These Are My Confessions: DP
June 2, 2010The Jake Westbrook Situation
June 2, 2010The night started as a matchup between the Clippers’ best starter and the Cincinnati Reds’ biggest phenom. Josh Tomlin and Aroldis Chapman went toe-to-toe for seven innings apiece; but while Chapman left the game with a 3-2 lead after seven innings, the game came down to the Clippers’ hottest hitter and pitcher.
Frank Herrmann pitched two perfect innings in the clutch, and Jordan Brown knocked a walk-off double to score Nick Weglarz in the ninth to give the Clippers a 4-3 win and a 6-1 record on their current home-stand. Herrmann moves to 3-0 on the year with a 0.31 ERA, and runs his consecutive-scoreless-innings streak to 27.0 innings. Herrmann struck out three and didn’t allow a Bats hitter to reach in his two innings of work. And, his three strike outs all came in the 9th inning when he fanned the side to slam the door and set up the Clippers’ last-at-bat heroics.
Both starting pitchers were solid through seven innings, with Tomlin allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two. Chapman worked seven as well and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five. A feather in the cap of the Clippers’ hitters is that Chapman hadn’t allowed a run since May 14th before giving up a run in the second inning. Our own Andrew was in attendance last evening, and despite the hoopla had this to say about the Reds’ Cuban phenom: “Chapman didn’t really wow me. Yeah, he throws hard, but I didn’t see him throw anything that looks unhittable for major league batters. He relies WAY too much on his 99 mph fastball, which is fine for the minors, but good major league teams will time him up.”
Interestingly enough, the game’s hitting hero—Jordan Brown—wasn’t even in the starting lineup. Wes Hodges started at first base, and Josh Phelps got a rare start as the DH as he’s a right-handed hitter and Brown–a left-hander–sat against the fireballing lefty. Phelps went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. So, it might have been a bit of a surprise to see Jordan Brown sent up to pinch hit for Phelps in the 9th.
The Bats sent Jon Adkins to the bump to close out the 3-2 game, and The Big Smooth Carlos Santana immediately greeted him with a double. Wes Hodges followed by slapping a grounder to first to move Santana to third with one out to set up the tying run. Chris Giminez followed with a single to score Santana and tie the game; Giminez tried to stretch it into a double only to be thrown out at second. So, with two outs and no one one, it looked like the Clippers might be heading to extra innings.
But, Big Red Nick Weglarz displayed his legendary patience and worked a walk, which allowed Clippers’ manager Mike Sarbaugh to play the percentages and bring Brown out of the dugout to pinch hit for Phelps against the right-handed Adkins. Brown rapped a double to left that allowed Weglarz to score all the way from first base, and Clippers sent their fans home happy. Brown raised his season average to .333 and drove in his 20th run in 18 games after most of his early season was lost to injury. In 10 games since coming off the DL for the second time, Brown is hitting .375 (12-for-32) with five doubles, a home run, and 12 RBI. “I was chilling for a majority of the game,” Brown said afterward. “And I didn’t have to face a lefty throwing 107 mph. So that’s a pretty good game. Tomlin did a great job keeping us close. We were there the whole time.”
The Clippers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Wes Hodges led off with a walk, stole second base, and was driven home by a Phelps double with two outs. The teams traded runs in the fifth as Louisville’s Wilkin Castillo hit a home run to right field in the top half, and Phelps doubled in the bottom half and scored on a Josh Rodriguez single. It looked like Chapman would end up a winner when the Bats notched two runs in the seventh after a walk, double, RBI groundout, and RBI single made it 3-2 Louisville. Cue Herrmann’s dominance and the Clippers’ offensive resilience.
The Clippers are in the process of finishing up their home-stand today with an 11:35 start. Carlos Carrasco faced off with Matt Maloney. [update] We’re heading to the sixth at The Hunt, and the Clippers are out in front 9-5. The Big Smooth Carlos Santana has a homer and two RBI, and Wes Hodges has two RBI as well. Carrasco has worked 5.0 IP giving up 5 ER on 7 hits and a walk. He’s struck out four.
The Clippers have tomorrow off, and then resume play on Friday in Indianapolis.
4 Comments
I remember being excited about Wes Hodges. Man, those were the days…
Yeah. I know the front office says that Hodges glove wouldn’t stay at third, but what else do we have (other than the Chiz-Whiz in a few years)?
When we trade Peralta (or at worst, don’t pick up the option), do we really wanna see Andy Marte take over third full time for the foreseeable future? I wish they’d have kept Hodges there…
FWIW, Hodges is a total BUTCHER at third. He was flat-out brutal last year. His bat hasn’t yet proven to be worthy enough of living with that defense.
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