Miami Palms Blog

The Palms continue to hold opposing offenses down, and got about their 5th poor start in a row, as Manny Parra only made his way through three innings before giving way to Blake Johnston, who himself has not pitched well this season. Perhaps Miami should simply be happy that after a couple rough performances, the team only allowed 6 runs. They were finally held under 10 on offense, scoring three thanks to good days by Eddie Black, Ryan Henning and Steve Drysdale. 3b Prado 2-5 R K SS Gonzalez 1-5 K DH Winn 0-4 BB K C Black 2-3 BB SAC CF Sohn 0-4 LF Sadan 1-4 K 2b Henning 3-4 K 1b Dupont 0-4 GIDP RF Drysdale 3-4 R 2b Henning 2 (4) Drysdale (1) RBI Black 2 (14) Drysdale (1) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Parra L 1-2 3 6 4 4 3 0 1 Johnston 2 5 2 2 2 0 0 Gonsales 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sarfate 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 ...

Randy Winn isn't the prototypical designated hitter. He is to fleet of foot to fill that role on most teams, and he was never considered a power hitter. Last year, however, he had career highs in home runs and batting average, hitting .327 with 22 homers. In the first month of 2010, however, his numbers are back down to about where they would be expected, especially if one considers that Winn is likely on the downside of his career. Still, the Palms will continue to trot him out there as a stabilizing veteran presence in the order.

Again, the Palms managed to score in the double digits, but with their tough loss from the day before fresh in their minds, and the bullpen still suspect, they managed to put the necessary difference between themselves and Texas in the first game of their 4 game set in Arlington. Eddie Black managed to hit two home runs, and Ryan Henning added another in the Palms' 6 run third, which followed the Rangers 4 run 2nd. Don Schoppe managed to work two innings to pick up the save, as Josh Fields drove in a pair in the top of the 9th to bring the Palms lead to 5. The Palms have now scored 26 runs in the last 2 games, but have allowed 22 runs. 3b Prado 3-6 R K 2b Janish 3-4 BB R DH Winn 0-4 SAC R C Black 2-5 2R RF Sohn 3-5 3R LF Sadan 3-5 2R SS Henning 2-4 R SAC 1b Fields 1-5 3K CF Crisp 1-5 R 2b Janish (4) Sadan (5) Fields (4) HR Black 2 (4) Henning (4) RBI Winn (4) Black 3 (12) Sadan 3 (17) Henning 3 (7) Fields 2 (4) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR ...

This was perhaps the most heartbreaking of losses since their elimination game in the playoffs in 2008. By the 4th inning, the Palms were up by 10, 12-2 after three home runs by the Palms, and a bases clearing double by Ayoz Sadan. They had Troy Munoz on the mound and looked to be fully in control. The Angels then proceeded to bat around, hit three homers, including a grand slam from young Ryan Budde and scored 8 runs. Still, the Palms were ahead until the 8th inning when the Angels scored three more runs off of Dennis Sarfate. After scoring 14 runs in the first 5 innings, the Palms managed no runs and only three more hits and somehow blew the game when scoring the most runs they have scored in 4 years. DH Prado 1-6 R K SS Janish 2-5 HBP 2R 2K LF Sadan 4-6 2 R C Black 1-5 BB 2R K RF Sohn 3-5 BB 2R 1b Dupont 3-6 R 2b Henning 1-4 BB R 2K 3b Fields 2-5 R 2k CF Crisp 3-5 2R K 2b Sadan (3) Sohn (6) Dupont (2) 3b Crisp (2) HR Black (2) Sohn (6) Dupont (4) RBI Janish 2 (2) Sadan 3 (14) Black ...

Javier Vazquez has been a welcome addition as a stabilizing presence at the top of the rotation for the Palms for the past season and month. Last season he ate up innings preserving the bullpen and going 13-9. His ERA was less than eye popping at over 5.00, but the nearly 200 innings were the real kicker. So far in 2010, his ERA is down, but his inning count is still high, which is good, considering how bad the bullpen has been so far.

