Tweakers 4, Rhinos 1

Hal shows a total lack of confidence in the Rhinos bullpen.  In 5 games Rhinos have 2 relief appearances by Thornburg totaling an inning and a third.  Otherwise, the 5 starters log 42.1 innings, including 3 complete games, including 2 that went extra innings.

6/7 - Tweakers 3, Rhinos 2.  Hisashi Iwakuma had an impressive outing as the blistering-hot NORM TWEAKERS
beat the JOSE RHINOS by a score of 3 to 2.

NORM scored all of the necessary runs in the 8th inning scoring 3 runs on 4
base hits.  Ben Zobrist got things going when he doubled.  Adam Lind came to
the plate and lined a base-hit.  Pablo Sandoval then slapped a single.
Marlon Byrd was next to bat, but he was a strikeout victim.  Chris Carter
stepped into the box and drew a walk to load the bases.  Wilin Rosario was
the next batter, but he struck out.  Jose Iglesias was next and he doubled.
The game was a scoreless duel until the 8th inning. 

Luis Avilan(5-3) went 2 and 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs for the win. After Gordon Beckham hit a 9th inning homer to make it close, Avilan
got help from Dane De La Rosa who was credited with his 4th save.  Tim
Hudson(3-3) was charged with the loss. 

In another of a string of victories, NORM extended their winning streak to 8
games. 'It seems we can't lose these days', George Brett volunteered after
the game.  Then after a moment to reflect he lamented, 'Oh great! Now I've
gone and jinxed us!'

6/8 – Tweakers 5, Rhinos 2.  Shelby Miller emulated Iwakuma by throwing 6 scoreless innings before turning it over to the bullpen.  The score was tied at 2 after nine.  Finally, NORM pulled the game out in the
10th inning.  Ben Zobrist led off and got things going when he doubled.
After an out was recorded, Marlon Byrd came up and he was hit by a pitch.
Pablo Sandoval got his chance to keep things going, but he went down on
strikes.  Yan Gomes stepped in and he belted a three-run homer giving NORM
the victory as -132 happy fans celebrated wildly.  NORM had 11 hits for the
afternoon while JOSE had 6. 

Luis Avilan(6-3) went 2/3 of an inning allowing no runs for the victory.
Randall Delgado(0-1) took the loss.  NORM remained hot, improving their
record to 63-51.  They now have a record of 9-1 in recent days.  JOSE's
manager was pretty down after the loss.  'We've really been sputtering along
lately, something like 0-10 in the last week or two.  That won't get it
done.'

8/20 – Rhinos 6, Tweakers 5.  Carlos Gomez rolled the 1 to hit a ballpark homerun and had 2 RBI and Matt Garza retired 15 batters on
strikeouts as the JOSE RHINOS beat the NORM TWEAKERS in
10 innings by the count of 6 to 5.

A grand slam by Ryan Howard and a solo shot by Wilin Rosario gave the Tweakers an early lead, but the game was deadlocked at 5 after nine full innings.  JOSE ended up winning
it in the 10th inning.  Gomez laced a base-knock.  Gomez was safe at second
on a stolen base.  After an out was recorded, Marcus Semien (who the hell is that?) then stroked a
one-base hit.  Semien took second on the throw.  Nick Markakis came up and he
drew a walk.  JOSE totaled 12 hits on the night. 

Garza(1-3) lasted until the end allowing 5 runs for the win. Luis Avilan(6-4)
ended up with the loss in relief.  He allowed 2 runs and 3 hits in 1 inning.

'I had my good stuff tonight.' Garza said. 'As the game went along I started
to get the feeling that I was going to strike out a bunch of hitters.'

8/21 – Tweakers 6, Rhinos 4.  Tweakers led 5-3 after the 1st inning that included a 3-run homer by Will Venable.  Shelby Miller(8-8) pitched okay, well enough for the win.  He surrendered 4
hits and 3 walks in 6 innings and gave up homeruns to Tulowitzki and Dominguez.  NORM had 9 hits for
the game and JOSE had 6. 

Dane De La Rosa was credited with his 5th save. C.C. Sabathia(0-5) was the
losing pitcher.
8/22 – Tweakers 2, Rhinos 1.  Rosters expand for the final game of the series.  Ben Zobrist had 2 base hits as the NORM TWEAKERS beat the JOSE RHINOS by a
score of 2 to 1.

Gio Gonzalez(10-4) had a strong outing.  He allowed just 5 hits and 1 walk in
8 innings.  Gonzalez struck out 9 JOSE batters.  Robinson Cano homered in the 9th, but the Rhinos were unable to push the tying run across. 

Gonzalez got relief help from Luis Avilan who gained credit for his 11th save.
Gerrit Cole(2-2) was tagged with the loss.