Defs drop one literally.....5-4 this afternoon to the Mets

in what should have been a tidy 4-2 win. After going down 2-0 the Defs came back with some timely hitting to take a 4-2 lead. Jake Wald hit the Dunkin' Donut sign in left to start the Connecticut scoring. Simon Klink and Mark Minicozzi had RBI singles in the fourth and Tyler Von Schell had a sac fly in the fifth for the Defender runs.
In between Wald had a couple of throws from deep shortshop and shallow left field to help starter Dave McKae. McKae went six innings, gave up two earned runs, one a tainted but earned run in the first, and had 2 Ks. Not a dominant performance when you saw it in person however. According to Joe Perez's blog the scounts were there to see McKae (Yankees?) with the trade deadline coming up.
But in the 8th...well Ryan Sadowski who had a 12 pitch 1-2-3 7th, started the 8th with 6 balls in a row. Out comes Steamer and the next pitch is a popup to Mincozzi, playing his first game at second in who knows how long, which he drops. Pat Dobson in right tries to get the runner at second but his throw is wide and it's runners on first and third. Next batter is a RBI groundout to make it 4-3. Old friend Brett Harper goes yard for a 2 run homer and a 5-4 victory.
Let's remember Minicozzi is probably the team's third or maybe 4th option at second after Webb, Wald, Velez (yeah I know he's got to be in CF) and perhaps even Dobson. Also earlier in the game Minicozzi and Dobson got crossed up on another popup that fell in for a single. Adding insult to injury in the 9th now down 5-4, that's when Webb goes in as a defensive replacement.

Misc fan notes: I left this one after 6 to indulge my NASCAR passion, especially with the race being run in New Hampshire. As I found out from Tony Scott, our favorite ticket attendant Justine who is a big Carl Edwards fan is also, like me, a Yankees fan. Justine is up in Loudon today at the track. Edwards drives for Rousch/Fenway and the 99 car is sporting Red Sox logos this race. That's got to be tough.

Von Schell is wearing #29. Dayton Buller is wearing #15.

Smallish crowd; fireworks Monday and Tuesday nights.