Dave Balierough was chased very early in this one, the first of a two game set in Anaheim. Balierough failed to retire any Angels in the 2nd inning, and left it to the bullpen, who allowed 6 more runs. The Palms offense, for their part, managed 10 hits off Joe Saunders, including the third solo home run from Ryan Henning on the season. LF Sadan 1-5 K SS Gonzalez 3-5 K RF Sohn 0-4 DH Black 1-4 R 1b Dupont 1-4 2b Henning 2-4 2R 2K CF Crisp 1-3 BB 3b Fields 1-4 2K C Santos 0-4 K 2b Henning (2) Fields (3) HR Henning (3) RBI Henning (4) Crisp (5) Fields (1) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Balierough L 0-3 1 7 5 5 0 1 0 Sarfate 2 5 2 2 0 0 2 Gonsales 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Player of the game: Kendry Morales 8-12

The Palms managed to take the rubber game of this series as their bats came alive once again. They strung together hits in 3 different innings in order to score at least a run in each of those innings. Dallas Chastanet provided a much needed quality start, followed by Don Schoppe and Buddy Carlyle pitching effectively for the final three innings, securing the victory for Miami. Randy Winn had to leave in the 5th inning after being hit by a pitch. He is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday when the team plays the Angels. 3b Prado 1-5 K SS Janish 3-5 2R K DH Winn 0-1 BB HBP R / Drysdale 1-2 C Black 2-4 R K RF Sohn 0-3 SAC 2 K 1b Dupont 2-4 2b Henning 1-3 BB CF Crisp 2-4 K LF Tiropes 0-4 2b Janish (3) RBI Sohn (18) Dupont (12) Henning (3) Crisp (4) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Chastanet W 2-1 6 6 1 1 3 5 0 Schoppe 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 Carlyle S 6 1 0 ...

The Indians took the second half of their double header with the Palms to earn the split. The teams were nearly even for the first 6 innings, with the Palms even ahead after the first six. Then the Indians teed off the Miami bullpen, hitting 11 hits in three innings, scoring 6 runs. The Palms will have to hope for a deep outing from Dallas Chastanet to close out the series. Orlando Tiropes got his first career start at second base. 3b Prado 1-4 R SS Janish 0-2 HBP BB K CF Sohn 0-4 K C Black 0-4 LF Sadan 2-4 R 2K 1b Dupont 2-4 R K RF Drysdale 1-4 K DH Fields 0-4 K 2b Tiropes 1-4 K HR Dupont (3) RBI Dupont 2 (11) Sadan (11) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Parra 5 1/3 9 2 2 1 4 0 Gonsales L 1-2 1 4 4 4 2 1 1 Schoppe 1 2/3 3 1 1 0 0 1 Johnston 1 4 1 1 0 1 0 Player of the Game: Asdrubal Cabrera 7-11

In the first game of their day night double header, the Palms abused the Indians pitching staff, coming out of a recent funk and going for 18 hits. They only managed 3 runs in the first 7 innings despite 12 hits, including a solo homer from Billy Dupont, who snapped out of his early season slump going 4-5. The 8th inning saw the Palms bat around and score 4 more, including 2 on a home run from Jaspero Gonzalez, who has also recovered from an early season struggle and is now hitting .290 on the season. The 6 run lead allowed Javier Vazquez to step in and complete the game in which he gave up 6 hits and struck out 9. 3b Prado 3-5 R SS Gonzalez 3-5 2R DH Winn 3-5 R C Black 0-4 BB RF Sohn 2-4 BB R LF Sadan 1-5 1b Dupon 4-5 2R 2b Henning 0-5 K CF Crisp 2-4 K 2b Prado (5) Winn 2 (5) Sohn (5) HR Gonzalez (3) Dupont (2) RBI Prado (5) Gonzalez 2 (6) Sohn 2 (17) Dupont 2 (9) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Vazquez W 1-1 9 6 1 1 ...

For the first time this season, the Palms were rained out before they could play the Indians. They have a double header scheduled today.

In a pitchers duel reminiscent of their opening day game with the Angels, the Mariners managed to score the deciding run off of Blake Johnston in the 12th. Johnston is allowing opponents to hit .441 off him so far this season. Troy Munoz' brilliant 8 inning 10 strikeout component was wasted as once again, the Palms were incapable of putting runs on the board. The Mariners successfully swept the Palms, who will play cross state rivals Tampa Bay today. DH Winn 3-5 BB K SS Gonzalez 1-5 BB LF Sadan 1-6 RF Sohn 1-6 K 2b Henning 1-5 BB CF Crisp 1-6 K 1b Dupont 0-5 BB K 3b Fields 3-5 R K C Santos 0-4 BB 2K 2b Sohn (4) Crisp (4) Fields (2) RBI Winn (3) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Munoz 8 6 1 1 4 10 1 Gonsales 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 Johnston L 0-1 2 5 1 1 0 0 1 Player of the Game: Felix Hernandez 6-10

