Record 8 - 8
W: J. Outman (1-1, 4.19); L: R. Mullins (0-2, 3.26); SV: B. Harker (2)
HR: None.
E: Tolleson (3, fielding). (I think Whit should have gotten one as well.)
I've been asked by several fans about the feasability of moving Eddie Morlan (pictured) into the starting rotation. Ryan Mullins has been, to my mind, the weak link the rotation, and the player most likely to go into the bullpen, but that all changed last night.
Mullins pitched brilliantly for most of 7 innings, record an astounding 10 strike outs, but suffering the hard luck loss when the winning run came home on Steve Tolleson's fielding error.
Welinson Baez led off with a single to center in the fifth inning, with Lou Marson following with a free pass to first. After a successful Brad Harmon sacrifice bunt, the first Thresher run of the night came in via a Clay Harris ground out to third. Kevin Howard then hit a ground ball to short that Tolleson had trouble fielding, which allowed Marson to score from third.
The Miracle cut the lead to one in the seventh as Erik Lis led off with a double to right and moved to second on Edward Ovalle's sacrifice bunt. With two outs on the board, Javi Sanchez delivered a flare to right, scoring Lis on the play and accounting for the lone Miracle run of the night.
Josh "Shaggy" Hill came on in relief in the eighth. Since Brian wasn't at the game, I made sure to get video of his golfing buddy, just for him...
Hillers appearance might also explain why it was "Aussie" night at the ball park with the a number of them trooping over from the minor league complex with Kyle Edlich to watch the game. Clearwater shortstop Brad Harmon is also an aussie, from Ferntree Gully.
Morlan followed up in the ninth. He was hitting 94-95 MPH on the speedgun, but seemed to have some problems with control, putting in what was likely his worst outing of the season.
In regards to his role on the team, Eddie says he will pitch where-ever they put him, as he plans on doing this for a long time.
"They put me in the rotation (in Beloit) to get me some innings. But I'm pretty happy working out of the pen and they seem content to leave me there for the time being."
Coach Nelson Prada, during the post game meeting Sunday for the Rookie Extended Spring Training team pointed out that it's hard for a team to win a game when they get only four hits. The Miracle managed only five. (Is that why these boys are playing in High A?)
Aside from Lis and Sanchez's hits, Toby Gardenhire smacked a double in the third, but was stranded when Tolleson flew out and Dwayne White ground out. Juan Portes and Caleb Moore had recorded the other two hits for the hometown team.
The two teams rematch tonight, with Ozzie Sosa (0-1, 5.11) taking the mound for the Miracle against Clearwater's Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.50).
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