series opener with Akron, we looked to bounce back against the Rubber Ducks Wednesday but we stumbled instead.  Well, not so much stumbled.  More like we tripped and fell flat on our faces....on concrete.....with spikes sticking out of it.  Yeah, it was pretty bad as we lost 9-2.  I only managed one hit in five at bats but did drive in one of our runs.  

Thursday's game was a little better but we still lost 8-6.  We were up 6-2 but let them score six runs in the bottom of the 8th and we could never recover.  I finished the game 2-5 with two solo homers for my two RBIs.  I'm still trying to find my groove but I am getting there. 

First game back and its a doozy

Well, I was excited for my first game back from the DL but I had no idea that it would be like this.  I went 2 for 8 from the plate with a solo home run and a RBI.  Yes that's right.  That's not a typo.  Eight plate appearances.  That's because we ended up playing 17 innings.  In the end though, we lost 9-8 to Akron.  I'm gonna keep this short because, after not having played for two months, I am exhausted and need to rest. 

Wolfpack in a catfight

As the Seawolves from Erie came to New Britain on Thursday, the Rock Cats were hoping to give them a case of cat-scratch fever.  It seems that we forgot to tell Erie that though, as they went on to win 3-2 in game that was definitely a chess match from the beginning. 

Friday was another squeaker but this time the Cats were on the winning end as we managed to slip by with an 8-7 victory to tie the series up at 1-1.

Saturday produced the third consecutive one-run game as Erie inched out the Cats with the narrow 5-4 win.  The hardest part of watching the loss was that three of the five runs Erie scored were unearned.  Errors will kill you every time.

Today saw us bounce back and even the series up at 2-2 as we were able to knock off the Wolves 5-2 in dramatic fashion.  Tied at two in the bottom of the 9th, Frankie came up with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out.  He got the count to 2-2 when he took a hanging slider deep to left and won the game with a walk-off three-run homerun.  The place went nuts and so did we.  It was such a great moment and couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.  

So, it looks like this was the last series I have to sit out as I am scheduled to come of the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.  The doctors have given their blessings and I have worked hard to get back in form.  I guess we shall see.

The Thunder rains on the Cats parade

After taking three of four games against Portland, the boys headed to Trenton to take on the Thunder.  After losing the series opener 4-2, the Cats bounced back for a 10-3 win in a game that was never in doubt from the beginning.  Today was the rubber game and unfortunately the Thunder bounced back for a 7-6 win to take the series 2-1.

Now the boys come back home to host the Erie Seawolves for a four-game homestand so make sure to come out to the park and see us.  I am hoping that this will be the last series I will miss and I will be able to take the field against Akron.