At least there was no suspense for the Palms in this one. The Mariners scored early and often off Dave Balierough and the bullpen, including usually reliable Don Schoppe and Dennis Sarfate. The Palms got a 2 run double from Frank Sohn, but the 19 hits the Mariners had was just too much, and the Palms were unable to recover. 3b Prado 2-5 K SS Gonzalez 2-5 R K DH Winn 1-4 BB R C Black 1-4 RF Sohn 2-4 LF Sadan 2-4 K 1b Dupont 0-4 GIDP 2b Henning 0-4 CF Crisp 2-4 R 2b Sohn (3) Crisp 2 (3) RBI Prado (3) Sohn 2 (15) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Balierough L 0-2 5 10 5 5 0 1 0 McLoughlin 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 Schoppe 1 4 3 3 2 1 0 Sarfate 2 4 1 1 1 3 0 Player of the Game: Jose Lopez 6-9

Orlando Tiropes is a light hitting defensive minded outfielder. Unfortunately for him, he plays in an elite defensive outfielding team, where both corner outfielders have the speed to be capable center fielders. Tiropes is a natural left fielder, and often fills in at one of the corners when he plays. He is expected only to provide a respite for the other players in the outfield, and any offensive contribution from Tiropes will be icing on the cake.

The Mariners won a back and forth, heartbreaking game to open the series in Miami. The Palms jumped ahead 1-0 on a bases loaded walk, with the Mariners coming back in the 5th. In the bottom of the 5th, Ryan Henning hit a solo blast, his second in as many games, while the Mariners got a solo homer from Rob Johnson the following inning. The real break came in the 9th, when the Palms elected to keep starter Dallas Chastanet in. He promptly allowed three runs before he was pulled in favor of Felix Gonsales. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, the Palms made a run, with Jaspero Gonzalez hitting a two run blast, then had 2 runners on when Frank Sohn hit a lazy fly to center to end the game. 3b Prado 1-5 R SS Gonzalez 1-5 R DH Winn 1-4 BB C Black 2-4 BB RF Sohn 1-5 R LF Sadan 0-3 BB K 1b Dupont 0-4 K 2b Henning 3-4 R CF Crisp 0-2 2BB 2b Sohn (2) HR Gonzalez (2) Henning (2) RBI Gonzalez 2 (4) Henning (2) Crisp (3) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR...

Don Schoppe is a veteran presence in the Palms bullpen. In 2009, he kept opponent's batting averages down, but had a propensity for allowing the longball, which meant an ERA of about 4. He had the highest strikeout rate of any bull pen pitcher in 2009, and so far in 2010 leads the team in that statistic. With a shaky pen thus far this season, the Palms will need him to be a stabilizing force in 2010.

The Palms finally started getting hits in key spots, which they paired with a good outing from Manny Parra. Frank Sohn hit his team leading 5th home run of the season, a three run blast in the 3rd, which would have been enough for the Palms, but they added two more, including a solo blast from Ryan Henning, who had been struggling this season. The bullpen looked shaky once again, but they managed to get the final necessary outs, and the Palms and Angels split their series. 3b Prado 0-5 R SS Gonzalez 3-5 2R CF Sohn 1-3 BB K R C Black 0-4 K LF Sadan 2-3 BB 1b Fields 0-4 K 2b Henning 2-4 R DH Crisp 2-4 RF Tiropes 2-4 2b Gonzalez (2) Tiropes (1) HR Sohn (5) Henning (1) RBI Sohn 3 (13) Sadan (10) Henning (1) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Parra W 1-1 5 2/3 3 1 1 2 5 0 Johnston 2 1/3 4 1 1 1 0 0 Carlyle S 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Player of the Game: Fran...

The Palms got an excellent pitching performance from veteran starter Javier Vazquez in a sloppy, rain filled game in Miami Sunday afternoon. The pitcher held the Angels scoreless through 6, but in the 7th, he gave up a pair of solo homers to Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera, and the Angels went ahead 2-1. In the 8th inning, however, the Palms loaded the bases for Billy Dupont, who subsequently hit a double to put the Palms ahead for good and giving Dennis Sarfate the unlikely title of team wins leader. Coco Crisp got the team's first triple of the season. 3b Prado 0-3 BB R SS Gonzalez 1-4 K LF Winn 1-4 R DH Black 2-4 RF Sohn 1-4 K 1b Dupont 1-4 2b Henning 0-4 CF Crisp 1-2 BB R C Santos 1-3 2b Dupont (1) Black (4) Santos (1) 3b Crisp (1) RBI Dupont 2 (7) Santos (1) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Vazquez 7 5 2 2 0 7 2 Sarfate W 2-0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carlyle S 4 ...

