DIAMONDS
IN THE ROUGH – JUNE 6
Abbreviated
two-game series opens with San Rafael
Starting
Pitchers:
⚾Tuesday,
7 p.m., Albert Park, San Rafael
The Diamonds
acquired pitcher Kevin Hammon during
the off day and would like to have him start Tuesday night’s game. However, at
press time, insurance issues were still up in the air and that could keep
Hammon from playing before Friday. If Hammon is not available, Diamonds’
manager Aaron Miles says it will be
a “bullpen game.”
It will be a very
familiar face on the mound for the Pacifics in the series opener. Patrick Conroy – who has pitched for
San Rafael the last three seasons – will be on the mound for his first start of
the year. Conroy was named Pitcher of the Year in the Pacific Association in
2014 and 2016.
⚾Thursday,
7 p.m., Albert Park, San Rafael
The Diamonds will have Michael Gunn on the mound fresh off an impressive performance in
the season opener. Gunn pitched seven innings, gave up two runs and collected
eight strikeouts in a no decision.
The Pacifics will counter with Nick DeBarr who has also been in San
Rafael for three seasons. The 33-year-old DeBarr is one of the oldest players
in the Pacific Association. Last season he was 3-8 with a 5.34 ERA.
***The
game scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed and will be played as part of a
doubleheader on July 2. Wednesday’s
contest conflicted with the third game of the NBA Finals featuring the Golden
State Warriors.
Home
Sweet Home – Tonight is the home opener for the Pacifics after
they started the season going 1-2 at Vallejo against the Admirals. Because the
opening night festivities are expected to delay the first pitch, tonight’s
internet broadcast (available through www.DiamondsProBall.com)
will begin with “Runs!Hits!Aaron!” – the Diamonds pre-game show with manager
Aaron Miles – at 7 p.m. Thursday night’s
broadcast will begin at 6:45 p.m.
Yeah,
But You Should See the Other Guy! – The pitching staffs
for both teams got roughed up over the opening weekend. Despite surrendering 13
runs in Sunday’s game completing Sonoma’s series sweep, Pittsburg’s pitching
staff comes into this second series with a better earned run average than the
Pacifics’ staff. The Diamonds are at 5.90, San Rafael’s staff ERA is 7.89.
Painful,
but not even close to a record – The 13 runs
surrendered by the Diamonds on Sunday hurt, but fell far short of the club’s
record. A review of scores from the last two seasons indicated 18 runs is the
low point of all-time for Pittsburg.
New
Extra Inning Rule Has Whack-A-Mole Feeling – The Pacific Association has adopted international rules
designed to bring a quicker end to extra-innings games. The Diamonds
experienced the new rule the very first game this season and it is somewhat
like the game where you smack a rodent into the ground but the darn things just
keep popping back up. At the start of each extra inning the last two batters
from the previous inning are placed on first and second base. So, players you
just got past in the batting order re-appear on the base paths and immediately
the pitcher is in a high stakes jam. The first three innings Friday night
resulted in two-runs scored which kept the extra-innings going. Finally, Sonoma
held Pittsburg scoreless in the 11th and the Stompers won 7-5.
Visit
to San Rafael is June Road Trip Rarity – The Diamonds 2017
schedule is heavily front-loaded with home games. Pittsburg returns to Winter
Chevrolet Stadium on Friday, June 9 for the start of a nine game homestand. That
weekend series will bring the Vallejo Admirals to town. Tickets are available
at www.DiamondsProBall.com.
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