SERIES #4 vs MINNESOTA MILLERS - I-Rod Injured. Out Two Months.

Back at home for a rematch with Continental Division rival Minnesota.  Walt brings his Millers squad to town with an impressive early season record of 6-3.  They swept the Stouts in the season opening series with three extra inning triumphs. Minnesota is coming into town off taking two of three on the road in Milwaukee against the Phantoms.  The Stouts just finished taking two of three against Toronto, so both teams are playing well of late.  Let's take a look at how the teams fared this time around.


Game 1
Memorial Stadium

April 11, 2014

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota Millers (6-4)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2		4	9	0
Baltimore Stouts (3-7)	1	2	0	0	0	0	2	2	X		7	10	0
	W: K. Rueter (1-1)   L: C. Holt (0-2) SV: S. Kline (1)

Looking for some revenge after the season opening sweep at the hands of the Millers, Baltimore jumps out in front in this game, scoring one in the first and a pair in the second.  They never look back en route to a relatively easy 7-4 victory.  Kirk Rueter was near masterful in this one, tossing 7.2 innings, allowing two earned runs while lowering his ERA for the season to 1.96.  Steve Kline came in and closed the game out but not without incident, giving up two runs in his 1.1 innings of work.  He did "earn" the save for his efforts.  Fernando Vina set the table for the victors, going 3-4 from the leadoff spot, scoring twice while also knocking in a pair.  The Stouts have won three of four after starting the season with six consecutive losses.


Game 2
Memorial Stadium

April 12, 2014

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota Millers (6-5)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	0		6	12	1
Baltimore Stouts (4-7)	2	0	0	0	1	0	5	0	X		8	12	0
	W: J. Wright (1-0)   L: A. Lopez (1-3) SV: A. Alfonseca (1)

This game will be remembered not so much for the outcome but for the injury to star catcher Ivan Rodriguez.  It was inevitable given his injury history in 2000, but it stings nonetheless.  I-Rod will miss two months of action, leaving the Stouts scrambling for help behind the plate.  Robert Fick fills in this game and got a hit and drove in a pair, but it will be impossible to replicate I-Rod's production for an extended period.  Ed Taubensee is on his way up from Indianapolis to be the everyday replacement.  The rest of the lineup will need to step up.

The game itself was never much in doubt.  Minnesota starter Albie Lopez couldn't make it out of the 1st inning, injuring himself before retiring a single batter.  Baltimore called up Jaret Wright to start the game for the home team and he pitched well, allowing a single run in 5.1 innings of work.  The Stouts were up in this one 8-1 heading into the 8th inning when the bullpen made it a little interesting, surrendering a five spot to the Millers in the top half of the inning.  But lo and behold, Antonio Alfonseca came in and pitched a scoreless 9th to secure the victory, picking up a save for himself in the process.  Fernando Vina hot again, going 3-5.  He's raking at a .438 clip early in the season.  Todd Helton goes 3-4, raising his season average to .458.


Game 3
Memorial Stadium

April 13, 2014

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota Millers (7-5)	6	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0		9	12	0
Baltimore Stouts (4-8)	0	4	1	0	2	0	0	0	0		7	11	0
	W: B. Simas (1-0)   L: E. Dessens (0-3) SV: D. Weathers (1)

Minnesota jumped all over Stouts starter Shawn Estes in this one, batting around and posting a six spot in the 1st inning.  Baltimore responds, plating four in the 2nd, another in the 3rd and a pair in the 5th to tie the game up at seven apiece.  The bullpen, yet again, fails to deliver for the Stouts.  Elmer Dessens, who releived Estes in the 3rd by promptly giving up a run, is chased in the 6th after giving up another.  Steve Kline continues his early season woes by giving up an insurance run to the Millers in the 8th.  His ERA in the early going sits at 13.50 through 6.2 innings of work and seven appearances.  Dessens, sporting a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings and six appearances, loses for the third time already, all against the Millers.

This game had an interesting side battle going on, one that was somewhat hard to imagine.  Catcher Jason Kendall went 4-5 with three doubles for the Millers, raising his season average to .458.  He actually went 8-13 in the series.  What was surprising in this game though was that Stouts catcher Ed Taubensee, just called up from the minors prior to the contest, went 3-3 himself with a pair of doubles, a walk and two runs scored.  So the catchers in this game reach base a combined 8 times in 9 plate appearances with five doubles between them.  Not too shabby.


Up next for the Stouts is another rematch with a team who swept its way to victory the first go around, the Milwaukee Phantoms.  Shannon has his team sitting a half a game back in the division.  Baltimore will be looking to exact more revenge in the matchup.