The Angels defeated the Palms 6-1 for the second consecutive night. After Jaspero Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the first inning to take an early lead, but Troy Munoz and the rest of the Palms staff didn't hold it very long. Munoz was chased after 5, and the relievers allowed a whopping 11 hits in 4 innings of work. The Palms seek to turn it around with tomorrows matinee, as they haven't found the stroke quite yet this season. 3b Prado 2-4 K SS Gonzalez 2-4 R DH Winn 1-4 C Black 0-4 RF Sohn 1-4 K LF Sadan 0-4 1b Dupont 1-4 2K 2b Henning 1-4 CF Crisp 0-3 2b Winn (3) HR Gonzalez (1) RBI Gonzalez (2) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Munoz L 1-1 5 6 3 3 3 3 1 McLoughlin 2 5 1 1 0 1 0 Johnston 2 6 2 2 0 0 0 Player of the Game: Hideki Matsui 4-7

The home opener for the Palms started well, with Dave Balierough holding the Angels to one hit through the first 5 innings. Things came apart in the 6th, which included a three run homer from Kendry Morales to round things off, and the first 4 hitters reached in the 7th, including a lead off homer from Maicier Izturis. The Palms bullpen held the Angels hitless for the final 9 outs. The Palms scored one in the 8th, too little too late. 3b Prado 2-4 BB SS Gonzalez 1-5 DH Winn 2-4 R K C Black 1-4 K RF Sohn 1-4 LF Sadan 1-4 K 1b Dupont 2-4 CF Crisp 0-4 2b Janish 0-4 3K 2b Prado (4) RBI Dupont (5) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Balierough L 0-1 6 9 6 6 1 3 2 Sarfate 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 McLoughlin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Player of the Game: Kendry Morales 4-6

The Palms won the final game of their 9 game road trip to go 4-5 before their first off day of the season. The teams combined for 5 home runs, with Ayoz Sadan and Dustin Pedroia each driving in 4 runs for their respective teams. The Palms jumped out to a 4 nothing lead, with Sadan hitting a 3 run homer and later driving in a run with a single in the third. The Red Sox, thanks to homers by Pedroia and J.D Drew, came back and even took the lead in the 5th. The Palms came back scoring two in the 7th, and a another insurance run in the 8th with a Coco Crisp homer over the Green Monster. It turned out to be necessary as Pedroia hit another homer in the 9th off of the still struggling Buddy Carlyle. Tomorrow is an off day, with the home opener coming on Friday against the Angels. 3b Prado 1-5 R SS Gonzalez 0-4 HBP K R DH Winn 1-5 C Black 3-5 2 R K RF Sohn 3-4 BB R LF Sadan 3-4 R BB GIDP 1b Dupont 0-5 2b Henning 2-4 CF Crisp 1-4 R 2b Prado (3) Black (3) Henning (1) HR Sadan (3) Crisp (1) RBI ...

Manny Parra wasn't the same pitcher he was against the Angels in the third game of the season, allowing three quick runs in less than 4 innings of work, leaving the rest of the game to the bullpen. Unfortunately, the Palms were unable to pick him up, scoring only one run, and even then in the top of the 9th. Jon Lester shut the Palms down, while the Red Sox managed 13 hits, including a home run from Jeremy Hermida in the 6th. 3b Prado 2-4 BB K SS Gonzalez 2-5 K DH Winn 0-4 2K RF Sohn 1-4 LF Sadan 1-3 BB K R CF Crisp 0-3 BB K 1b Fields 1-4 K GIDP 2b Henning 1-4 K C Santos 0-3 BB 2K 2b Sadan (2) Fields (1) RBI Prado (3) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Parra L 0-1 3 1/3 7 3 3 3 3 0 Sarfate 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 McLoughlin 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 Gonsales 2 5 2 2 0 1 0 Player of the game: Jeremy Hermida 3-5

The Palms struggled to score runs in the third series of their season opening road trip. The trip to Boston resulted in a hard fought pitchers duel, with Javier Vazquez eventually breaking down in the 7th, allowing three runs and a come back from the home town Red Sox. A rally bid in the top of the 9th was ended when Jaspero Gonzalez, struggling to get going this season, grounded out to Adrian Beltre with two runners aboard. Frank Sohn continued his hot start, belting home run number 4. 3b Prado 2-5 SS Gonzalez 1-4 BB R RF Sohn 2-3 BB R C Black 0-3 SAC 1b Dupont 0-4 LF Sadan 1-4 2b Henning 1-4 K CF Crisp 1-4 K SS Janish 1-4 2K HR Sohn (4) RBI Black (6) Sohn (9) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Vazquez L 0-1 7 2/3 9 4 4 3 5 Sarfate 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 Player of the Game: Jacoby Ellsbury 3-4

