Ugly...Defs drop today's game 7-4 and split the..

series with the B-Mets. Not what we needed for Sept. baseball at Dodd. Connecticut has 11 hits, none in the clutch however as they had B-Mets starter Robert Parnell (9-4) on the ropes early a couple of times but couldn't get that one big hit. Connecticut loaded the bases with no outs in second and let Parnell off the hook with no runs being scored. In the third they loaded the bases again with two outs but nothing doing there either.
Connecticut finally pushed across a couple of runs in the fourth on a Ryan Rohlinger walk, a Jake Wald double putting runners on second and third. Parnell then threw a wild pitch that didn't get that far from the Bingo catcher. Rohlinger broke for the plate and scored but a good throw from the catcher to pitcher covering would have easily got Ryan. Ben Copeland (4 for 5) then singled in Wald for a 2-0 Defenders lead.
Dave McKae got the spot start today and gave up a solo homer in the 5th to Ambiorix Concepicon as Bingo cut CT's lead in half. McKae gave way to Jason Waddell (0-3) in the sixth. McKae finished with 5 IP, a run on three hits.
Waddell just didn't have it today. A leadoff single and an Olmo error put runners on first and second with no outs. Dan Murphy then hit a three run shot to put the Mets up 4-2. After the first out, a walk to Mike Carp set the stage for Concepion's second homer of the game for a 6-2 score. Out comes Jason in comes Ronnie Ray who pitched last night. B-Mets almost score another run but the runner is tagged out by Pablo in a run down.
Connecticut comes back a little in the bottom half of the inning. Singles by Rohlinger, Olmo, RBI singles by Copeland and Pablo produce two runs but Copeland gets caught in a rundown on Sandoval's RBI for the third out and Connecticut now down 6-4. Ronnie Ray batted in this inning as Bien tried to save his bullpen.
Connecticut gave back a run in the top of the 7th on a walk, SB and catcher's throwing error and a RBI single to close the game scoring at 7-4.
In the eight Bingo would threaten again against Ray but Justin Hedrick came on to get the final out. In the bottom half of the frame Rohlinger singled and Hedrick batting for himself grounded out into an inning ending DP.
So they fail to pick up any ground on the team in front of them in the standings and are nine games out of the first place Trenton Thunder and five games behind second place Portland. They remain in fourth place three games behind Bingo with the last place FisherCats in town next for four games to bring us to the All-Star break.

Misc fan notes: Justine Kenney, the box office manager, last day is Friday. She took over from Tony Scott who also left earlier this season. Really never got to know her but she'll be missed and I'll tell you why. When I left the game today I went to the ticket window to get a ticket for Friday's game. The person on the window was taking a ticket order over the phone that was taking a bit of time. Justine seeing a line forming up took over the window to start processing my order and those behind me. Now here's someone who could easily just mail it in with a day left but she still hustles up to take care of customers with the clock running out on her employment. People like that are not always easy to find. Good Luck Justine!

Back to the baseball side of things the bullpen mix needs a little work. We said goodbye to Steve Palazzolo, Sergio Romo and Orsiris Matos three bullpen guys and got back a starter from SJ in Ben Snyder and a long reliever in Brooks McNiven back from Fresno. We also have demoted starter Dave McKae in the bullpen. Both McKae and McNiven have made recent spot starts because of doubleheaders and Nate Bump skipping a turn but both McNiven and McKae are "long" guys. The primary closer is now Kelvin Pichardo with Hedrick backing him up. That leaves Waddell, (the only lefty) Josh Sharpless and Ray has the middle guys with Ray leading the team in appearances with 30. Also starter Paul Oseguera looks like he's ready to come off the DL.

Pics from top to bottom: McKae, Copeland, and Hedrick