Could Nettles crash Montanez's party?
Double-A Bowie allowed nine runs and a season-high 17 hits in last night's game against Trenton and still clinched first place in the Southern Division for the first time in franchise history and home field advantage in the opening round of the Eastern League playoffs.
The Baysox will host Akron on Sept. 3 and 4, and again on Sept. 7 if the series stretches that far.
Matt Wieters stole his first base since joining Bowie, and only his second this season.
More impressive, Jeff Nettles belted a three-run homer that slammed off the scoreboard in left field.
Nettles, son of former Yankees and Padres third baseman Graig Nettles, has 24 homers, two shy of league-leader Lou Montanez. With the regular season ending on Monday, Nettles could block Montanez from winning the Triple Crown.
"No, not thinking about it," Nettles said. "I think Montanez will get the Triple Crown. Whether he does or not, I mean I could get hot in Harrisburg - who knows what will happen. I mean, he's in the big leagues, he's had an incredible season."
In other words, Nettles should have such problems.
Bowie reliever Felix Romero replaced ineffective starter Jason Berken in the fifth inning, but he left sooner than expected. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Romero threw his first pitch in the dirt to Trenton's Ramiro Pena. His next pitch sailed behind Pena, causing home plate umpire Johnny Conrad to eject him and warn both benches.
A lot of good that did.
Trenton starter Jeff Marquez hit Nolan Reimold with a pitch in the sixth, earning ejections for himself and Thunder manager Tony Franklin.
At Triple-A Norfolk, Luis Terrerro had four hits, two RBIs and three runs scored, and Chris Heintz finished with four RBIs in an 11-9 loss to Durham.
Starter Ryan Bukvich allowed five runs before recording an out in the first inning.
okay. i have to ask those likely in the know.... isn't Cal openly looking to open more of his baseball academy-places around the US? a friend of mine with a youth baseball group met with "his people" a week or so ago, as CLE was one of the cities in the "running"... methinks the TB area must have a city involved too. from my understanding, he is looking at 3-5 new cities...
roch? any ideas? insight? elaboration? clue? you know everything, certainly this is on your list TOO, no?
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Sounds like you've done your homework! - Roch
well if bowie runs into the harrisburg starter that erie did yesterday (luke french? gave up i think 6-7 runs in 1 1/3)....then i think we've got ourselves a spot in the finals. fo' sho'......... i stopped at erie on the way back from buffalo (day game in BUF/night game in ERIE)....impromptu AA game! yay for impromptu games with free tickets!
Montanez bats R and throws R.
Put him at short and be done with it.
The Cal in Tampa thing is funny.... that guy could go to Georgia to sign autographs for the Russian troops & get a pass in this State.....
I think since the Bowie team has clinched the division, Nettles should get a rest after he hits one more HR.... Get him ready for the playoffs....no need for him to play all Labor Day weekend. :-)
More likely than Nettles to do it is Silver Spring, Maryland native Ryan Roberson of the Erie Sea Dogs. He went 5-5 last night with 5 RBI and his third home run of the week to move to 25, just one behind Sweet Lou. Let's hope he goes cold over the final four games. The RBI lead is still six and the batting title is in the bag. Activate Jones and send Lou back to the Baysox for the playoffs. Not going to happen, but I wish it would.