The Palms took the rubber match of the series with the Twins to pull back to .500 for the season. Each team scored early, with Billy Dupont hitting a three run homer and Joe Mauer getting a two run blast for the Twins. Troy Munoz went deep into this game as well, allowing 4 runs in 8 innings, getting his first win of the season. Buddy Carlyle struggled again the 9th, nearly blowing the save, but Justin Morneau lined out deep to Frank Sohn with two men on to end the game. Paul Janish reached base 4 times, earning a spot in the lineup tomorrow when the team heads to Boston. 3b Prado 0-4 SAC RF Sohn 1-5 R DH Winn 3-5 2R K C Black 4-5 R 1b Dupont 1-5 R 2K LF Sadan 2-5 2b Henning 0-5 CF Crisp 1-4 R SS Janish 3-3 BB 2b Winn (2) Black (2) HR Dupont (1) RBI Prado (2) Black (5) Dupont 3 (4) Sadan (5) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Munoz W 1-0 8 9 4 4 1 2 1 Carlyle S 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 ...

The Palms power surge was shortlived, as they managed only 5 hits against Scott Baker and the rest of the Twins pitching staff. Denard Span and Joe Mauer had good games for the Twins, with Span hitting a two run blast in the 6th off of Art McLoughlin, and Mauer going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles. It was 4-1 late in the game, when Frank Sohn, continuing his hot start, hit a two run homer. It was not enough, however, as the Twins took the second game of the series. 3b Prado 0-4 K SS Gonzalez 1-4 R K DH Winn 0-4 K C Black 0-3 BB K RF Sohn 1-4 R 1b Dupont 0-4 2K LF Sadan 1-3 R K CF Crisp 1-3 2b Janish 1-3 2b Gonzalez (1) Sadan (1) Crisp (1) HR Sohn (3) RBI Sohn 2 (8) Crisp (1) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO HR Balierough 5 6 1 1 3 1 0 McLoughlin L 0-1 1 2 3 3 1 0 1 Gonzalez 2 2 0 0 0 0 0

If Target Field continues to play like it did today, it will certainly be a hitters park. The new Twins stadium saw 4 home runs hit in the first two innings of regular season play at the stadium. The Palms, rude guests, hit three of them, with Eddie Black and Ayoz Sadan hitting a pair of two run homers, while Frank Sohn added a three run blast in the second. The first Twin to hit a homer in the stadium was back up catcher Drew Butera, of all people. Michael Cuddyer homered in the 6th, while Sadan added a second 2 run blast in the 7th to ensure all of the Palms runs would be from home runs. After a series in which two homers were hit between the two teams, a total of 6 were hit in this one game. Dallas Chastenet became the first Palm to earn a decision this year. 3b Prado 2-5 BB K 2R SS Gonzalez 0-5 RF Sohn 2-4 BB R DH Black 2-5 R 1b Dupont 2-5 2K 2R LF Sadan 3-5 2R 2b Henning 1-5 CF Crisp 2-5 C Santos 2-4 BB 2K R 2b Prado (2) Sohn (1) HR Sohn (2) Black (1) Sadan 2 (2) RBI Sohn 3 (6) Bl...

In three games, there have been 2 12 inning games and one that was decided in the 9th. In an unlikely pitchers duel, Joel Pineiro and Manny Parra held their opponents in check, while each teams bullpen continued to stymie hitters. Finally in the top of the twelfth, the Palms strung together some singles, with Randy Winn and Eddie Black driving in the go ahead runs. Goats of previous games Felix Gonsales and Buddy Carlyle got the win and save, respectively. (please note, we are changing the box score so all counting stats are listed at the end of the offensive scorecard) 3b Prado 1-5 BB K RF Sohn 2-6 R DH Winn 1-6 2K C Black 2-4 2 R 1b Dupont 1-6 K LF Sadan 2-6 2b Henning 0-6 2 K CF Crisp 0-5 SS Janish 2-4 2 R 2b Janish (1) RBI Prado (1) Winn (1) Black (2) Pitcher W-L S IP H R ER BB SO Parra 6 2/3 5 1 1 2 4 McLoughlin 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 2 Schoppe 2 2 0 0 0 3 ...