Starting pitcher John Lamb despite not having any wins, has put up some pretty good numbers, until the Wednesday morning game in Burlington, Iowa. The Beloit Snappers, Class A team of the Minnesota Twins, got to Lamb early by putting up 2 consecutive runs in the 1st and 2nd inning and taking a 4-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning when Lamb was removed from the game.
Lamb gave up his first home-run of the Midwest League season to Aaron Hicks, whom both played as team-mates during the Fall of 2007 on a Southern California scout team.
Once again, hitting his early season pitch count restrictions for the young Southern California "southpaw," due to walks and deep counts on the hitters. The ball was now in the hands of the bullpen, which has not done very well during this early portion of the season. Unfortunately, the ball was given to the two pitchers with the two worst season ERA numbers for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eigth innings.
Game recap:
Beloit Top 1st
- Aaron Hicks walks.
- Brian Dozier pops out to third baseman Ryan Stovall.
- Steven Liddle walks. Aaron Hicks to 2nd.
- Angel Morales flies out to center fielder Carlo Testa. Aaron Hicks to 3rd. Steven Liddle to 2nd.
- Josmil Pinto singles on a line drive to center fielder Carlo Testa. Aaron Hicks scores. Steven Liddle scores.
- With Daniel Rams batting, Josmil Pinto steals (2) 2nd base.
- Daniel Rams strikes out swinging.
Burlington Bottom 1st
- Gerard Hall walks.
- Deivy Batista out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Reggie Williams to first baseman Daniel Rams. Gerard Hall to 2nd.
- William Myers doubles (3) on a soft fly ball to left fielder Steven Liddle. Gerard Hall to 3rd.
- Joey Lewis singles on a line drive to right fielder Aaron Hicks. Gerard Hall scores. William Myers to 3rd.
- Carlo Testa strikes out swinging.
- Rene Oriental flies out to right fielder Aaron Hicks.
Beloit Top 2nd
- Tobias Streich pops out to second baseman Deivy Batista.
- Reggie Williams singles on a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Stovall, deflected by pitcher John Lamb.
- With James Beresford batting, Reggie Williams steals (1) 2nd base.
- With James Beresford batting, John Lamb picks off Reggie Williams at 2nd on throw to Gerard Hall.
- James Beresford walks.
- With Aaron Hicks batting, James Beresford steals (3) 2nd base.
- Aaron Hicks homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. James Beresford scores.
- Brian Dozier pops out to pitcher John Lamb.
Burlington Bottom 2nd
- Ryan Stovall strikes out swinging, catcher Tobias Streich to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- Adam Frost grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- Allen Caldwell grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Daniel Rams.
Beloit Top 3rd
- Steven Liddle strikes out swinging.
- Angel Morales walks.
- With Josmil Pinto batting, Angel Morales picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher John Lamb to first baseman Joey Lewis to shortstop Gerard Hall.
- Josmil Pinto hit by pitch.
- Daniel Rams pops out to shortstop Gerard Hall.
Burlington Bottom 3rd
- Gerard Hall flies out to right fielder Aaron Hicks.
- Deivy Batista grounds out, third baseman Reggie Williams to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- William Myers pops out to catcher Tobias Streich in foul territory.
Beloit Top 4th
- Tobias Streich flies out to right fielder Rene Oriental.
- Reggie Williams pops out to first baseman Joey Lewis in foul territory.
- James Beresford flies out to left fielder Allen Caldwell.
Burlington Bottom 4th
- Joey Lewis lines out softly to second baseman James Beresford.
- Carlo Testa strikes out swinging.
- Rene Oriental flies out to center fielder Angel Morales.
Beloit Top 5th
- Pitcher Change: Scott Kelley replaces John Lamb.
- Aaron Hicks singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlo Testa.
- Brian Dozier grounds into double play, shortstop Gerard Hall to second baseman Deivy Batista to first baseman Joey Lewis. Aaron Hicks out at 2nd.
- Steven Liddle homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
- Angel Morales strikes out swinging.
Burlington Bottom 5th
- Ryan Stovall grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- Adam Frost lines out to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- Allen Caldwell walks.
- Gerard Hall called out on strikes.
Beloit Top 6th
- Josmil Pinto grounds out to first baseman Joey Lewis.
- Daniel Rams grounds out, pitcher Scott Kelley to first baseman Joey Lewis.
- Tobias Streich grounds out, shortstop Gerard Hall to first baseman Joey Lewis.
Burlington Bottom 6th
- Deivy Batista called out on strikes.
- William Myers singles on a pop up to second baseman James Beresford.
- Joey Lewis pops out to second baseman James Beresford.
- Carlo Testa walks. William Myers to 2nd.
- Rene Oriental grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Reggie Williams. William Myers out at 3rd.
Beloit Top 7th
- Reggie Williams singles on a fly ball to right fielder Rene Oriental.
