Series #11 vs Peoria

The Lugnuts had a solid week against the Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate). We went 3-3 on the week, winning three straight from Thursday to Saturday bringing our season record to 29-33. We have three games left in the first half of the season, which is crazy to think about. We cancelled a game against South Bend that most likely won’t be made up so 65 games will be the halfway point for us. The best record of the first half and the best record of the second half are the four teams that qualify for the playoffs - two teams from each division and if you win both halves, you automatically qualify for the league championship. We won’t have the best record for the first half but there is still hope for the second half, as our record will reset.

I got to pitch twice this week. My first outing was on Thursday and it was actually the shortest of my career. That day we had two starters scheduled to pitch, so ideally we wouldn’t have used a relief pitcher. Our starter ran into some trouble in the 5th inning and reached his pitch count so I came into a huge spot. Bases loaded, one out, game tied at 1-1, and the top of the order coming up. Their best two hitters were hitting first and second that day and both hit left handed.

I knew the leadoff hitter was aggressive (and very fast, leading the Minors is stolen bases with nearly 50 steals) so I started him off with a first pitch curveball. He took an awkward swing - almost as if it was an emergency, two strike hack - and hit a slow dribbler to my left. It’s safe to say that I make this play nine times out of ten, but this time, the ball rolled right under my glove for an infield single. One run crossed the plate and the bases remained loaded. I was pretty disappointed in myself but there was no time to worry - I had two more outs to get. The next batter was also aggressive so we went with a first pitch cutter to hopefully induce some weak contact, which is exactly what happened.

Two pitches, two outs. The second starter of the day was preparing for the 6th so after two pitches, my day was done. A huge throw from our centerfielder, Junior Perez, to keep the score at 2-1. We ended up coming back to win 4-3 so preventing that extra run was crucial.

The day after an outing, our pitching coach will sit down with the pitchers individually to recap the outing and share thoughts. We call it “fastball command” because the focus is to review the fastballs that were thrown and assess how many of them hit our target. This is done during batting practice so if you are called in, you don’t have to shag batting practice, which is a treat. I was not eligible for fastball command because my outing was two pitches and I didn't throw a fastball. Tough break.

I pitched again on Saturday, this time entering the game in the 9th inning. We were trailing 3-2. In the top of the 9th inning, I went strikeout, fly out, hard hit ground ball that was ruled an error, and a fly out to end the inning. Here is the strikeout. I think he missed this changeup by over a foot.

After an infield single and a bunch of wild pitches, we tied the game at 3-3 which meant I was going back out for the 10th inning. In extra innings, each team gets to start the inning with a runner on second base - the last out from the inning prior. In the 9th inning, the batter that reached on an error was their leadoff hitter and their best base stealer but because he didn't end the inning, he didn't start the 10th inning at second. The hitter after him who doesn’t run as well was the ghost runner. They had the middle of the order - three, four, five - coming up trying to take the lead.

I made some huge pitches and stranded the ghost runner, keeping the score tied at 3-3. A broken bat ground out, another ground out, and a weak fly out to end it. My changeup and cutter were working well, here are the first and third outs.

This game ended in the bottom of the 10th with a bang. This ball disappeared into the night. Electric moment. Check out this walk off home run...

https://twitter.com/lansinglugnuts/status/1670253309637132288?s=46

We lost Sunday to split the week but it was a good week overall. The Lugnuts are traveling today to Appleton, Wisconsin for the a series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate). Thanks for reading. Go Nuts!