Unreal....Defs lose 4-3 to the Senators....

I'll say this for CT, they lose games in the most mind bending, frustrating ways. Defs jump out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first on a one out single by Bobby Felmy (who I think has batted in every possible spot so far this season), a RBI double by Brett Pill who then scored on a RBI single by EME. Mike Mooney then grounded out into an inning ending double play.
CT starter Henry Sosa scuffed around for another 4.1 innings as CT hung onto to it's 2-0 lead. Sosa didn't have much tonight and he walked off the mound after 1 out in the sixth with an injury (right tricep, per team website). Enter Dan Griffin, who had to come in cold and did his warmups on the mound. Griffin retired the batter he inherited for the second out of the inning. He then gave up a single, a walk and a three run homer to the next three batters. Of course he hits the next batter on the very first pitch and is ejected. Enter Geivy Garcia who gets the third out as CT falls behind 3-2.
In the seventh, the Senators mount another two out rally. Garcia gets the first two batters on strikes and then walks the next two batters. Steve Decker then brings in Ben Synder who has had no time to warm up in the bullpen, and I mean maybe a couple of warm up tosses. If I have Garcia (5.04 ERA) or Griffin (5-5, 5.80 ERA) out there, you'd better have someone ready. Synder gives up a single to the first batter he sees to make it 4-2.
CT gets a run back in the 8th on a Brock Bond double and a Pill RBI single. Decker then pinch runs for Pill (who is 3 for 4 with a double, triple and two RBIs game to date) with AR who is in to steal second, and has Adam Witter, a left handed batter, pinch hit for Sndyer. Harrisburg counters by bringing in a lefty pitcher who is looking right at AR over at first. Of course AR (who plays once a week at best, and now with newcomer Ramon Castro playing OF, will see his time reduced more) is picked from here to there and Pill's bat is out of the game as well.
Not to put this all on the pitchers, CT batters had plenty of chances in this game to drive in runs but went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position--a lot of wasted doubles in this game. Also Decker had Bond try to score with one out in the third on a medium fly ball by Pill to left and was thrown out a home with EME who had already singled in a run on deck. Bond is not THAT fast--he has 10 steals and has been caught stealing 11 times.
Just a very frustrating loss to snap a five game winning streak. On the other hand if you told me CT would be in first place by 4.5 at the end of June at the beginning of the season I would have been pretty happy.

Misc fan notes: For the first time this season marquee entrance sign works! Almost hit the car brakes when I saw that! Next: the bottom half of the scoreboard please!
Washington Senators first baseman Dmiti Young went 0 for three against Sosa in his rehab start tonight.
I guess the reason Ramon Castro is here is because Mike McBryde's groin injury from last week is lingering but why not just play AR more?

This season's bullpen is real shaky, The only one I trust out there is Synder. God only knows who the closer is. They need some help out there and that means a couple of new faces and a coaching plan because:
Bob Stanley spoiled me because you basically knew from one game to then next who was coming out of that pen and with these guys this season I don't have a clue and that extends to a degree to the starting rotation as well--I thought McNiven was staring Sunday?

See the below from today's Richmond Times-Dispatch in the latest twist in the relocation saga.

"The ownership group moving a Class AA baseball franchise to Richmond next season will commit more than $1 million for short-term improvements to The Diamond, the Eastern League president said yesterday.

"We want to bring a first-class product to Richmond," Joe McEacharn said. "We are going to show our good faith not only by coming with a team, but we are going to substantially upgrade the product for the short term."

The Eastern League has not determined which of its 12 franchises will relocate to Richmond, or the composition of its ownership/management team, according to McEacharn.

The Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which owns and operates The Diamond, will contribute a maximum of $75,000 to short-term facility improvements, said Mike Berry, the RMA's general manager.

More than $1 million of additional upgrades will be "a cost borne entirely by the franchise," McEacharn said. He added that some of the expected upgrades will go beyond those "absolutely necessary" for the stadium to be functional. The Diamond needs painting, probably a new scoreboard, furniture for the executive offices, clubhouse furnishings and other necessities, Berry said.

Generally, improvements at The Diamond would involve fans' amenities, player-development facilities and front office structure, McEacharn said. Funding for upgrades would not be available until an ownership group is determined.

"We will make a significant investment to further our commitment to the folks in Richmond," he said. "We want them to know how committed we are going to be to Richmond for the long haul."

The new team will play at The Diamond until a new ballpark is built, or the club could stay at The Diamond if area officials determine that a transformation of facility on the Boulevard is the preferred alternative.

Discussion of what franchise is coming to Richmond and its ownership/management group is expected to be the agenda-topper at tomorrow's Eastern League board of directors meeting. McEacharn said the process has moved from the "exploratory" phase to the "decision-making" stage.

Berry said RMA representatives "have been meeting with various groups that have been brought here by the Eastern League to look at The Diamond. . . . We've shown the facility to quite a few teams, and we made sure they understand exactly what we have to offer right now."

The Connecticut franchise relocating to Richmond remains the most likely scenario, sources said.

That franchise -- contractually bound to the San Francisco Giants through next season -- in Richmond could feature a management team that includes executives from two of the Eastern League's most successful operations, Reading, Pa., and Trenton, N.J.

That move would allow the Eastern League to vacate Norwich, Conn., which many in the baseball industry believe is too small for a Class AA franchise, and occupy Richmond, which would be one of the league's top markets.

The Eastern League will identify a franchise for relocation to Richmond in July, according to McEacharn. Then, the league, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball will study the plan and be required to formally approve the relocation before it is announced, according to McEacharn.

A long-term ballpark solution is necessary, McEacharn has said repeatedly.

The Shockoe Center proposal, with its $60 million ballpark, was withdrawn last week. Opening Day Partners in early June submitted to area officials a $28 million proposal to transform The Diamond. Removal of the roof and upper deck are part of the plan.

Peter Kirk, ODP's chairman, said yesterday he hasn't been contacted by city officials or officials from neighboring counties. "

A management team from Reading and Reading?!?! What's that? Is Lou hiring a new front office for Richmond?

Pics are Sosa and Ramon Castro