- James Beresford singles on a ground ball to right fielder Rene Oriental. Reggie Williams to 3rd.
- Aaron Hicks reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by first baseman Joey Lewis. Reggie Williams scores. James Beresford scores on the throw. Aaron Hicks to 2nd. Throwing error by catcher William Myers, assist to first baseman Joey Lewis.
- With Brian Dozier batting, passed ball by William Myers, Aaron Hicks to 3rd.
- Brian Dozier walks.
- Pitcher Change: Sam Runion replaces Scott Kelley.
- Steven Liddle out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Carlo Testa. Aaron Hicks scores.
- Angel Morales strikes out swinging.
- Josmil Pinto grounds out, shortstop Gerard Hall to first baseman Joey Lewis.
Burlington Bottom 7th
- Ryan Stovall grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Daniel Rams.
- Adam Frost singles on a sharp ground ball to third baseman Reggie Williams, deflected by pitcher Tom Stuifbergen.
- Allen Caldwell singles on a fly ball to left fielder Steven Liddle. Adam Frost to 2nd.
- Gerard Hall grounds into a force out, second baseman James Beresford to shortstop Brian Dozier. Adam Frost to 3rd. Allen Caldwell out at 2nd. Gerard Hall to 1st.
- Deivy Batista grounds into a force out, third baseman Reggie Williams to second baseman James Beresford. Gerard Hall out at 2nd.
Beloit Top 8th
- Daniel Rams singles on a line drive to right fielder Rene Oriental.
- Tobias Streich grounds into a force out, shortstop Gerard Hall to second baseman Deivy Batista. Daniel Rams out at 2nd. Tobias Streich to 1st.
- Reggie Williams homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Tobias Streich scores.
- James Beresford singles on a fly ball to left fielder Allen Caldwell.
- Aaron Hicks grounds into a force out, first baseman Joey Lewis to shortstop Gerard Hall. James Beresford out at 2nd. Aaron Hicks to 1st.
- Brian Dozier doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Allen Caldwell. Aaron Hicks scores.
- Steven Liddle flies out to left fielder Allen Caldwell.
Burlington Bottom 8th
- Pitcher Change: Kane Holbrooks replaces Tom Stuifbergen.
- William Myers called out on strikes.
- Joey Lewis singles on a ground ball to left fielder Steven Liddle.
- Carlo Testa reaches on force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Kane Holbrooks. Joey Lewis to 2nd.
- Rene Oriental flies out to right fielder Aaron Hicks.
- Ryan Stovall called out on strikes.
Beloit Top 9th
- Pitcher Change: Mitch Hodge Nielsen replaces Sam Runion.
- Angel Morales grounds out, shortstop Gerard Hall to first baseman Joey Lewis.
- Josmil Pinto pops out to shortstop Gerard Hall.
- Daniel Rams grounds out, third baseman Ryan Stovall to first baseman Joey Lewis.
Burlington Bottom 9th
- Pitcher Change: Dakota Watts replaces Kane Holbrooks.
- Adam Frost singles on a line drive to left fielder Steven Liddle.
- Allen Caldwell flies out to center fielder Angel Morales.
- Gerard Hall strikes out swinging.
- Deivy Batista grounds into a force out, third baseman Reggie Williams to second baseman James Beresford. Adam Frost out at 2nd.
The Bees offense was not capable of getting more than the 1 run posted in the first inning and lost the game by a final score of 11-1. Best news in the clubhouse should have been a reminder of having Thursday off from any scheduled games. Finally, giving the guys a much-needed break, for the first time, during this 140 game season.
The final pitching numbers for the game:
HBP: Pinto, J (by Lamb, J)
Groundouts-flyouts: Stuifbergen, T 9-5, Holbrooks 0-1, Watts, D 1-1, Lamb, J 0-8, Kelley, S 5-0, Runion 3-2, Hodge Nielsen 2-1
Batters faced: Stuifbergen, T 29, Holbrooks 5, Watts, D 4, Lamb, J 18, Kelley, S 11, Runion 10, Hodge Nielsen 3
Inherited runners-scored: Runion 2-1
Umpires: HP: Matt McCoy. 1B: Rocky Craig. 2B: . 3B: .
Weather: 59 degrees, sunny
Wind: 6 mph, R to L
T: 2:37
Att: 1,804
John Lamb, and a friend, behind home plate the day before a pitching start!
From a Dad's eyes:
Game decisions sometimes just don't make any sense for a Dad of a professional baseball pitcher, but this is not my first game I have watched. The Burlington Bees, Class A team of the Kansas City Royals, were only 3 runs down and decided to go with two pitchers that have given up the most runs on the team, during there limited work. No sense at all for the purpose of winning, so it must have been for development reasons.
Enjoy the day off, Bees!
- - - James Lamb
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