Rapidz vs Surf

[titanium]

Jereme Milons just clubbed a 3 run homer to put the Rapidz ahead 4-3 in the 6th inning. I'm catching the game on the Surf's webcast. Go Rapidz.

[RapidsFan]

Ottawa down 7-6 now...2 outs away from losing this one hopefully they can get something going

[OttawaBallFan]

May 26
Surf 7 Rapidz 6

The Rapidz first ever road trip will be one to remember. Not because of what happened on the field but what happened about 15 hours before the start of the game. Their bus broke down delaying their arrival in Atlantic City and delaying the start of the game by a full two hours.

The Rapidz players were supposed to board the team bus from Rapidz Stadium at 2:00 a.m. on Monday morning. However, due to some mechanical problem, the bus never showed up. Scrambling to find another bus, the team is told that another bus would not available until 8:30. It is only at that time, more than six hours after they were supposed to leave, that the team left in rush hour traffic.

All seemed fine until THAT bus broke down in mid-afternoon further delaying the Rapidz arrival at Bernie Robbins Stadium. When they finally did, just after 8:00 p.m., the team rushed to the field for their warmup routines and start the game about thirty minutes later.

The late start at first seemed to affect both teams as they both went in order in the first two innings. McKnight committed an error on David Keesee leading off the third inning reaching second base. The very next hitter, Lucas Taylor, also reached base on a similar play, this time an error by 3B Juan Infante. Tony Granato drove him in one out later and the Surf were leading 2-0.

The Rapidz led off the fourth with a Lemieux double for their first hit but couldn't be cashed in. The Surf added to their lead with an Ed Kim home run, his first hit of the season.

The game progressed rapidly and at the one hour mark, the Rapidz were coming to bat in the sixth. The pace slowed however as Ottawa batted around for the first time this season. Geiger lead off with a single. After two outs, De los Santos singled and Bergeron walked before Jereme Milons hit a three-run home run against starting pitcher Jim Wladyka. The Rapidz were now ahead 4-3, the first time this season they came from behind. But the Surf came back with a run in the sixth to tie the score at four.

Ottawa took a 6-4 lead in the seventh as they almost batted around sending eight to the plate. Geiger led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. Lemieux reached on the third baseman's error. De los Santos singled to load the bases. Bergeron was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and Milons had an infield hit to drive in another run.

The Surf got one back as Noel Baca struggled once again facing only three hitters. In the eighth, Dallas Strankman allowed two runs to put the Surf ahead 7-6 to stay.

The Rapidz defense was shaky again tonight as they committed three errors - two by Infante - which lead directly to their loss as there was four unearned runs. The positive was Fraser Robinson, in his first professional start, allowed only four hits in six innings. Only two of the four runs he allowed were earned. He walked none and struck out four. Jereme Milons was the Rapdiz offensive star of the game with his home run and four RBIs.

The Rapidz have hired hitting coach Tom Carcione. A long-time friend of Ed Nottle, he is expected to join the team tomorrow. Also, Felix Escalona will be joining the team as soon as possible. A shortstop, he was drafted by the Astros in 1995, played with Tampa Bay in 2002. He also was in the Orioles organization and played for the Lynx in 2003 and played for the Yankees in 2004/5. He last played for Columbus in 2006.